SQL Server Senior Engineer

Zurich is looking for an experienced SQL Server Senior Engineer for Public Cloud (AWS & Azure) to develop, implement, optimize, and maintain cloud-based solutions.  This is a pivotal technology leadership role that requires a blend of deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills to architect scalable, reliable, and secure SQL Server environments that support critical business applications.  The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with cloud-based SQL Server deployments, a strong understanding of cloud infrastructure, and the ability to guide organizations through their digital transformation journeys.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for providing end-to-end database support for cloud services through monitoring, incident response, and incident resolution for the Public and Private Cloud Platform environment.
• Database Systems Administration: Responsible for database backup and recovery (verification, checks), examine logs and alerts, maintain access rights and roles, database instance version control.
• Engage in Incident and Problem resolution including escalation to the appropriate teams as required.  Contribute to incident root cause analysis, with enough knowledge to lead discussions and drive tangible improvements.
• Provide support and expertise to troubleshoot issues on the public cloud database platforms (AWS and Azure) for hosted workloads, escalating to other specialized teams as required.
• Perform infrastructure engineering for activities which include database platform upgrades, image patching, monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Participate in security incident response and investigation as needed.
• Engage with automation team to engineer, automate, and orchestrate database provisioning and maintenance processes using modern cloud tools and technologies.  Evaluate, design, and implement supporting technologies in alignment with global and local requirements.  Develop infrastructure as code to manage and provision cloud database resources leveraging standard tools (Terraform, PowerShell, Azure DevOps)
• Create and update capability and service playbooks and runbook documentation as required.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues reported by monitoring systems and submitted through the ticketing system. Fully document issues, actions taken, and steps for resolution.
• Initiate escalation process as appropriate while communicating progress and resolution to clients. Work with others to resolve problems and minimize escalations.
• Focus on continued professional development to maintain knowledge and application of current industry best practices and security concepts.  Provide advice on best practices for operations management of AWS RDS Databases.  Carry out and document Proof of Concept work for RDS Databases.
• Exhibit an innovative mindset by suggesting improvements as well as engineering and implementing related recommendations.  Strong desire to learn, implement, and teach others in new processes and technologies.
• Perform other tasks as defined, planned, and approved by leadership.  Support off hours changes and incidents.

Experience Required:

• Cloud Solution Architecture: Design and implement end-to-end SQL Server solutions on AWS and Azure, leveraging IaaS, native cloud services, automation, and best practices to ensure high availability, scalability, and performance.
• Migration and Modernization Leadership: Lead complex migration and modernization projects in AWS and Azure, including assessment, planning, execution, testing, and optimization.
• Performance Optimization: Analyze and optimize SQL Server workloads for throughput, latency, resource utilization, and cost across cloud platforms, including query tuning, indexing strategies, and resource scaling.  Experience with monitoring tools such as Dynatrace.  Experienced setting up monitoring / alarming for production DB environments.
• Experience with query analyzers and query tuning / slow query optimization etc.
• Security & Compliance: Architect secure SQL Server deployments by applying encryption, identity and access management, network security, auditing, and compliance frameworks (such as HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2).
• Automation & Infrastructure as Code: Implement automation using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, Azure Resource Manager templates, AWS CloudFormation) for the provisioning and management of SQL Server resources.
• Disaster Recovery & Hi