Senior SQL Developer & DBA - Lead Database Performance

SQL Developer/DBA Senior (IT Senior Associate Level 3) - Temporary

GENERAL DUTIES

I.T. Senior Associates perform highly complex professional work in technology-related disciplines. While areas of specialization vary, typically I.T. Senior Associates perform a range of work in development/programming, communications, technical support, or similar functions depending on the needs of the Information Technology area to which they report. Work tasks include diagnosing, evaluating, overseeing and resolving highly complex projects. They have wide latitude for independent initiative and judgment and may serve in lead roles on complex programs or projects, and/or serve as a direct supervisor of a unit or group. I.T. Senior Associates should demonstrate mastery of one or more technology-related disciplines, decision‑making ability in situations related to those disciplines, and be able to serve as a resource in these areas. They may contribute to decisions on I.T. policies and technical standards. This job is in CUNY's Classified Civil Service. The full specification is available on our web site at

CONTRACT TITLE

IT Senior Associate FLSA Exempt

CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The Graduate Center (GC) is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 35 doctoral and master’s programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The Graduate Center’s commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience, photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences. The Graduate Center (GC) benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni—who in turn teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City’s intellectual and cultural life. Information Technology (IT) is the division of the Graduate Center responsible for voice, video, and data systems and services. The mission of this unit is to promote, facilitate, and support the effective use of technology in the learning process, in instruction and research, and in processing and accessing institutional information. Reporting directly to the Director of Data and Application Services, the SQL Developer/DBA Senior is largely responsible for providing a mix of systems and operational database services to the Graduate Center. Some of the primary responsibilities of this role would include owning, tracking and resolving database-related incidents and requests, reviewing service-related reports (e.g.: database backups, maintenance, monitoring) to ensure service-related issues are identified and resolved and responding to database-related alerts and escalations. This single position combines high‑level database management with expert-level SQL query writing and optimization to support both application development and business intelligence needs. To be considered for the position, you must have filed for the CUNY IT Senior Associate exam in March 2025 (Exam # 2086). This position is temporary until the IT Senior Associate exam scores are published; the incumbent must be reachable on the list to remain in the position and to be eligible for permanency in the title.

DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Lead administration and strategic direction of the Graduate Center’s database environments, driving scalability, reliability, and future growth initiatives Own end-to-end incident and request management for database systems, ensuring rapid resolution, root cause analysis, and continuous service improvement Execute and manage changes in production environments with strict adherence to change control processes, escalating and resolving complex issues within defined SLAs Architect and maintain optimal physical and logical database designs to support performance, scalability, and high availability Proactively monitor, tune, and optimize database performance, implementing capacity planning strategies to meet evolving business demands Ensure data integrity and compliance with standard relational database structures Establish appropriate strategies for updating and refreshing a large and complex database Develop, test, and maintain robust backup and disaster recovery solutions to ensure business continuity and data protection Conduct regular database audits to ensure regulatory compliance, performance optimization, and continuous improvement Design, develop, and optimize complex SQL queries, stored procedures, and functions to support high-performance data operations Partner with application developers and data teams to enhance query performance and refine database schema design Diagnose and troubleshoot database performance issues, using tools like execution plans and performance monitors to identify root causes and implement fixes Generate ad-hoc reports and provide expertise in writing efficient queries for business intelligence and reporting tools (e.g., SSRS, Power BI) Work closely with business stakeholders to gather and translate data requirements into technical solutions Create and maintain detailed documentation of database architectures, configurations, processes, and query logic Mentor and guide development teams on database best practices, performance optimization, and efficient data access patterns Stay current with emerging database technologies, tools, and industry best practices to continuously enhance system capabilities Perform other duties as needed to support departmental and organizational objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High School Diploma, G.E.D., or equivalent An equivalent of ten years of experience post-high school that can be met by one of the following: ten years of full-time work experience in a computer or technology related position; an Associate’s degree plus eight years of full-time work experience in a computer or technology-related position; or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution plus six years of full-time work experience in a computer or technology-related position Demonstrated English Language proficiency A Motor Vehicle Driver’s license, valid in New York State, may be required for some, but not all positions. This title has three levels. In addition to the minimum qualifications above, to qualify for Levels 2 and 3, additional qualifications, such as education, experience, or certification relevant to the area of specialization are required.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred Qualifications: BA/BS in Computer Science, Information Systems or a related degree 5+ years’ experience working as a DBA Strong proficiency in SQL syntax and experience with database management systems such as Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL Expertise in writing complex, optimized SQL queries and performance tuning techniques Experience in troubleshooting and resolving database integrity and performance issues Experience with enterprise backup/recovery strategies and capacity monitoring/management Experience with Clustering, SAN, Mirroring and Replication (other HA/Failover technologies are a plus) Familiarity with data modeling, database design, and data warehousing concepts Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with keen attention to detail Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical teams Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be offered for this position.

COMPENSATION

$125,932/year

BENEFITS

CUNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits. Health benefits are also extended to retirees who meet the eligibility criteria.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click on "Apply Now" below which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply. Please submit a cover letter and resume in Word or PDF format.

CLOSING DATE

June 12, 2026

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Information Technology/Technical

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer. Job ID: 32232 Location: Graduate Center Job Type: Full-Time #J-18808-Ljbffr City University of New York