Explore Senior SQL DBA jobs for experienced database professionals ready to lead the design, performance, security, and reliability of critical data platforms. Ladders features vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more, including senior SQL Server and database administration roles across industries.
Senior SQL database administrators oversee database environments that support essential business applications and analytics. Typical responsibilities include managing SQL Server databases, planning and executing upgrades and migrations, monitoring availability, tuning queries and indexes, establishing backup and recovery strategies, and protecting sensitive data. Senior DBAs may also set standards, mentor colleagues, and partner with engineering, infrastructure, security, and business teams.
Employers commonly look for deep experience with relational database administration and SQL, along with expertise in performance troubleshooting, high availability, disaster recovery, capacity planning, and access controls. Familiarity with cloud databases, automation and scripting, database monitoring, and large-scale migrations can also be valuable. Strong communication and the ability to translate business requirements into dependable database solutions are important at the senior level.
Compensation varies by location, industry, company size, platform expertise, and the scope of the role. Senior SQL DBA positions listed on Ladders meet the site’s $100,000-and-above salary focus. Opportunities may include hands-on database leadership, enterprise platform ownership, consulting, or progression into database architecture and data infrastructure management.
Search vetted Senior SQL DBA openings and compare responsibilities, required skills, and compensation. Use your experience with database reliability, performance, security, and modernization to identify roles that match your next career move.
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Join a dynamic Reliability team as a Senior Database Engineer, enhancing database performance and reliability. Collaborate across engineering to optimize distributed databases, ensuring high availabil...
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$80K - $95K *
Champion data integrity by managing database systems, optimizing performance, and implementing security measures. Play a vital role in troubleshooting and modifying databases to support organizational...
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$117K - $161K *
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Senior Software Engineer - Cloud Platform Engineering
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Join a dynamic team shaping cloud infrastructure for enterprise applications, utilizing your deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud orchestration, and API development to drive innovative solutio...
3 weeks ago
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Design, build, and maintain robust data solutions to empower analytics and AI initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline data integration, ensure quality, and drive efficiency...
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Champion innovative solutions by advising top financial institutions on identity verification and fraud prevention. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure seamless client experiences and drive produ...
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$116K - $155K *
Transform the future of healthcare IT by designing scalable, secure database architectures that enhance medical imaging solutions. Collaborate across teams to ensure high-performance systems that supp...
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Database Architect - InteleShare
$108K - $145K *
Champion the design and optimization of scalable database architectures for healthcare imaging solutions, ensuring high performance and reliability while collaborating across teams to support operatio...
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Sr. Manager, Security - Continuous Monitoring v 2.0
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Unlock potential by leading a team focused on continuous monitoring and compliance automation, ensuring effective security controls across various infrastructures, while fostering team growth and coll...
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Explore opportunities to partner with engineers and stakeholders, translating technical discussions into actionable deliverables while supporting CI/CD initiatives and repository governance with a foc...
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Sr Software Engineer (Backend)
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Join a dynamic team as you lead the design and development of complex software systems. Drive technical direction, mentor peers, and ensure high-quality, scalable solutions that align with business go...
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Engineer scalable Azure data solutions, leading architecture and modernization initiatives. Collaborate with teams to define standards and ensure high-performance data integration, governance, and sec...
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6 days ago
What does a Senior SQL DBA do?
A Senior SQL DBA manages and improves database systems, commonly including SQL Server environments. The role often covers performance tuning, backups and recovery, security, upgrades, availability, migrations, and technical guidance for teams.
What qualifications are common for Senior SQL DBA jobs?
Employers typically seek substantial database administration experience, advanced SQL skills, and knowledge of performance optimization, high availability, disaster recovery, and database security. Cloud platforms, automation, and mentoring experience may also be preferred.
How much do Senior SQL DBA jobs pay?
Pay depends on location, industry, employer, and the role’s technical scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including qualifying Senior SQL DBA opportunities.
Are Senior SQL DBA roles limited to SQL Server?
Many roles focus on Microsoft SQL Server, but some employers value experience with other relational database platforms, cloud-managed databases, or hybrid environments. Review each job description for its specific technology requirements.
What career paths can follow a Senior SQL DBA role?
Experienced Senior SQL DBAs may advance into database architecture, data platform engineering, database management, cloud infrastructure, or broader data infrastructure leadership.