Azure Database Administrator

Responsibility

• Provision databases with required licenses.
• Install, configure, administer and maintain Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance and Microsoft SQL Server hosted on Azure Virtual Machines within the GCC Azure environment.
• Execute SQL scripts, stored procedures and scheduled jobs to perform data patches, corrections and updates across production and non-production Azure SQL environments, following change control and approval processes.
• Implement data security and recovery control.
• Configure and maintain database backup, restore, high availability and disaster recovery arrangements for Azure SQL environments, including built-in high availability and auto-failover groups for Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Always On Availability Groups or log shipping where SQL Server is hosted on Azure Virtual Machines.
• Monitor database health, performance, user access and security.
• Set up and maintain database monitoring, alerts and diagnostic logging using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Microsoft Defender for SQL and/or the Authority’s designated SIEM.
• Manage parameters for database optimisation.
• Perform database performance tuning, query optimisation, index maintenance, statistics updates, integrity checks and capacity management in accordance with operational requirements.
• Implement configuration management for business continuity plans and automate disaster recovery measures.
• Maintain database configuration baselines, asset inventory, runbooks, patch records, script execution and change logs, access review evidence and operational documentation for audit and handover purposes.
• Support systems to ensure a high degree of usability balanced with stringent security requirements.
• Support compliance with IM8, PDPA, GCC Azure governance requirements, agency security policies and applicable database hardening standards.

Experience and Skills

• Degree or Diploma in Computer Science, Computer or Electronics Engineering, Information Technology or related disciplines.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on database administration experience, preferably with Microsoft SQL Server 2016 and above.
• Passion for automation, standardisation and best practices.
• Hands-on experience administering Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance and/or Microsoft SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is required.
• Hands-on experience writing and executing T-SQL scripts for data patching, data corrections and scheduled data maintenance tasks in production environments, with adherence to change management and rollback procedures.
• Practical experience troubleshooting database and server performance problems.
• Hands-on experience in database administration, including system DBA tasks such as database management and security, SQL programming, database performance tuning and scalability, high availability technologies and disaster recovery.
• Good working knowledge of T-SQL, stored procedures, triggers, execution plan analysis, Query Store, Dynamic Management Views and SQL Server performance troubleshooting.
• Experience with SQL Server security features such as Transparent Data Encryption, Dynamic Data Masking, Always Encrypted, Row-Level Security, SQL Server Audit and role-based access control.
• Experience supporting backup and restore operations, point-in-time recovery, DR testing, RPO/RTO validation and database recovery runbooks.
• Familiarity with Azure Entra ID, Privileged Identity Management, Azure Key Vault, Microsoft Defender for SQL, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Monitor and Log Analytics will be advantageous.
• Prior experience supporting GCC Azure, Singapore government agency environments, IM8, PDPA, MTCS or similar regulated environments will be advantageous.

Certifications (Added Advantage)

• Relevant certifications such as DP-300: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, AZ-900, AZ-104, CompTIA Security+ or equivalent will be an added advantage