SQL Server DBA, Contract

66degrees•Chicago, IL

1d•Remote

About The Position

66degrees is an end-to-end AI transformation partner that guides enterprises from complex business challenges to clear, quantifiable outcomes. Our company is the culmination of several successful firms, each a leader in its own right in cloud, artificial intelligence, and data. This convergence of talent and expertise is how we help businesses reach their own "inflection point," where chaotic data becomes a strategic asset, complexity becomes clarity, and AI becomes an engine for growth. Our ultimate vision is to be the catalyst for a future where every business operates as an intelligent enterprise, with autonomous systems unlocking human potential. At 66degrees, we believe in thriving through challenges and winning together. These values not only guide us in achieving our goals as a company but also for our people. We are dedicated to creating a significant impact for our employees by fostering a culture that sparks innovation and supports professional and personal growth along the way. We are seeking a highly skilled SQL Server Database Administrator with deep expertise in performance tuning, schema design, and database modernization. This role will lead agentic-driven database transformation initiatives, focusing on migration planning, query optimization, and automated monitoring across both legacy systems and cloud-hosted environments. The ideal candidate combines strong technical depth with a strategic mindset to modernize and optimize enterprise data platforms.

Requirements

Mid- to senior-level professional with hands-on expertise in SQL Server database administration, performance optimization, and enterprise-scale database environments
Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server administration and architecture
Proven expertise in performance tuning, query optimization, and execution plan analysis
Experience in database schema design and data modeling
Demonstrated experience with database migration projects (on-prem to cloud platforms such as Azure or similar)
Familiarity with automation tools, monitoring solutions, and scripting (PowerShell, T-SQL, or similar)
Understanding of high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions
Experience working with large-scale, high-volume transactional systems
Knowledge of cloud database services and hybrid architectures
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related or equivalent work experience required

Nice To Haves

Exposure to AI/agentic-driven database optimization approaches is a plus

Responsibilities

Administer, maintain, and optimize SQL Server databases across on-premises and cloud environments
Lead database modernization initiatives, including migration from legacy systems to cloud platforms
Design and implement efficient, scalable database schemas aligned with business requirements
Perform advanced performance tuning, query optimization, and indexing strategies
Develop and implement automated monitoring, alerting, and self-healing database solutions
Analyze and resolve complex database performance and availability issues
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including data engineering, DevOps, and application teams
Ensure data security, integrity, backup, and disaster recovery strategies are in place
Drive adoption of agentic and AI-driven approaches for database operations and optimization
Document database architecture, processes, and best practices