SQL Database Admin || Toronto, ON - Onsite || Fulltime FTE

SQL DBA

Location: Toronto, ON
Work Model: Hybrid
Employment Type: Full-Time Permanent (FTE)

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced SQL Database Administrator (DBA) to support enterprise database migration and modernization initiatives. The DBA will be responsible for assessing on-premises SQL Server environments and planning, executing, validating, and optimizing migrations to Microsoft Azure . The role will also provide production support, performance tuning, high availability, disaster recovery, and post-migration stabilization.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess source databases and identify migration readiness gaps, dependencies, and compatibility issues.

• Plan and execute SQL Server migrations to Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure VMs .

• Perform schema, data, application, and compatibility assessments.

• Use Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) and related Azure migration tools.

• Implement and maintain backup, recovery, high availability, and disaster recovery solutions.

• Monitor and optimize database performance before, during, and after migration.

• Perform indexing, query optimization, and database performance tuning.

• Develop migration runbooks, rollback plans, validation procedures, and operational documentation.

• Collaborate with application, infrastructure, networking, cloud, and security teams.

• Ensure database environments comply with security, governance, and operational standards.

• Support production cutovers, troubleshooting, and post-migration stabilization activities.

• Automate database administration and operational tasks using scripting and automation tools.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong hands-on experience as a SQL Server DBA .

• Experience with Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines .

• Hands-on experience with Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) .

• Strong knowledge of Always On Availability Groups, replication, clustering, backup, and recovery .

• Experience with database performance tuning, indexing, query optimization, and troubleshooting .

• Strong T-SQL development and scripting skills.

• Experience with PowerShell and database automation.

• Knowledge of database security, encryption, auditing, and access controls .

• Experience supporting cloud migration, database modernization, or enterprise transformation projects .

• Ability to develop migration strategies, runbooks, rollback plans, and validation procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline .

• 5+ years of professional database administration experience .

• Demonstrated experience supporting SQL Server environments and cloud/database migration initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Azure certifications such as DP-300, AZ-104, or AZ-305 .

• Experience migrating PostgreSQL, Oracle, or MySQL databases to Azure.

• Experience working on large-scale enterprise transformation and modernization programs .

• Exposure to Azure cloud governance, security, and enterprise architecture standards.