Alin is a Senior Database Administrator with 10+ years of experience in SQL Server DBA with a focus on improving the overall performance of managed servers, securing data access, analyzing SQL Profiler traces, XE, and other monitoring tools. He works with database sizes ranging from a few GB up to 15TB, redesigning and optimizing existing business processes and implementing database maintenance processes. Alin’s expertise covers analyzing database performance, database design (physical and logical), table partitioning, DR procedures, and analyzing database I/O patterns.
Oversaw performance monitoring and optimization, developed backup strategies, and implemented backup processes to accommodate the strategies.
Performed operational process optimizations (use of a driving table to allow scaling up, transition to SSIS), improving existing processes (driving table and / or transition to SSIS) and developed new processes to address existing performance issues.
Redesigned databases to optimize performance through a better database design (files and filegroups, table partitioning, data compression, etc.).
Redesigned the archival process and improved data import processes.
Administered all SQL Server 2016 databases and provided suggestions for improvement, performing a complete redesign of the database physical design and of the server hardware configuration.
Implemented SQL Server best practices: backup and backup testing processes, monitoring & alerting processes (blocking, long running processes/transactions, Availability Group health).
Deployed new servers and migrated databases to new architecture.
Documented existing and new processes, building coding standards and best practices for database development.
Managed a team of two DBAs, covering both production and QA environments.
Worked closely with the Database Technical Architect (DTA) to implement and observe policies across all DB servers.
Closely collaborated with developers to implement changes for both performance optimizations and process improvements.
Monitored overall health of production systems, recommending changes to the development team, testing and deploying changes to the indexing strategy, and liaising with the DTA to optimize database physical design from an I/O perspective.
Implemented custom index and statistics maintenance.
Managed all business critical systems, including database and application servers.
Developed various on-demand reports (~20) for both internal and statutory use using ASP 2.0, IIS, HTML, and SQL Server 2000 as back end (ERP database), leading a team of 2 BIS specialists.
Managed and maintained all security aspects of daily operations (antivirus, internet security, email security) and provided management reports for unusual internet activities.
Led business critical projects: Sales Force Automation (involving mobile equipment, third-party software, replication, SQL Server 2000/2005), Europe Reporting Database/Datawarehouse, SAP Migration, etc.
Automated the whole import process from a manual process, taking a few days to complete to a process running for 3-6 hours, depending on the volume of data being imported and other runtime factors. Redesigned the data import process from third-party sources using SSIS, FTP, and T-SQL. The process also allowed a seamless transition between previously imported datasets to the current one, with minimal downtime (<1 minute). If needed, a full reversal to the previous dataset was also possible.
Designed and implemented a data archival process for a multi-TB database with no or minimal downtime requirements. Implemented it using table partitioning, SSIS, and T-SQL (stored procedures). Overall downtime for weekly archival for ~700 million rows < 3 minutes. Part of the archive data uploaded to S3 for long storage as part of the process.
Redesigned data imports from ERP processes, replacing a large number of ad-hoc, on-demand, and scattered data import processes with one unified and consolidated data import for various purposes from the central ERP (Dynamics AX) to one local database. Used a combination of SSIS and T-SQL (stored procedures) to accomplish the task.
Education
Microsoft Certified Trainer; MCSE: SQL Server 2016 Data Management and Analytics; MCSA: SQL Server 2016 Database Administration; MCSA: SQL Server 2016 Database Development; Azure Fundamentals.
