Database Operations Engineer

Job Description

The Opportunity

Manulife is seeking a results-oriented SQL Database Operational Engineer committed and self-motivated with exceptional technical skills in SQL Server on Azure cloud (i.e., IaaS & PaaS) to join our team. The team is responsible for analyzing, troubleshooting, building, and maintaining complex backend databases in support of multiple business applications.

Work location: Waterloo - ON, Canada Or Toronto - ON, Canada

Work arrangement: Hybrid (3 days in Office, 2 days from Home); Working remotely is not available.

Role requires to be on-call production support rotation including after-hours/weekend duties.

Roles & Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate, plan and perform database migration activities from on-prem to azure (PaaS & IaaS) and across azure subscriptions
2. Lead complex troubleshooting or escalated technical issues over a significant population of affected software or equipment
3. Manage backups, recovery procedures, DBCC utilities, index maintenance job, database & disk space management
4. Manage database refresh jobs
5. Recommend on stored procedure optimization, performance tuning & index tuning
6. Develop monitoring strategy / implementation pattern for monitoring of SQL server in Azure cloud using New Relic
7. Build and maintain customized dashboard and alerts
8. Improve on operational efficiency by designing and adopting automated tools/utilities to reduce toil
9. Works closely with IT project managers, programmers, architects on currency initiatives
10. Planning, developing, testing and execution of Disaster recovery processes
11. Champion the culture of reliability mindset by embarking on opportunities to implement self-healing database solutions
12. Maintain security, compliance, database hardening, encryption standards, audit, and access control frameworks
13. Oversee implementation and maintenance of database setup, installation, configuration & monitoring
14. Consult, guide & mentor team members
15. Participate in on-call support rotation including after-hours/weekend duties

Must have knowledge and experience in:

1. Total 4 - 7/8 years experience
2. SQL server 2019, 2017 & 2016 Azure (IaaS & PaaS) cloud platforms
3. Data Migration tools such as Data Migration Assistant, Data Migration Services, Azure Data Studio
4. Azure Geo Replication for High Availability
5. High Availability Solution-Clustering & Always On
6. Database backup/restore and disaster recovery
7. SQL server Profiler, Extended Events, Query Store and Database Engine Tuning Advisor (DTA) for performance
8. 24 x 7 dedicated support for SQL server production server
9. Database alerts and monitoring for Azure cloud platform
10. Azure Active Directory (Entra) & SQL authentication
11. Database migration from on-prem to Azure cloud
12. Performance tuning and Query Optimization
13. Database hardening and security standards like TDE, SSL/TLS and auditing
14. Azure provisioning through automation tools such as IAC (Terraform), CI/CD i.e. Jenkins, Flyway, GitHub Actions
15. Cryptographic key management using Azure Key Vault (AKV)
16. Database health check, reports, and metrics

Proficiency in:

1. Database Management: MS SQL, MongoDB Atlas, Azure SQL, SQL MI & Cosmos
2. Programming Languages: JavaScript, Python, PowerShell, Terraform & AZ CLI
3. Database Programming: XML, MySQL and T-SQL
4. CI/CD Pipelines: Jenkins & GitHub
5. Network & Access: NSG, VNet and Subnets, AD Roles and Responsibilities
6. Database Monitoring: Foglight & NewRelic
7. Standard Operating Systems: Unix, Linux & Windows
8. SQL Server: SQL Server Management Studio, Profiler, Replication, Patching & Database Tuning Wizard

Experience in:

1. Agile and DevOps principles, test-driven development, continuous integration, and other approaches to accelerate the delivery of new features
2. Lead and have the ability to consult on high profile incident calls comprising of cross functional teams and senior leaders
3. Skilled to collaborate and build relationships with Manulife business and risk partners
4. Data driven decision making skills
5. Having the ability to quickly learn and pivot to newer technologies as required
6. Ability to adopt and change with Manulife corporate culture
7. Good organizational and problem-solving abilities that enable you to manage through creative abrasion
8. Excellent verbal and written communication; able to effectively articulate technical vision, possibilities, and outcomes
9. Able to achieve most tasks using own judgement
10. Can lead smaller groups when required
11. Good analytical skills, copes with complex situations through deliberate analysis and planning

Qualifications

1. BSC Information Systems / Computer Science, or equivalent
2. 4 - 7/8 years’ experience managing production SQL Server environments Azure (70%) On prem (30%)

Nice to have:

1. Database: PostgreSQL
2. Platform: AWS
3. AIOps tool: Moogsoft
4. SQL Server: Resource Governor & SSRS
5. Analytics: Utilizing Azure Databricks, ADF, ADLS, and Synapse to design and develop end-to-end data pipelines supporting data ingestion, curation, visualization, and delivery
6. Certification: Microsoft DP-300

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Asia, Canada, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. At the end of 2022, we had $1.3 trillion (US$1.0 trillion) in assets under management and administration, including total invested assets of $0.4 trillion (US $0.3 trillion), and segregated funds net assets of $0.3 trillion (US$0.3 trillion). We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/JohnHancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies.

Salary & Benefits

The annual base salary for this role is listed below.

Primary Location: Waterloo, Ontario

Salary range is expected to be between:

$74,270.00 CAD - $137,930.00 CAD

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.