Junior SQL Server Administrator / Master Project Scheduler

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Your most important work is ahead.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos is seeking a versatile and detail-oriented professional to serve as a Junior SQL Server Administrator / Master Project Scheduler to support the National Media Exploitation Center (NMEC).  This dual-role opportunity requires an Integrated Master Scheduler to build and maintain a complex Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) using Microsoft Project, facilitate meetings, and collaborate closely with project stakeholders to identify and manage project activities, milestones, dependencies, and resources. The Scheduler will be responsible for producing reports, distributing weekly updates, and generating views to support project visibility and decision-making.

Simultaneously, the role involves supporting back-office databases by administering Microsoft SQL Server environments using SQL Server Management Studio. The candidate will monitor database health and performance, manage access and accounts, install and configure updates, and recommend system enhancements to boost efficiency and reduce costs. The ideal candidate will thrive in an Agile framework, contributing to the planning and execution of key initiatives across the enterprise.

The work location is in Bethesda at the Intelligence Community Campus.

Primary Responsibilities

• Build and maintain the project’s Master Schedule using Microsoft Project, working closely with project managers and team members to ensure all tasks, milestones, and deadlines are accurately tracked.

• Identify task dependencies, major milestones, and the critical path to help keep the project on schedule.

• Keep the schedule up-to-date, track progress against the baseline, and run reports to show planned vs. actual progress.

• Work with different teams (PMO, developers, operations) to make sure all schedules are aligned and support overall project goals.

• Help identify risks and issues through schedule analysis and provide simple "what-if" scenarios to support decision-making.

• Follow scheduling best practices and help develop or follow simple procedures for version control and updates.

• Support database administration tasks including maintaining SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL systems to ensure performance, security, and availability.

• Perform routine tasks such as backups, performance tuning, index maintenance, and data recovery.

• Monitor and improve database performance and help redesign database structures as needed.

• Create and maintain documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), reports, and presentations.

• Communicate clearly with both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, including government personnel, and build strong working relationships with team members and customers.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience with Microsoft Project and other scheduling tools such as MS Project Server or Deltek Open Plan

• Knowledge of scheduling theory and best practices (e.g., PASEG), including IMS architecture based on WBS or IMP

• Proficiency in managing Critical Path, resource loading, schedule status, forecasting, and business rhythms

• Experience with baseline change control and maintaining overall responsibility for an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)

• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively in a team-oriented, collaborative environment

• Hands-on experience with MS SQL Server database administration, including MySQL and PostgreSQL

• Skilled in implementing backup strategies and writing shell scripts for database management

• Experience with database performance monitoring and tuning to ensure system reliability and efficiency

• Familiarity with containerized SQL Server environments using Docker and deployment via Kubernetes

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Proven ability to establish goals and plans aligned with project objectives and to support continuous improvement in processes and outcomes

Education

• Bac