About the position
Barr is seeking a Database Administrator to join our Minneapolis, Minnesota, team. In this hybrid role, you will support the Information Systems group and play a key part in managing the performance, integrity, and security of our internal database systems while supporting modernization and AI-readiness initiatives. You'll oversee SQL Server environments, implement and maintain role-based access controls, and establish monitoring and alerting systems to proactively identify and resolve database issues. You'll also perform routine maintenance, optimization, and backup tasks and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure secure, scalable, and reliable data access across systems. A successful person in this role has strong problem-solving skills and keen attention to detail for maintaining data integrity and system reliability. They are deadline driven and enjoy using their project management skills, along with their technical expertise, to work collaboratively as part of a cross-functional team. They are also excited to help bridge legacy systems with the evolving demands of data governance, modernization, and scalable data infrastructure.
Responsibilities
- Administer and maintain SQL Server environment, perform patching, upgrades, performance tuning, and routine maintenance tasks such as indexing and backups.
- Design and implement role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce database security. Support data governance and change management practices in alignment with emerging standards and practices.
- Support initiatives to transition from legacy systems to modern, cloud-based platforms and improve database structures and workflows.
- Focus on adopting emerging technologies like NoSQL, vector databases, and Azure-native services. Support AI/ML initiatives through data readiness and contribute to high availability and disaster recovery strategies.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, data engineering, information systems, or a related field or equivalent experience.
- Five or more years of relevant experience.
- Experience managing Microsoft SQL Server in a production environment.
- Proficiency in T-SQL, query optimization, and database performance tuning.
- Knowledge of cloud-based database services, particularly within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem (e.g., Azure SQL Database, Azure Monitor).
- Experience with SQL Server backup, recovery, and high availability strategies, particularly SQL Server replication.
- Experience configuring and maintaining role-based access control (RBAC) in SQL Server.
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of different people.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship by Barr, now or in the future.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB, Redis, or DynamoDB for managing unstructured or semi-structured data.
- Familiarity with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant, Milvus) or the concept of embedding storage for AI/ML applications.
- Understanding of data architecture patterns used in AI/ML pipelines, including support for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), chat history storage, or metadata management.
- Exposure to cloud-native database services in Azure.
- Ability to work with JSON-based or schema-less data models and flexible indexing strategies.
- Familiarity with graph databases like Neo4j or Amazon Neptune and their use in knowledge graphs or relationship modeling.
Benefits
- Competitive, affordable insurance plans: Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, accidental death insurance, and flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contribution and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) with company contribution in Barr stock.
- Barr has a 'no retained earnings' model and distributes all profit to our employees through our annual bonus distribution plan, ESOP, and dividends to shareholders.
- Annual time and expense allowances, mentorship program, and many internal training opportunities.
- Paid time off, holidays, overtime for non-exempt/hourly staff, and compensatory time for exempt/salaried staff (time off or pay for extra time worked), paid family leave.
- Ergonomic analysis and equipment, Personal Protective Equipment allowance, wellbeing-focused educational opportunities.
