• Architect, install, configure, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server instances (2019, 2025, Azure SQL Database) across complex, multi-server Windows environments. • Lead end-to-end application performance engineering: analyze execution plans, identify problematic queries, and work with development teams to implement lasting optimizations at the code and schema level. • Proactively monitor application and database performance using Extended Events, DMVs, Wait Statistics analysis, and third-party tooling; establish baselines and SLA-aligned alerting thresholds. • Design, implement, and test robust backup and recovery strategies; own RTO/RPO targets and validate them through regular recovery drills. • Architect and maintain HA/DR solutions including Always On Availability Groups and Log Shipping across production and DR environments. • Govern database security: design role-based access controls, auditing frameworks, and encryption strategies in line with least-privilege and regulatory requirements. • Own capacity planning and storage forecasting; collaborate with infrastructure teams to ensure database platforms scale ahead of demand. • Lead database change governance: review and approve schema migrations, deployment scripts, and ORM-generated queries before they reach production. • Drive automation of routine DBA tasks (index maintenance, integrity checks, job monitoring) through PowerShell and SQL Agent. • Manage SQL Server patching and upgrades through a formal change management process, including pre- and post-upgrade validation. • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level DBAs; contribute to team knowledge-base and runbook documentation. • Serve as the senior escalation point in the on-call rotation, leading the response and post-incident review for Severity 1 database outages.