About the group
Cognizant’s Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security Services Practice (CIS), is all about accepting digital transformation by driving core modernization holistically across layers. We help customers transform infrastructure and workplace to meet the constantly evolving needs of the digital era. Our broad approach delivers key results for our customers by achieving cloud driven modernization and workplace and operational transformation to own the business in a secure environment.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future
Role: SQL Patching Lead
Location: Toronto, ON
Experience 10+ years in SQL Server DBA/patching; 4+ years as tower/pod lead or SME owning patch cycles
ROLE SUMMARY
The SQL Server Patching Tower Lead (Onshore) is the primary SQL interface to client DBA L2/L3 and application owners during Canada hours. This role owns the SQL Server patch lifecycle — Cumulative Update (CU), GDR, and security patch cycles across 20,700+ instances — including Always On Availability Group rolling patches and Failover Cluster Instance sequencing. Deep SQL Server expertise combined with robust change governance and stakeholder coordination skills are essential.

ROLE IN THE OPERATING MODEL

Tower/pod lead and SME for SQL patching — primary SQL interface to client DBA L2/L3 and application owners during Canada hours and weekend windows

Coordinates application-owner sign-off post-patching; owns SQL tower compliance reporting to the Patch Service Lead

Operates as SQL execution layer under client direction; database design and engineering remain client DBA L2/L3 owned

Directs offshore SQL SMEs during onshore hours; manages escalation within agreed SLTs

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan and execute SQL Server Cumulative Updates (CU), GDR/security updates across all supported SQL Server versions in the estate

Perform Always On Availability Group and Failover Cluster Instance rolling patching with correct node/instance sequencing





Take pre-patch full/log backups, run health checks, validate post-patch, and roll back (CU uninstall/failback) on failure

Track SQL CVEs, version currency, and EOL/EOS (e.g., SQL Server 2016/2019); maintain compliance posture and update CMDB/KEDB

Coordinate with client DBA L2/L3 and application owners for sign-off; perform RCA for patch failures

Author RFC/CAB submissions for SQL patch waves; coordinate change-window scheduling with client DB operations

Own SQL tower compliance reporting; present KPIs to the Patch Service Lead for governance reviews

TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE SCOPE

Execute SQL Server CU, GDR, and security patch cycles across standalone, AG, and FCI deployments

Perform AG rolling patching — secondary-first sequencing, availability group health validation, and primary failover

Take pre-patch backups (full/log), validate database integrity, and execute post-patch smoke tests

Roll back CU via uninstall or failback to pre-patched node if validation fails

Track CVEs and EOL/EOS for all SQL Server versions; update CMDB with patch level and compliance status

Author RFC/CAB documentation; coordinate maintenance window scheduling with DBA teams

Develop and maintain PowerShell/dbatools automation scripts for repetitive patch pre/post checks

SKILLS, TOOLS & COMPETENCIES
Primary Skills

DB Platforms SQL Server 2014–2022

Always On AG (rolling patch)

Failover Cluster Instance

SSRS/SSAS awareness

Patching

CU/GDR/SP patch cycles

Cluster-aware rolling upgrade

CU uninstall rollback

Patch compatibility matrix

Automation

PowerShell/dbatools





Ansible (Windows/SQL)

SQL Agent jobs

SSMS automation

ITSM & Vuln

ServiceNow (Change/CMDB)

Tenable

Qualys

RFC/CAB

Observability

SQL Server DMVs

Splunk

Dynatrace (DB modules)

Moogsoft

Secondary Skills

T-SQL fundamentals and SSMS administration

Azure SQL / Managed Instance awareness

Windows Failover Clustering fundamentals

SQL Server on Linux (RHEL) awareness

CERTIFICATIONS
Mandatory

ITIL 4 Foundation

Preferred (one or more)

Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300)

Legacy MCSA: SQL Server / MCSE: Data Management & Analytics acceptable

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) — advantageous

Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation — plus (for patch automation)

NICE TO HAVE

SQL patching experience in financial services with high-availability zero-downtime requirements

Familiarity with SQL Server on VMware/Hyper‑V and SQL Server on Linux

dbatools PowerShell module experience for bulk SQL operations

WORK MODEL & COMMITMENT
Hours Canada business hours + weekend change window coverage

Shift Model Hybrid onshore; quarterly CU cycles and weekend maintenance windows

On-Call Yes — emergency SQL CVE response and AG failover events

Language English (mandatory)

Compensation
We are offering between $60,000 – $85,000. Applications will be accepted until Aug 21, 2026.Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Disclaimer
The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future

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📌 SQL Patching Lead (Ontario)
🏢 Cognizant
📍 Ontario