Senior DevOps DBA - MS SQL Server
Key Skills
Job Description
A DBA expert but not limited to SQL with an innovative and automation mindset
At Schuberg Philis we run and transform mission‑critical platforms where reliability and craftsmanship matter. For a large programme, we are preparing the migration of a large landscape of mission-critical applications from on-premises to a hybrid cloud environment based on Azure. In the process, we will transform the setup to ensure resiliency and portability so to that the environment meets very strict recoverability requirements.
To make that real, we need SQL DBA’s who don’t stop at “keeping the database running”. We need people who can own the full spectrum: designing and automating the platform (infrastructure side) and protecting performance and stability when applications are onboarded and changed (application side).
What you will do
You will work in an engineering team that designs, builds and operates SQL database platforms as part of a hybrid cloud landscape. The work includes decomposing shared SQL environments into smaller, dedicated workloads per application (reducing blast radius and improving recoverability), and implementing the patterns that make this reliable at scale.
In practice, that means you combine:
- Infrastructure & platform engineering: building SQL environments on Azure and where needed on‑prem, implementing HA/DR and replication patterns, and automating everything with strong DevOps practices and security in mind.
- Application & performance ownership: troubleshooting and preventing performance issues when applications move and evolve — understanding what an application issue means at database level (blocking, indexing, query optimization), and keeping the environment protected as new workloads are onboarded.
Required skills:
Infrastructure / platform
- Experience running SQL Server in Azure and understanding hybrid setups (Azure + on‑prem/private cloud).
- High Availability / Disaster Recovery knowledge: Always On and HADR concepts; replication/geo‑replication across regions with attention to data consistency.
- Strong automation mindset and ability to implement DevOps practices around SQL environments (“everything automated, secure as possible”).
- PowerShell is considered essential in this context.
- Infrastructure as Code experience or solid understanding of the concept
Application / performance
- Proven ability in SQL performance troubleshooting and optimization: diagnosing blocking, missing indexes, inefficient queries and other bottlenecks.
- Ability to translate application behaviour into database implications (“if someone explains an app issue, you know what happens in the database”).
- Comfort supporting onboarding of new applications and protecting the environment against regressions.
- Understanding of database DevOps needs around schema changes and database upgrades (discussed as relevant for both DBA aspects).
What will make you successful in this role?
You want to play a part in the future of database automation. This can include CI/CD, configuration management (Terraform, Ansible), tooling, and good old scripting which enables you to automate everything that can be automated. In addition to that:
- You are a T-shaped engineer, meaning you are comfortable operating across platforms and having an in-depth knowledge of databases
- Solid experience working as a SQL DBA
- Experience with managing applications in SQL instances, but also underlaying infrastructure
- Experience with scripting languages (Bash/Python/PowerShell)
How we work
Our environment values engineering ownership. You will work alongside cloud engineers and other specialists, but as the SQL DBA you are expected to be the person who can both design the platform and defend it under real load.
Everyone we work with and consider working with has a right to equal treatment. The hiring and appraisal process at Schuberg Philis is designed to be thorough and equitable, implementing fair payment, benefits, and opportunities across all demographics.
It is our desire to be a company that brings together multiple nationalities, cultures, religions, genders, abilities, and talents within and across our teams. We welcome colleagues from diverse backgrounds to join Schuberg Philis and actively support diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Core Responsibilities
Design, build, and operate SQL database platforms within a hybrid cloud landscape, focusing on migrating on-premises applications to Azure. Responsibilities include automating infrastructure, implementing HA/DR patterns, and optimizing database performance for onboarded applications.
Requirements
Requires deep expertise in SQL Server, Azure hybrid setups, and strong automation skills using PowerShell and IaC. Candidates must be proficient in performance troubleshooting, including diagnosing blocking and optimizing inefficient queries.
About Schuberg Philis
Industry: Information Technology & Services
Company size: 201-500 employees
Some systems just have to work. They keep power grids stable, logistics moving, payments flowing, and vital public services online. You don’t hear much about them when they work, but when they stop, the impact is immediate, visible, and far-reaching. That’s exactly the kind of work we do. We design, build, and run IT systems that must be reliable, secure, and uncompromising because people depend on them every single day. We call it mission-critical IT. At Schuberg Philis, we go beyond traditional IT services by delivering promised outcomes, not just projects. Our Plan-Build-Run model means the same team takes ownership from start to finish: no handoffs, no middlemen. It’s how we’ve made 100% customer satisfaction not a goal, but a requirement. And it’s why 99.9% of our projects are delivered on time and on budget, helping customers realize solutions that are better, cheaper, and faster. Our engineers bring deep expertise in cloud, data & AI, software, and security, not as abstract offerings, but as the means to solve business-critical challenges. Whether it’s banks handling millions of transactions, logistics firms keeping supply chains running, or energy providers maintaining grid stability, customers trust us when failure is not an option. What sets us apart? - We engineer outcomes, not just deliver technology. - Our autonomous teams carry end-to-end responsibility. - We focus on long-term resilience and impact. This approach has made us the #1 ranked IT company in the Netherlands, according to Whitelane Research. Since 2000, we’ve built enduring partnerships across vital industries, delivering secure, scalable, and seamless solutions that keep society moving. We’re expanding across Europe with one clear mission: to be more than an IT provider. We’re a partner who understands your business inside out, and who is fully invested in your success.