SQL Server DBA / Migration Lead

The Senior SQL Server DBA / Migration Lead will own the end-to-end database migration workstream for a large SQL Server estate moving to Google Cloud. This person will establish technical standards, lead discovery and compatibility analysis, select migration methods, coordinate validation and cutover, and guide remediation. The ideal candidate combines deep SQL Server administration experience with large-scale migration leadership and can work effectively with application owners, cloud architects, infrastructure teams, security partners, and project leadership., * Lead discovery and assessment of SQL Server instances, databases, versions, editions, configurations, dependencies, features, integrations, and operational requirements.

• Evaluate database and application compatibility with Google Cloud target options, including Cloud SQL for SQL Server and SQL Server on Compute Engine.
• Define migration patterns using backup and restore, replication, log shipping, Google Database Migration Service, or other approved approaches based on size, downtime tolerance, recovery requirements, and technical constraints.
• Establish migration standards, runbooks, checklists, acceptance criteria, rollback plans, validation procedures, and remediation processes.
• Lead database sizing, capacity, performance-baseline, indexing, configuration, and post-migration tuning activities.
• Ensure database security requirements are addressed, including encryption, service accounts, privileged access, authentication, auditing, patching, and least-privilege controls.
• Plan and lead mock migrations, production cutovers, data validation, application connectivity testing, rollback decisions, and hypercare.
• Provide technical direction to the SQL Server DBA and resolve complex migration defects, feature gaps, performance issues, and operational risks.
• Partner with the Google Cloud Architect, PM/BA, application owners, networking, security, and infrastructure teams to sequence migration waves and remove blockers., * Complete and accurate SQL Server discovery and compatibility assessment.
• Approved migration patterns and technical standards for common workload types.
• Successful pilot and wave migrations meeting agreed downtime, data-integrity, security, and performance targets.
• Documented cutover, rollback, validation, remediation, and hypercare procedures.
• Timely resolution of technical defects and clear escalation of risks that could affect migration readiness.

• 8+ years of hands-on SQL Server database administration, including enterprise production environments.
• Google Cloud migration experience, particularly Cloud SQL for SQL Server, Compute Engine, or Google Database Migration Service.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex SQL Server migrations, consolidations, upgrades, or cloud transformation programs.
• Advanced knowledge of SQL Server backup and recovery, high availability, disaster recovery, replication, performance tuning, security, and troubleshooting.
• Experience assessing compatibility across SQL Server versions, editions, features, linked servers, SQL Agent jobs, SSIS, CLR, encryption, and third-party integrations.
• Ability to build detailed migration runbooks, validation plans, rollback procedures, and technical decision documentation.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead technical discussions and explain risks to both engineering and business stakeholders., * Experience with large, regulated, or highly available enterprise environments.
• Automation experience using PowerShell, T-SQL, Python, Terraform, or configuration-management tools.
• Relevant Microsoft SQL Server and/or Google Cloud certifications.