SQL Server Architect - AWS focussed

Your new company You will be working for a known organisation that is based in London. The requirement is to be on-site 3-4 days a week and the role also requires someone with active DV Clearance. The duration is until March 2027. However, it is likely that this could extend further.

Your new role The company previously delivered a large scale, on-premises deployment of SharePoint for Hydrogen in 2017. This implementation was designed for high availability, incorporating full disaster recovery and resilience across the application, SQL Server, and storage layers. The client is now looking to transition to SharePoint Subscription Edition and re-platform the solution onto AWS. As part of this programme, the SQL Server Architect will be responsible for designing, validating, and optimising the SQL Server platform that underpins a complex, enterprise grade SharePoint Farm hosted on AWS. The engagement will begin with an eight-week Proof of Value (PoV) focused on proving SQL Server resilience patterns, including Always On and HA/DR using cloud native AWS services. Experience with Azure is also beneficial to support comparative assessment.

Subject to a successful PoV, the role will progress into a comprehensive design phase running through to the end of 2026, producing a scalable, resilient, and compliant SQL Server architecture aligned to SharePoint and organisational standards.

The architect will work closely with the company's Infrastructure Architect and the AWS ProServe team to assess, validate, and recommend the most suitable AWS native resilience options. Your findings will contribute directly to the formal recommendations report and shape the approach taken forward into the detailed design phase.

Engagement Phases & Focus Phase 1 - Proof of Value (PoV): Resilience Patterns (Weeks 1-8) Objective: Prove the viability and performance of HA/DR patterns for SQL Server supporting SharePoint on AWS. Key Activities

• Work with Infra Architect to define PoV success criteria (RPO/RTO, failover time, throughput, recovery steps).
• Stand up PoV topology: o SQL Server Always On Availability Groups on Amazon EC2 across multiple AZs. o Storage using EBS (io1/io2 / gp3) and, where required, FSx for Windows File Server for cluster dependencies.
• Integrate CloudWatch, AWS Backup, Systems Manager, and automation as appropriate (CloudFormation/Terraform/PowerShell).
• Confirm and test SharePoint compatibility (content/search/service DBs).
• Produce pattern catalogue and TCO/performance findings and assessment of complexity to introduce and in terms of operability and maintainability for each of the chosen patterns (Always On availability groups, Always On failover cluster instances (FCI), SIOS DataKeeper, AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery, and AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS)). Deliverables
• PoV Plan & Success Metrics
• Resilience Pattern Catalogue (HA/DR topologies, pros/cons, prerequisites)
• Testing of DR options with SharePoint team.
• Performance Baseline & Findings Report (throughput/latency, failover timings)
• PoV Recommendation & Next Step Design Decisions Core Responsibilities
• Architect HA/DR for SQL Server in AWS to support a mission-critical SharePoint farm.
• Evaluate native AWS options (EC2, EBS, FSx, Route 53, CloudWatch, Backup, Systems Manager, CloudFormation).
• Design and Always validate On patterns, listener routing, quorum/witness.
• Collaborate with the Infrastructure Architect to ensure network/IAM/security fit.
• Produce documentation, runbooks, and handover materials for operations.

Skills & Experience Essential

• 10+ years with Microsoft SQL Server (2016+) architecture and operations.
• Proven delivery of Always On Availability Groups, FCI, log shipping/replication.
• Large scale SharePoint database design/operations experience.
• Strong performance engineering (indexing, I/O, concurrency, wait stats, storage optimisation).
• Deep understanding of networking for Always On, listener design, DNS failover.
• Excellent documentation and stakeholder communication.

Desirable

• Azure SQL HA/DR exposure (SQL MI, zone redundancy) for comparative design decisions.
• Hands on AWS deployment for SQL workloads (EC2, EBS, FSx, Route 53, CloudWatch, Backup, SSM).
• Automation tooling (CloudFormation/Terraform, PowerShell DSC).
• Experience with regulated environments and security hardening.

What you'll need to succeed You will hold an active DV Clearance

What you'll get in return Flexible working options available.

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