SQL Database Administrator

We are seeking a Senior MS SQL Database Administrator to join the Tolling Engineering and Operations Team at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in Mechanicsville, VA. This hybrid role manages, tunes, upgrades, and optimizes mission-critical, high-availability SQL Server environments and cloud database platforms supporting E-ZPass Virginia tolling systems. The position involves database administration, performance tuning on Very Large Databases (VLDBs 2TB+), SQL clustering, and rotation-based help desk and application support.

Client: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

Location: 9120 Lockwood Blvd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (On-Site requirement as designated by VDOT)

Role Type: Contract (06/30/2026 06/30/2027)

Submission Deadline: Open / Immediate Review

Interview Process: Phone & In-Person Interview

Shift: EST Business Hours

Work Authorization & Compliance Note: Candidates must physically reside within the United States (Commonwealth of Virginia security policy prohibiting offshore contractors). Position requires a fingerprint-based background check.

Key Responsibilities

• SQL Server Administration & High Availability: Install, configure, upgrade, patch, and manage SQL Server instances (including SQL Server 2019, 2022, and 2025+); manage Failover Clustering, Database Mirroring, and Always On Availability Groups.
• Database Performance Tuning: Analyze long-running T-SQL workloads, resolve deadlock/blocking contention, optimize indexes, and execute wait statistic analysis using Extended Events and Query Store.
• Large Database Optimization: Maintain and tune Very Large Databases (VLDBs 2TB+) to ensure optimal I/O, throughput, and minimal resource contention across tolling production systems.
• Environment Upgrades & Migrations: Upgrade legacy E-ZPass Virginia tolling SQL Server environments using Database Migration Assistant (DMA) and Query Tuning Assistant (QTA).
• Cloud Database Operations: Support Azure Cloud database deployments and cloud analytics environments (Azure SQL, Snowflake, or Databricks).
• BI Stack & OS Scripting: Manage and troubleshoot SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Reporting Services (SSRS), and Analysis Services (SSAS); leverage OS scripting for automated maintenance routines.
• Operational & Help Desk Support: Monitor database uptime, resolve application connectivity/security issues, and participate in rotational help desk and operational support tasks.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent professional work history.
• MS SQL Server Management: 6+ years of core MS SQL Server database administration experience.
• SQL Server Installation & Migrations: 4+ years installing, upgrading, patching, and migrating SQL Server instances.
• SQL Performance Tuning: 3+ years of dedicated SQL Server performance tuning and query optimization.
• Production Workload Troubleshooting: 3+ years diagnosing and resolving deadlocks, blocking, and concurrency issues in production environments.
• BI Stack (SSIS / SSRS / SSAS): 3+ years of experience working with SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS.
• E-ZPass Tolling Environment Upgrades: 2+ years of hands-on experience upgrading E-ZPass tolling SQL Server databases.
• Very Large Database (VLDB) Tuning: 2+ years tuning 2TB+ databases, managing index fragmentation, and optimizing resource allocation.
• T-SQL Engineering: 1+ year writing, debugging, and optimizing complex Transact-SQL procedures and queries.

Preferred & Desired Qualifications

• Cloud Database Administration: 1+ year administering databases in Azure Cloud, Snowflake, or Databricks (cloud database certifications accepted in lieu of experience).
• Expertise with Windows Server platform administration and OS-level scripting.
• Strong familiarity with data modeling principles and standard architectural artifacts.