Title: SQL Server DBA – Performance Tuning Specialist
Location: Charlotte, NC; Altanta, GA (REMOTE)
Duration: 6-month contract with potential extensions
Compensation: $55.00 – $61.73/hour  
Work Requirements: US Citizen, GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the U.S.

SQL Server DBA – Performance Tuning Specialist
This is a hands-on, deeply technical role: you'll drive the end-to-end performance of a mission-critical OLTP database supporting critical business operations. Your primary mission is to squeeze out every ounce of throughput and minimize latency by tuning both the SQL code and the underlying EC2-hosted server configuration.

Key Responsibilities

• In-Depth Performance Analysis:
  • Profile top-heavy queries using DMVs (e.g. sys.dm_exec_query_stats, sys.dm_io_virtual_file_stats)
  • Capture and analyze Extended Events sessions and Query Store data to identify plan regressions and parameter sniffing issues
• Index & Statistics Management:
  • Design and implement covering/non-clustered indexes, filtered indexes, and indexed views
  • Automate statistics updates and histograms to optimize cardinality estimates
• SQL Refactoring & Plan Stabilization:
  • Rewrite stored procedures, TVFs, and ad-hoc statements for set-based operations
  • Employ Plan Guides, Query Hints, and parameterization strategies to enforce optimal execution plans
• Server-Level Tuning:
  • Configure NUMA, affinity masks, MAXDOP, 'cost threshold for parallelism,' and lock escalation settings
  • Optimize TempDB layout (multiple data files, trace flags 1118/1117), autogrowth settings, and file-striping across EBS volumes
• AWS & Infrastructure:
  • Right-size EC2 instance types (vCPU, memory) and EBS provisioning (IOPS vs. throughput)
  • Integrate with AWS monitoring (CloudWatch metrics, Enhanced Monitoring) and alert on disk queue lengths, buffer pool usage, wait stats
• Automation & CI/CD:
  • Script environment provisioning and configuration via PowerShell, AWS CLI / CloudFormation / CDK
  • Integrate database deployment and migration into Azure DevOps
• Benchmarking & Reporting:
  • Develop load-testing scenarios), capture baselines, validate and drive continuous improvement
  • Deliver detailed before/after performance reports with clear metrics (TPS, latency percentiles, CPU/IO utilization) aligned to business transactions and processes.

Required Skills & Experience

• Deep SQL Server Expertise: 8+ years tuning SQL Server 2016/2019/2022 in high-volume OLTP environments (≥100M rows)
• Performance-First Mindset: Mastery of execution plans, wait-stat analysis, index strategies, and statistics management
• AWS Savvy: Hands-on with EC2-hosted SQL Server; strong grasp of EBS volume types, networking, and CloudWatch
• Scripting & Automation: Proficient in PowerShell/Python for admin tasks and CI/CD integration (Azure DevOps or equivalent)
• Diagnostic Toolset: Comfortable with SQL Profiler/Extended Events, Query Store, Plan Explorer, and third-party profilers (FogLight, SolarWinds, etc.)
• Communication & Collaboration: Ability to translate complex findings into actionable recommendations for developers and architects in two-week sprints

Nice-to-Haves

• Familiarity with containerized SQL Server (Docker/Kubernetes) or managed services (RDS/Aurora)
• Experience with Resource Governor, Partitioning, and In-memory technologies (In-Memory OLTP, Columnstore)
• Certifications: Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator, AWS Certified Database – Specialty

Why This Role?

• Impact: Tackle the biggest performance challenges in our core transactional system.
• Growth: Temp-to-Perm path with senior leadership visibility.

Our benefits package includes: 

• Comprehensive medical benefits

• Competitive pay

• 401(k) retirement plan

• …and much more!

INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, INSPYR Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities

Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. As a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, we strategically align industry and technical expertise with our clients' business objectives and cultural needs. Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services, project, and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the human aspect of our business, we work seamlessly with our talent and clients to match the right solutions to the right opportunities. Learn more about us at inspyrsolutions.com.

25-15234