Database Administrator (SQL Server)

For years,  Stream Data Centers has been a trusted partner in providing world-class data center solutions. With a focus on sustainable, secure, and reliable infrastructure, Stream empowers businesses to scale their digital operations while prioritizing environmental and social responsibility.

Stream Data Centers continues to set new standards for innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability in the data center industry, having provided premium data center services since 1999. Now, with 90% of its inventory leased to Fortune 100 customers, the company has acquired, developed and managed more than 27 data center projects nationally, while leadership has remained consistent for over two decades.

From site selection to data center construction and operations, Stream develops wholesale colocation capacity and build-to-suit facilities for hyperscale and enterprise users in major markets across the United States. Additionally, Stream sources and develops low-risk land sites for optimum data center development and provides energy procurement services with a focus on reducing market risk and providing low-cost renewable energy options.

Information Technology Department:

Stream’s IT team delivers modern, secure technology solutions that power our global operations. We combine proactive management, rigorous cybersecurity, and agile software development to drive business growth. By aligning technology strategy with business goals, we keep Stream at the forefront of innovation and operational excellence.

The Role:

The Database Administrator (SQL Server) is responsible for the operational health, security, and availability of Stream’s Microsoft SQL Server environments. This role partners with Infrastructure, Security, and Application teams to deliver stable database services across production and non-production systems, with an emphasis on proactive maintenance, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

You will lead routine and project-based work including OS and SQL Server patching/upgrades, new SQL Server installations, SQL Server Agent job administration, backup/restore validation, and performance optimization. This role is primarily focused on Microsoft SQL Server, with an understanding of—and willingness to support—a small number of PostgreSQL databases as needed. Success requires strong troubleshooting skills, disciplined operational habits, and the ability to communicate risk, capacity, and operational KPIs clearly to stakeholders—while supporting an on-call rotation for critical incidents.

Key Responsibilities:

• Patching and upgrades (OS and SQL Server): Plan, execute, and validate routine patching for Windows and SQL Server, including version and cumulative updates; coordinate maintenance windows, stakeholder communications, pre-checks, and post-patch validation.

• SQL Server installations (stand-alone): Build and configure new stand-alone SQL Server instances to standard (naming, service accounts, storage layout, security baseline, and monitoring/backup integration), and produce implementation/runbook documentation.

• General SQL Server operational support: Respond to service requests and incidents; troubleshoot connectivity, performance, and configuration issues; partner with application owners to resolve root cause and prevent recurrence.

• SQL Server 2019+ Availability Groups: Administer, monitor, and support Always On Availability Groups (configuration, health checks, failover testing, synchronization troubleshooting, and patching coordination) to meet availability and recovery objectives.

• PostgreSQL (limited footprint) support: Provide basic administration and operational support for a small number of PostgreSQL databases (monitoring, backups/restore validation, user/access support, and troubleshooting), escalating complex tuning or architecture work as appropriate.

• Index maintenance and historical data purging: Implement and tune index/Statistics maintenance aligned to workload and maintenance windows; design and execute archival and purge routines for historical data in accordance with retention requirements.

• SQL Server Agent jobs upkeep and maintenance: Create, schedule, document, and maintain SQL Server Agent jobs (ETL, maintenance, reporting, and application jobs); investigate failures, reduce noise, and ensure alerting routes to the right teams.

• Monitoring and on-call support: Maintain SQL monitoring/alerting for performance, availability, and capacity; participate in an on-call rotation, execute incident runbooks, and drive post-incident corrective actions.

• Backups monitoring and restore testing: Ensure backups complete successfully and meet RPO/RTO; periodically test restores (including point-in-time where required), document results, and remediate gaps.

• Space maintenance and capacity forecasting: Monitor database and file growth; manage file sizing and storage layout; provide regular capacity forecasts and coordinate storage expansions to avoid outages.

• Weekly reporting on operational KPIs: Produce and publish weekly operational KPI reporting (availability, job success rates, backup compliance, patch compliance, capacity, and key incident trends) with clear follow-ups and risk callouts.

• Security, standards, and documentation: Enforce least-privilege access, auditing, and configuration standards; maintain runbooks and build documentation; support audit requests and change management processes.

• Continuous improvement: Identify and implement automation and operational improvements (standardized builds, maintenance frameworks, alert tuning, and performance baselining) to increase reliability and reduce recurring incidents.

Success Metrics & KPIs:

• Platform reliability and availability: Stable production operations with measurable uptime; healthy Always On Availability Groups; successful planned failover/DR validation results as scheduled.

• Backup and restore compliance: High backup success rates; documented restore tests completed on schedule; improved RPO/RTO confidence with audit-ready evidence.

• Patching and lifecycle hygiene: Consistent patch compliance for OS and SQL Server; well-executed maintenance windows with low incident rates and clear stakeholder communication.

• Operational job health: High SQL Agent job success rates; reduced repeat failures via root-cause fixes; actionable alerting with minimal noise.

• Performance and capacity management: Improved query and instance performance against baselines; accurate capacity forecasts; proactive remediation before storage or resource constraints impact users.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 5–10+ years of hands-on SQL Server administration experience supporting production environments.

• Strong experience with SQL Server backup/recovery strategies, restore testing, and HA/DR concepts (RPO/RTO), including Always On Availability Groups (SQL Server 2019+).

• Proven ability to perform OS and SQL Server patching/upgrades and to complete stand-alone SQL Server installations and standardized configurations.

• Experience with performance troubleshooting and tuning (wait stats, indexing strategies, statistics, execution plans) and implementing maintenance routines for indexes and data lifecycle (archival/purging).

• Hands-on administration of SQL Server Agent jobs, alerts, operators, and scheduling; ability to automate routine tasks using T-SQL and PowerShell where appropriate.

• Experience with SQL Server monitoring and operational reporting (availability, backup compliance, job health, capacity/space utilization) and working within an incident/change management process.

• Preferred: Working knowledge of PostgreSQL administration for a small environment (roles/permissions, backups, monitoring, and basic performance troubleshooting).

• Working knowledge of database security (least privilege, role-based access, auditing), compliance expectations, and documentation/runbook creation.

• Excellent written and verbal communication; proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and mentor others.

• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation and provide after-hours support for critical database incidents and maintenance activities when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server 2019+ (including Always On Availability Groups)
• Experience with Windows Server administration basics
• Experience with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), SQL Server Agent, native/third-party backup tooling, monitoring platforms (e.g., SCOM, SQL Monitor, or similar), PowerShell, T-SQL, source control (Git) for scripts
• Experience with ITSM/ticketing systems
• Experience with capacity planning and performance baselining tools
• PostgreSQL administration exposure and tooling such as psql and/or pgAdmin

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources

The pay range for this role is between $110,000 – 135,000 (base). Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, experience, qualifications, location, and other job-related reasons. Stream Data Centers offers annual bonus, benefits, flexible time off (vacation), 401k and a variety of other perks and benefits.

Stream is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, military status, or any other reason prohibited by law. Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.