This role will be responsible for managing, optimizing, and re-architecting the current on-premises database environment. As a key technical enabler of the organization's cloud strategy, the Senior Database Administrator will first stabilize and remediate the existing database infrastructure, then design and execute a safe, phased migration to AWS.
This position bridges the gap between the current aging, monolithic on-premises database environment running on on-prem infrastructure and a future-state scalable, cost-efficient, cloud-native database platform.
- Manage and support enterprise-scale Microsoft SQL Server environments, including databases in the 10+ terabyte range across development, QA, and production.
- Lead and participate in SQL Server upgrades, version migrations, patching, and maintenance efforts with minimal disruption to business-critical applications.
- Design, implement, and maintain high-availability and disaster recovery solutions, particularly Always On Availability Groups.
- Monitor and optimize database performance, availability, and reliability, including tuning queries, indexes, and stored procedures.
- Perform and validate database backup, recovery, and maintenance activities to ensure data integrity and operational continuity.
- Advanced SQL Server administration options (trace flags, DB options, and query hints).
- Develop automation using PowerShell, T-SQL, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code.
- Support enterprise monitoring, alerting, and observability solutions tailored to SQL Server health, availability, and performance metrics.
- Establish operational standards, runbooks, and incident response procedures.
- Expertise in SQL Server replication across multiple databases; troubleshoot replication latency, distribution bottlenecks, and data consistency issues.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex database issues related to performance, connectivity, storage, security, and application integration.
- Contribute to the planning and execution of database migration and cloud transformation initiatives, with a focus on migrating to AWS (RDS for SQL Server, EC2-hosted SQL Server).
- Implement database security best practices, including user access management, encryption, auditing, and compliance controls.
- Create and maintain automation scripts, monitoring solutions, operational procedures, and technical documentation.
- Collaborate with software engineering, DevOps, infrastructure, product, and security teams to support business-critical applications and modernization efforts.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 4 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 2 years' experience; a Ph.D. and up to 1 year of experience; or 8 years' experience in a related field.
- Requires 2+ years of AWS database migration experience.
- Requires 5+ years of experience with Microsoft SQL Server database platform in the 10+ terabyte range.
- Strong hands-on experience with SQL Server replication, including troubleshooting latency and consistency issues.
- Demonstrated experience with SQL Server upgrades, migrations, and patching across multiple environments.
- Solid understanding of Windows Server administration as it relates to SQL Server hosting and configuration.
- Proven experience with SQL Server clustering and high-availability solutions (e.g., failover clustering).
Preferred Qualification
- Nice to have in Atlas MongoDB and PostgreSQL.
USD 121,800.00 - 203,000.00 per year
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $121,800.00 - $203,000.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
EOE, including disability/vets
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a related discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience per posting)
- 2+ years of AWS database migration experience
- 5+ years of experience with Microsoft SQL Server in 10+ terabyte environments
- Strong hands-on experience with SQL Server replication, including troubleshooting latency and consistency issues
- Experience with SQL Server upgrades, version migrations, patching, and maintenance across environments
- Design and implement high-availability and disaster recovery solutions (Always On Availability Groups)
- Proven experience with SQL Server clustering and failover clustering solutions
- Solid understanding of Windows Server administration as it relates to SQL Server hosting and configuration
- Perform and validate database backup, recovery, and maintenance to ensure data integrity and continuity
- Monitor and optimize database performance, including query, index, and stored procedure tuning
- Develop automation using PowerShell, T-SQL, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code
- Support enterprise monitoring, alerting, and observability solutions for SQL Server health and performance
- Troubleshoot complex database issues related to performance, connectivity, storage, security, and application integration
- Experience contributing to database migration and cloud transformation initiatives (RDS for SQL Server, EC2-hosted SQL Server)
- Knowledge of database security best practices including user access management, encryption, auditing, and compliance controls
- Experience with Atlas MongoDB and PostgreSQL
Cox Enterprises Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) includes a dollar-for-dollar match up to 6% of pay plus an additional fixed 2% company contribution with immediate vesting and auto-enrollment via Vanguard. Legacy cohorts may have different retirement arrangements, but the enhanced match is emphasized as a current standard.
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Healthcare Strength — Multiple medical options (Core PPO, Premium PPO, HDHP + HSA) and Kaiser in CA are available, with in-network preventive care covered at 100% and openly published 2026 plan details and premiums. The program lineup extends to pharmacy, dental, vision, telehealth, and condition-specific supports.
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Parental & Family Support — Eight weeks of paid parental leave, fertility coverage via Progyny, adoption assistance, and childcare/backup care resources complement flexible PTO and paid time off for voting, volunteering, and jury duty. These benefits are positioned to support employees across family life stages.
Cox Enterprises Insights
What We Do
For well over a century, Cox Enterprises has been shaping the future with daring ideas and values-driven thinking. Since our founding in 1898, our relentless spirit of innovation has driven us to disrupt industries and enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve. Through our major divisions — Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and Cox Farms — our people have countless opportunities to grow and make an impact in the communications and automotive industries, as well as in new ventures in agriculture, cleantech, digital media and more. As a privately-held, family-owned business, we know that people are our most valuable asset. We offer a supportive and inclusive environment with flexible career growth, amazing benefits and work-life balance at the forefront. Our mission, our ways of working and our commitment to people are what make our workplace culture remarkably flexible and resilient. Join us to build a better future and make your mark.
Why Work With Us
At our core, Cox is a technology company that values human relationships. We know people feel most empowered when their work has meaning, when they feel respected and have opportunities to grow. “Career satisfaction” is not enough at Cox — we’re here to help you find balance, live well and achieve your career goals even as they change over time.
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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Every person has different working styles and preferences — and we aim to empower teams to work where they are most comfortable. Some roles require in-person work, but for those that can be performed remotely, we offer flexibility.























