Senior SQL Database Developer/DBA

Cognizant is seeking a Senior SQL Database Developer for a full-time remote opportunity. Candidates must be located in the US and have valid US work authorization. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is between $100,000 and $116,000 depending on the skills and experience of the candidate.

Applications will be accepted till 9/22/2025.

Core Responsibilities (IaaS & PaaS)

Deployment & Configuration

Provision SQL Server on Azure/AWS VMs (Windows/Linux).

· Configure storage, networking, and backup settings.

· Tune operating system settings (e.g., disk alignment, NUMA config) for SQL Server performance.

· Provision and configure cloud-native databases using portal, CLI, or templates.

· Set performance tiers (DTUs, vCores) and scaling options.

· Apply security policies and maintenance windows via platform features. Administer and support SQL Server workloads across Azure/AWS IaaS (VMs) and PaaS (Azure SQL, Managed Instances, AWS RDS).

· Preferred to have Knowledge in Attunity and Delphix tools.

Monitoring & Performance Tuning IaaS:

· Use native tools (SQL Profiler, Extended Events, Performance Monitor) or third-party solutions.

· Monitor OS-level performance (CPU, memory, disk I/O) in addition to SQL metrics.

· Use built-in tools like Query Performance Insight, Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, or AWS CloudWatch.

· Tune queries, manage index usage, and review performance recommendations.

· Proactively monitor performance using both native tools and cloud services, identifying and resolving bottlenecks.

Backup & Disaster Recovery

· Design and automate backup strategies using SQL Server Agent, Ola Hallengren scripts, or third-party tools.

· Implement DR using Always On Availability Groups, Log Shipping, or Replication.

· Leverage built-in backup capabilities (automated backups, point-in-time restore).

· Configure geo-redundant backups and failover groups (Azure) or Multi-AZ deployments (AWS).

High Availability and Scalability

· Configure traditional HA solutions (AGs, Failover Cluster Instances).

· Monitor and manage VM failover policies and availability sets/zones.

· Set up Active Geo-Replication, Auto-failover groups, or zone-redundant configuration.

· Scale up/down or scale out using platform-native options without downtime.

· Implement and manage high availability, disaster recovery, and automated backup strategies in both on-prem and cloud-hosted databases.

Security and Compliance

· Implement RBAC, Azure Active Directory/AWS IAM integration.

· Configure data encryption (TDE, Always Encrypted).

· Set up auditing, threat detection, and vulnerability assessments.

· Maintain compliance with policies such as HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR using platform tools.

· Design and enforce database security policies, including identity integration (AAD/IAM), encryption, and auditing.

· Preferred to know about Thales’s products.

Strategic & Leadership Responsibilities

· Choose between IaaS and PaaS based on workload requirements.

· Optimize licensing (e.g., bring-your-own-license for IaaS).

· Monitor and control costs (reserved instances, performance tier selection, automation to pause/scale databases).

· Automate deployments using ARM templates, Terraform, or Bicep (Azure) or CloudFormation (AWS).

· Implement CI/CD pipelines for database code (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions).

· Use PowerShell, Azure CLI, dbatools, or SQLCMD for repeatable automation.

· Work closely with cloud architects, network engineers, and development teams.

· Function as SME for SQL Server in cloud planning meetings.

· Mentor junior staff and enforce SQL standards across environments.

· Function as a technical lead in migrations from on-prem to cloud or IaaS to PaaS transitions.

· Provide subject matter expertise on cloud cost management, scaling strategies, and service tier optimization.

· Collaborate with DevOps teams to automate deployments and manage infrastructure as code.

Qualifications:

· Over 10 years of experience in SQL Database Development.

· 10 years of experience with Powershell Scripting.

· 10 years of experience with AlwaysON and MSSQL Admin.

· 8 years of experience with RBAC and Azure Active Directory.