CONTRACTOR MUST BE DV CLEARED (active)

Role Title: SQL Server Architect - Cloud Resilience & High Availability (AWS Focus)

Location: London, Hybrid - 3 to 4 days onsite x week

Duration: 03/03/2027 - likely to be extended

MUST BE PAYE THROUGH UMBRELLA

Description:

Our client 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 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 validate Always 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.

DV Cleared SQL Server Architect - Cloud Resilience & High Availability (AWS Focus)

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