Cherokee Nation · 3 weeks ago
Lead Senior SQL Database Administrator
Herndon, VA, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$125K/yr - $145K/yr
7+ years expCherokee Federal is building mission-critical data platforms that power federal, healthcare, and financial programs. We need a seasoned Lead SQL Senior Database Administrator to lead enterprise SQL Server and Azure data solutions with high availability, performance, and resiliency.
CommunitiesGovernmentService Industry
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Architect, design, and administer enterprise SQL Server environments (2016/2019/2022), including Always On Availability Groups, Failover Clustering, Replication, and Log Shipping
Lead high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) strategy, including planning, testing, automation, and execution; maintain DR runbooks and recovery objectives
Design and support end-to-end database solutions for mission-critical applications; provide guidance on modernization and migration initiatives
Install, upgrade, and manage SQL Server Engine, SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS; optimize performance for large-scale databases using indexing strategies, partitioning, compression, and backup/restore tuning
Implement and maintain Microsoft security patches, cumulative updates, and version upgrades to ensure platform stability and compliance
Define and enforce data engineering standards, design patterns, and operational procedures; automate provisioning and configuration using PowerShell, DSC, or equivalent tooling
Improve operational efficiency through enhanced monitoring, observability, capacity planning, and performance tuning
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into secure, scalable database architectures with strong HA/DR posture
Govern security and networking controls across data platforms, including Azure Storage, private endpoints, virtual networks, and database-integrated applications
Support hybrid and cloud data services including Azure SQL, Managed Instance, Cosmos DB, and other NoSQL platforms
Provide technical leadership to DBA Operations and Engineering teams; mentor staff, set priorities, and drive continuous improvement
Produce clear documentation including architectures, diagrams, DR plans, migration strategies, and standard operating procedures
Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders; deliver high-quality work with attention to detail
Qualification
Required
U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency documentation
7+ years of hands-on experience administering large-scale SQL Server environments (2016+), including VLDB performance engineering
Deep expertise with HA/DR technologies (Always On AGs, Failover Clustering, Log Shipping; replication as appropriate)
Strong experience with SSIS, SSRS, SSAS deployment and performance tuning
Demonstrated ability to design enterprise database architectures and capacity plans for mission-critical workloads
High proficiency in automation and configuration management (PowerShell, DSC, or similar)
Experience working in regulated industries (government, financial, healthcare) with strong understanding of auditing, compliance, and security requirements
Solid understanding of networking, security, and identity concepts relevant to data platforms (firewalls, NSGs, VNETs, authentication, encryption)
Excellent communication, documentation, and leadership abilities
Preferred
Relevant certifications: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Database Administrator (DP-300), Microsoft SQL Server certifications (2016+); legacy certifications may be considered with relevant experience, CompTIA A+ or Network+
NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator (optional based on environment)
Experience with Azure data services (Azure SQL, Managed Instance, Storage Accounts, Cosmos DB, VNET integration, private endpoints)
Experience supporting application platforms requiring SQL back-end integration (e.g., SharePoint 2016+ or equivalent)
Knowledge of data warehousing and BI platform operations
Experience with security hardening, encryption, auditing, and compliance frameworks (NIST, FedRAMP, HIPAA, PCI, etc.)
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology preferred; equivalent experience accepted
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
401K
Other possible benefits as provided
Company
Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation is a tribal community in the United States.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$27.37MKey Investors
U.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesU.S. Department of TransportationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2025-06-11Grant· $1.27M
2025-01-13Grant· $10.7M
2023-10-23Grant· $0.07M
Leadership Team
Cassie Osburn
Manager Healthcare Office I CNOHC Dental
Erika Warner
HR Business Partner
Recent News
The Journal Record
2025-12-24
Talk Business & Politics
2025-12-21
Government Technology US
2025-11-25
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