Operational Database Administrator Jobs in Chicago, IL

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Kemper is one of the nation's leading specialized insurers. Our success is a direct reflection of the talented and diverse people who make a positive difference in the lives of our customers every day. We believe a high-performing culture, valuable opportunities for personal development and professionalchallenge, and a healthy work-life balance can be highly motivating and productive. Kemper's products and services are making a real difference to our customers, who have unique and evolving needs. By joining our team, you are helping to providean experiencetoour stakeholders that delivers on our promises.

Kemper is seeking an SQL Server DBA. This Database Administrator (DBA) is a principal-level Microsoft SQL Server technical expert responsible for the architecture, administration, performance, security, and operational excellence of enterprise SQL Server database environments within a large Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance organization. This role provides advanced technical leadership in designing, implementing, optimizing, and supporting highly available, secure, and resilient SQL Server platforms that support mission-critical business applications and regulatory requirements.

As a trusted SQL Server subject matter expert, the DBA establishes database standards, drives SQL Server modernization and automation initiatives, and provides technical guidance on database platform strategy and operational best practices. This individual leads complex SQL Server initiatives, mentor's database professionals, and collaborates with application teams, infrastructure teams, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, and business stakeholders to ensure database platforms deliver exceptional performance, reliability, security, and business continuity.

Position Responsibilities

• Serves as a senior technical authority for Microsoft SQL Server database platforms, providing expertise in architecture, administration, performance optimization, security, and operational support.
• Designs, installs, configures, upgrades, patches, and maintains enterprise Microsoft SQL Server environments across development, test, staging, and production environments.
• Provides advanced administration and support for SQL Server technologies, including SQL Server Database Engine, Always On Availability Groups, Failover Cluster Instances, replication, SQL Agent, SSIS, SSRS, and related components.
• Develops and implements SQL Server architecture standards, configuration baselines, operational procedures, and best practices to ensure consistency, reliability, and scalability.
• Performs advanced SQL Server performance tuning, including query optimization, execution plan analysis, indexing strategies, statistics management, database configuration tuning, and workload analysis.
• Monitors SQL Server environments using database monitoring tools and proactively identify issues related to performance, availability, capacity, storage, and resource utilization.
• Designs and maintains SQL Server high availability and disaster recovery solutions, including backup strategies, restore procedures, replication, failover testing, and recovery planning.
• Implements and manages SQL Server security controls, including authentication, authorization, role-based access, encryption, auditing, vulnerability remediation, and compliance requirements.
• Supports SQL Server environments hosted in AWS and hybrid cloud platforms, collaborating with cloud and infrastructure teams to deploy and optimize database solutions using services such as Amazon EC2, Amazon RDS, Amazon EBS, Amazon VPC, AWS IAM, AWS KMS, Amazon CloudWatch, S3, and AWS Backup.
• Leads SQL Server migration, modernization, and consolidation initiatives, including migrations to AWS and implementation of cloud-based database solutions where applicable.
• Develops automation solutions using PowerShell scripting, Python, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and database administration tools to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual processes.
• Partners with application development teams to support database design, data modeling, schema changes, release deployments, and production application support.
• Troubleshoots complex SQL Server incidents, performs root cause analysis, and implements permanent corrective actions to improve platform stability.
• Provides technical guidance during production incidents, change activities, upgrades, and major database-related initiatives.
• Maintains SQL Server documentation, architecture diagrams, standards, configuration records, and operational runbooks.
• Mentors and provide technical guidance to database administrators, promoting knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Evaluates SQL Server tools, technologies, and industry practices to improve database reliability, performance, and operational maturity.
• Participates in on-call support, incident response, and critical production issue resolution as required.

Position Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years of hands-on experience administering enterprise database environments, with a strong focus on Microsoft SQL Server.
• Extensive experience installing, configuring, upgrading, patching, securing, and supporting Microsoft SQL Server in large-scale enterprise environments, including AWS.
• Advanced knowledge of SQL Server architecture, including SQL Server Database Engine, Always On Availability Groups, Failover Cluster Instances, replication, backup/recovery, and performance tuning.
• Strong experience with query optimization, execution plan analysis, indexing strategies, and database troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting SQL Server environments across on-premises, hybrid, and AWS cloud platforms.
• Working knowledge of AWS services supporting SQL Server database platforms, including Amazon EC2, Amazon RDS, Amazon VPC, Amazon EBS, AWS IAM, AWS KMS, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS Backup, Route 53, S3, and Elastic Load Balancing.
• Experience implementing database security practices, access controls, encryption, masking, auditing, and compliance requirements.
• Experience designing and supporting high availability, disaster recovery, backup, and recovery solutions for enterprise SQL Server environments.
• Hands-on experience with database monitoring, performance analysis, and observability tools such as SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer (DPA), AppDynamics, SQL Server Extended Events, SQL Server Profiler, and similar monitoring platforms.
• Ability to analyze database monitoring metrics, identify performance bottlenecks, correlate application and database performance issues, and implement corrective actions to improve system reliability.
• Experience with database automation, scripting, monitoring, and operational improvement initiatives using PowerShell, Python, Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, or similar technologies.
• Ability to analyze complex database performance issues and provide solutions that improve availability, scalability, and reliability.
• Experience collaborating with application developers, infrastructure teams, cloud engineers, cybersecurity teams, and business stakeholders.
• Experience developing and maintaining technical documentation, standards, procedures, and operational runbooks.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related technical field; equivalent combination of education, training, and professional experience will be considered.
• Relevant professional certifications are preferred, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Fundamentals, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) / Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) in SQL Server (legacy), AWS Certified Database - Specialty, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or other database/cloud-related certifications.
• This position works onsite at the Kemper office.

The range for this position is $111,000 to $186,700. Whendeterminingcandidate offers, we consider experience, skills, education, certifications, and geographic location among other factors. This job is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and Kemper benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, 401k, etc.).

Kemper is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disabilitystatusor any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where weoperate. We are committed to supporting diversity and equality across ourorganizationand we work diligently to maintain a workplace free from discrimination.

Kemper does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property ofKemperand Kemper will not beobligatedto pay a placement fee.

Kemper will never request personal information, such as your social security number or banking information, via text or email.Additionally, Kemper does not use external messaging applications like WireApp or Skype to communicate with candidates.If you receive such a message,deleteit.

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