Sql Server Project Management
Resume:
Brendan Joseph Smith
Gardnerville, NV 89460
*************@**.***
Professional Summary
Proven system and database administration, engineering, and architecture experience, with core competency in Microsoft Server (Server and SQL) systems. Involved within all phases of the development lifecycle using formalized methodologies. Experience focused on architecting scalable solutions for web- based and end-user systems, ensuing maximum performance and uptime. Strengths include system planning, performance, project management, maintenance, replication, and recovery. Seasoned in 24x7 support.
Technical Skills Summary
Databases: Microsoft SQL Server versions 2000 through 2022, Azure SQL Managed Instances, DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon RDS
Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows Server Platforms to 2025, Apple OS X, Linux Virtual Environments: VMware, Hyper-V
Languages/Tools: TSQL, Power BI, NET, C/C++, HTML, ODBC, PHP, Nagios, Cacti, Idera, RedGate, SQL Sentry, Spotlight, SolarWinds, PowerShell, Automox, NinjaRMM, ProofPoint, Rubrik Backup, TrueNAS, HPE Storage Solutions, PDQ Deploy and Inventory, Palo Alto Firewalls, Aruba Networking, Group Policy Creation and Editing, Spillman Flex, OpenSSH, PowerShell, Python, RedGate tools, IBM Data Studio, MySQL Workbench, pgAdmin, JIRA, Confluence Database Applications/Technologies: SSMS, SQL Server Replication, SQL Server Clustering, Always On, Database Mirroring, SSIS, SSRS, Log Shipping, Azure SQL, AWS, Azure Data Studio Professional Experience
Douglas County Nevada.
Senior Systems and Database Administrator, November 2017 – Present
• Investigated critical performance problems across production servers. Found all were configured with defaults and were not provided proper memory, CPU, and disk resources. Updated resources as the original hosts would allow. Increased as new hosts were implemented. Documented and created a policy to ensure VMs were properly allocated across the cluster to ensure the maximum resource. Utilized Dell Live Optics to further monitor and enhance resource allocation.
• Determined the resources required did not warrant more than two instances of SQL Server. Developed a migration plan, coordinated with stakeholders, and migrated all production databases to a single instance and all Test/QA databases to a second. Both were dedicated to their own VMware instances. Monitored performance and adjusted as necessary. Also utilized HPE storage optimization to provision volumes to match SQL Server utilization.
• Planned and implemented Windows server upgrades to place each at a minimum of Server 2016. Over 70 in total were brought to this specification. Currently migrating to Server 2025.
• Responsible for VMware patching and upgrades, along with replacing hosts on a four year cycle. Increased resources on each rotation so that all hosts had a minimum of 2TB of memory.
• Migrated end-of-life CentOS servers to Windows solutions to create platform unity and consistency.
• Improved Active Directory performance with the addition of Domain Controllers at all remote sites. Raised all to domain controllers to Server 2016 Functional Level.
• Project lead for O365 implementation. Involved configuring an Exchange Hybrid, utilizing ShareGate to migrate all local user storage to OneDrive, and retiring original on-premises Exchange servers. Currently implementing departmental migrations of local storage to SharePoint.
• Reconfigured VM Host hardware by changing disk configurations and maximizing memory. New hardware expenditures were justified and proven with the increased performance and reliability.
• Analyzed for the root causes of public records systems failures. Found the application server was memory bound and the core databases became fragmented due to a daily process from the vendor. Worked with the vendor to modify their processes and increased application server resources.
• Hardened security of public safety file shares to align with CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Systems) as it was determined non-essential employees had access to sensitive data.
• Configured SolarWinds to proactively monitor all servers and alert when necessary. Reduced alert “noise” to only critical events. Added Spotlight to enhance SQL Server monitoring.
• Maintenance plans defined and applied as no official strategy existed. Implemented routine restoration testing. Added log backups and log shipping to critical databases as only weekly backups were in place.
• Further SQL Server maintenance plans were established for updating statistics and index rebuilding or reorganization. None were in place prior.
• Migrated 12 databases from on-prem to Azure SQL utilizing Azure Database Migration Service.
• Started implantation of Hybrid failover rights for the remaining on-prem databases.
• Configured Azure Active Directory authentication for SQL Server access.
• Implemented Spotlight for SQL Server for monitoring. Evaluation of Foglight underway as a replacement due to the hybrid environment.
• Removed over 300 Active Directory logon scripts. Determined that elastic database transaction units best matched the application and business need for the databases migrated.
• Implemented Rubrik backup solution for all physical and virtual servers, and SQL Server databases.
• Responsible for creation and maintenance of internal and external SSL certificates.
• Implemented NinjaRMM to automate server patching.
• Migrated MySQL databases to MSSQL. Further migrated said databases to PostgreSQL.
• Migrated DB2 databases to Amazon RDS utilizing Amazon RDS Migration Tool. Technical Environment: MS SQL Server 2005 through 2022, MySQL PostgreSQL, Server 2008 through 2025, VMware 6.5 - 8.x, Hyper-V, Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS, AL2023) LCI, Inc.
Senior Database Administrator, January 2016 – August 2017 (Contractor)
• Investigated critical performance problems across 31 production SQL Servers. SQL Servers interconnected in a complex transactional replication topology with extensive use of Linked Server remote queries.
• All SQL Server instances (predominantly SQL 2005) had no service packs or cumulative updates applied. The (at the time) impending end of support for the SQL 2005 platform caused great exposure concern. All service packs and cumulative updates applied.
• The core production SQL Server averaged 90% CPU utilization. This affected replication and remote queries, resulting in application downtime.
• Service Level Agreement overlap forced an environment lacking in critical updates.
• Determined recovery from a critical failure would take at least 72 hours. A violation of all SLAs.
• All SQL Servers had hardware configurations that did not benefit SQL performance.
• Rebuilt replication with multiple distribution databases on separate hardware. Replication latency latency never went over 2 seconds following. 8 to 15 seconds was the norm prior.
• Reconfigured hardware by changing disk configurations and maximizing memory. Hardware expenditures were justified and proven with the increased performance and reliability.
• Rewrote remote queries to better utilize the remote host hardware capabilities and reduce network traffic. Trained developers on different remote query techniques.
• A thorough investigation of indexes found multiple duplicates and a large amount of unused. As disk space was critical, the deletion increased available space over 30%.
• Started a “DBA School” training to expand the expertise and knowledge of the development and operations staff.
• Maintenance plans defined and applied as no official strategy existed. Implemented routine restoration testing. Added log backups to critical databases as only weekly backups were in place. Currently migrating to a centralized backup solution utilizing RedGate SQL Backup.
• Further maintenance plans were established for updating statistics and index rebuilding or reorganization. None were in place prior. The regular statistics updates solved a large series of
“expected” application problems.
• Planned and initiated SQL 2016 migration to new hardware. Project was 20% complete.
• To reduce SQL licensing costs, part of the migration plan included consolidating redundant databases. Final configuration will result in a 70% reduction in cost.
• Worked directly with the development team to implement .NET best practices for SQL Server access. Actively participated in code reviews
Technical Environment: MS SQL Server 2005 through 2016, Windows 2003 through 2012, Hyper-V Backroads, Inc.
Senior Database Administrator, February 2015 – January 2016 (Contractor)
• Tasked with finding root causes of performance problems impacting production operations
• All SQL Servers (2008 R2) had no service packs or cumulative updates applied. SQL Server and Windows updates were applied ahead of deeper analysis.
• The production SQL Server averaged 60% CPU utilization, minimum of 3 second IO waits, page life expectancy no greater than 15 seconds, and known time periods where the applications would become unresponsive. Tempdb and disk configuration were a root cause. Proposed disk configuration was only partially implemented.
• Over 500 tables were without clustered indexes. Another 1000 had a primary key defined on a non-key column. Recommended changes were applied to the top 20% utilized. Blocking dropped to near nil following.
• Tested and removed over 1000 redundant indexes. Critical query times dropped over 80%.
• No documented reasons for the non-default settings of processor affinity, max degree of parallelism, and max SQL memory. All settings severely limited SQL Server so they were returned to default and max memory increased from 16GB to 60GB.
• Tempdb configured following Microsoft Best Practices. Tempdb IO waits dropped 90%.
• Linked Server connections and direct access from Access and Excel were found. All used a highly privileged SQL account with no password. Their use affected IO waits. Due to legacy needs, only the security context was updated.
• Transactional replication was in use. The replicate SQL Server was not being used for its reporting purpose and the distribution database was on the primary SQL Server. The combined use of reporting and distribution further taxed the IO subsystem. Advised to either abandon replication or force all reporting to replicate and move distribution database.
• Verified read/write cache was enabled on the disk array. Performance tests confirmed the array was operating within expectations.
• No disaster recovery plan. Determined a catastrophic loss would result in a minimum 72-hour outage. Recommended a log shipping solution and implemented. Log backup interval is every 15 minutes. Documented a recovery testing process and procedure to move applications in the event of disaster.
• Created project plan to further improve over 2000 indexes for later implementation by the Backroads development team.
• Created project plan to upgrade the SQL Servers to new hardware and SQL Server 2012.
• Assessed third-party monitoring tools and recommended Spotlight on SQL Server to best suit their needs. Solution was purchased.
• All implemented changes resulted in CPU utilization dropping to a 5% average, PLE to 10 minutes, and no periods of system unavailability.
Technical Environment: MS SQL Server 2008 R2, MS SQL Server 2012, Server 2008/2012 Rodan + Fields
Senior Database Administrator, February 2013 – September 2014
• Dropped average SQL Server CPU utilization 60% by developing, testing, and implementing changes found through the analysis of system usage, stored procedure coding, and indexes.
• Determined sources of deadlocks. Rewrote and deployed the offending stored procedures. All deadlocks ceased following implementation.
• The above changes exposed I/O bottlenecks due to the heavy use of tempdb. Database files were relocated appropriately, which dropped I/O contention. Report response benefitted greatly from the change.
• Found minor changes that would improve a critical business process. Execution time dropped from 1.5 hours to under 20 minutes.
• Applied a backup and recovery strategy. Dropped maximum data loss exposure from 7 days to 15 minutes. Backup viability was tested bi-monthly.
• Planned and installed development, QA, and staging SQL Server environments. Created formal SQL Server access policies and restricted access accordingly.
• Transitioned all user (not application) SQL Server access to Active Directory accounts and groups. Formalized database and object ownership standards.
• Implemented SQL Monitor and SQL Sentry for performance monitoring.
• Implemented Nagios for SQL Server and Windows alerts.
• Provided feedback and training to developers regarding SQL Server best practices. Enforced code reviews and code freezes prior to deployments.
• Documented policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines, for the SQL Server environment.
• Created a development standard to ensure PCI complaint security on Microsoft SQL Server.
• Provided requirements for future server hardware, including storage space, disk layout, raid levels, and memory.
• Automated processes to reduce downtime and user intervention during scheduled maintenance and deployments.
• Standardized reports provided to the executive team during critical business periods. Technical Environment: MS SQL Server 2008 R2 - 2012, Server 2008 - 2012 Adobe Systems, Inc.
Senior Database Administrator, June 2006 – November 2011
• Worked closely with business units, engineering and administration groups, and third party vendors to ensure efficient and trouble-free deployments of new database features and installation of new code bases. Increased visibility by adding that deployments come from a source repository and all installations have a scripted plan.
• Administered 160+ SQL Servers across varying Operating System and SQL Server versions. All databases installed as separate Development/Test, QA, and Production servers
• Managed SQL Servers in geographically diverse data centers and migrated SQL servers to different locations
• Implemented SQL Clustering using both Microsoft and Veritas Clustering solutions
• Participated and led SOX audits for system compliance
• Utilized Active\Active and Active\Passive SQL Clustering with 2 or more nodes
• Initiated the use of “Wiki” pages to centralize documentation and general database information.
• Created Nagios alerts and Cacti graphs as well as internal queries to monitor and alert on database performance issues. Visibility into the server activity resulted in a major drop of
“surprise” downtime.
• Planned and implemented patch and Service Pack deployments for all SQL Servers
• Further optimized stored procedures for data access. Data growth affected initial performance gains. Procedures were optimized to anticipate future growth.
• Initiated a hardware study to determine the best long-term strategy for growth and server age. Main intention was to stem the tide of continued hardware purchases to solve performance problems. Initial results have found many opportunities to enhance the application code which will reduce the load on the database servers.
• Developed and deployed a geographically diverse replication and log shipping environment to enhance recoverability and spread reporting load (MS SQL)
• Implemented SQL Server Database Mirroring and configured application support via JDBC driver
• Setup, installed, and configured MySQL a single master/multiple slave replication topology Technical Environment: MS SQL Server 7, 2000, 2005, 2008 R2 (32/64bit), MySQL 5.0, Windows 2003/8 (32 & 64 bit)
Safeway, Inc.
Senior Database Engineer (contractor), May 2005 – June 2006
• Worked with architecture group to develop infrastructure strategies for data access. System required data feeds from external sources and must be queried from over 2000 sites.
• Specifically contracted to audit performance problems with vendor software. Vendor had not developed the application for MS SQL Server. Required close interaction with vendor and project management. Specific needs of the project had to be addressed in a timely manner to success.
• Converted vendor code from, in-line queries to stored procedures. Assisted in the re-architecture of vendor application to use native SQL Server data connections.
• Analyzed the databases for proper index usage, and hardware related issues which would contribute to excessive processing time. Initial index improvements gained a 50% reduction in response time. Subsequent improvements improved response time of heavily used stored procedures over 50%.
• Setup, installed, and configured two 3-way Active/Active/Active clusters. Storage utilized redundant path fibre channel disk arrays.
• High transaction load forced vendor to utilize multiple servers. Due to specific processing needs, cross-server queries were required. Assisted vendor in optimizing code for this purpose.
• Further optimized stored procedures for data access. Data growth affected initial performance gains. Procedures were optimized to anticipate future growth.
• Worked directly with vendor to analyze performance. Generated reports of response time, transaction counts, and index utilization.
• Engaged with Unisys (hardware vendor) support to determine best practices and share challenges faced.
• Audited system hardware and storage to assist in capacity planning and to ensure scalable growth. System is currently operating at 10% of its projected maximum load. Technical Environment: MS SQL Server (64bit), Teradata, Windows 2003 (32 & 64 bit), IIS Opentable, Inc.
Senior Database Engineer, April 2001 – April 2005
• Responsible for the overall architecture, administration, maintenance, and operation of all databases within the company and top-tier support of over 2500 customer database servers.
• Duties included the flawless operation of production systems, identifying performance issues, and ensuring recoverability.
• Managed over 2500 MS SQL Server databases (500MB or less) communicating with a central database (5GB) via proprietary communication interface.
• Managed team of four application developers. Conducted weekly group and one-on-one meetings. Performed code reviews.
• Migrated all databases from SQL Server 7.0 to SQL Server 2000. Tasks included testing upgrade incompatibilities, defining new server requirements, and managing the upgrade process.
• Analyzed the databases for proper index usage, problem stored procedures, and hardware related issues which would contribute to excessive processing time. Initial improvement to indexes and queries netted a 75% reduction in response time. Subsequent improvements dropped the response time of heavily used stored procedures over 50%.
• Sourced location and negotiated colocation facility contract.. Resulted in a 40% reduction of monthly recurring costs while increasing bandwidth allocation. Also increased available rack space and power by 50%. Managed the move and installation of equipment to new facility.
• Implemented database standards for server setup, configuration, and installation. Published a standards document and made available to all relevant staff.
• Created installation standard for production servers. Centralized installation images and cloning process. Managed Windows server system updates through Microsoft SUS.
• Managed two separate development efforts in the architecture of Opentable systems. Worked directly in the development process to determine application specific needs and tailor the database to meet those needs. Key accomplishments were a reduction of 40% of the original database code base and a 60% performance increase.
• Automation of routine tasks for Marketing reports, Finance reports, performance monitoring, error reporting, and replication offset correction.
• Developed and implemented replication, archiving, and backup and recovery strategies, utilizing Log Shipping for warm-standby operations with local and off-site backups for disaster recovery. Education:
BS Industrial Technology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
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