Company Description

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2022, Continental generated sales of €39.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 57 countries and markets.

With its premium portfolio in the car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tire segment, the Tires group sector stands for innovative solutions in tire technology. Intelligent products and services related to tires and the promotion of sustainability complete the product portfolio. For specialist dealers and fleet management, Tires offers digital tire monitoring and tire management systems, in addition to other services, with the aim of keeping fleets mobile and increasing their efficiency. With its tires, Continental makes a significant contribution to safe, efficient and environmentally friendly mobility. 

Job Description

We are looking for a highly skilled MS SQL Database Service Architect & Senior Level 3 Administrator to design, optimize, and manage MS SQL database environments. This role combines database service ownership, provider management, and hands-on expertise, ensuring high availability, security, and performance of critical database services.

The operational support is handled by external service providers, requiring strong vendor management and service governance skills. You will define best practices, service strategies, and architectural improvements while acting as the technical escalation point for complex MS SQL challenges.

If you are passionate about MS SQL database architecture, automation, and optimizing managed services, we encourage you to apply!

Key Responsibilities:

1. MS SQL Database Architecture & Optimization

Design and optimize MS SQL database architectures for performance, scalability, and security.Define and maintain best practices, standards, and guidelines for MS SQL database infrastructure.Ensure high availability (HA), disaster recovery (DR), and backup strategies, including Always-On Availability Groups and Fail-over Clusters.Evaluate and recommend new MS SQL technologies, automation, and cloud integration strategies (e.g., Azure SQL).

2. Service Management & Provider Oversight

Define service strategies, SLAs, and KPIs for MS SQL operations managed by external service providers.Manage and evaluate MS SQL service providers, ensuring contractual compliance and driving service quality improvements.Oversee and monitor provider performance, conducting regular reviews and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

3. Security, Compliance & Governance

Ensure MS SQL environments comply with security standards (e.g., GDPR, ISO 27001, TISAX) through regular audits and assessments.Implement database security best practices such as data encryption, access control, and backup protection.Enforce governance frameworks and ensure compliance across all MS SQL operations.

4. Level 3 MS SQL Database Administration & Technical Expertise

Serve as the technical escalation point for complex MS SQL database issues.Perform root cause analysis (RCA) and implement long-term solutions.Oversee the management of patching, lifecycle management, user access, storage, and day-to-day MS SQL operations.Collaborate with service providers for on-premises and Azure SQL environments.

5. Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities for automation, process improvement, and optimization of MS SQL operations.Lead and support migration projects, database upgrades, and cloud transformations.Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery strategies align with MS SQL database services.

QualificationsAdvanced expertise in MS SQL database administration, including Always-On, Fail-over Clusters, and Azure SQL.Deep understanding of MS SQL security best practices, including backup, encryption, and performance monitoring.Knowledge of ITIL processes, SLAs, KPIs, and vendor management for external service providers.Experience with backup tools (e.g., Veeam, Commvault) and high-availability methodologies.Ability to diagnose and resolve complex MS SQL issues with an analytical mindset.Strong collaboration skills to work with infrastructure, security, and external providers.Cloud integration knowledge (Azure SQL, AWS RDS) is an advantage.Ability to align database architecture and service strategies with business objectives.Strong understanding of database security best practices, access control, data encryption, auditing, and industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, ISO 27001, Tisax).Ability to lead discussions, mentor junior staff, and work cross-functionally with infrastructure, security, and application teams.

Additional InformationWe are all about a cool team where everyone can shine with his skills and personality. We are a good bunch of IT people who like to spend time together outside the office. (https://www.welcometothejungle.com/cs/companies/continental-cesko)We support individual development based on needs with a wide range of training and education not only in the Czech RepublicYou can mix working from home or from our new offices.

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.