SQL Developer Job Description, KRAs and Skills

A SQL Developer writes and tunes the queries, stored procedures and database objects that power an application or a reporting system. They design tables, indexes and views, build procedures and functions, and make sure data loads and reports run correctly and fast. A good SQL Developer keeps queries efficient, protects data integrity with the right constraints, and helps application teams get the data they need without slowing the database. The role sits in the engineering or data team and reports to a database or engineering lead.

Detail	For this role
Department	Information Technology
Level	Mid level
Reports to	Database Lead
Direct reports	None
Experience	2 to 5 years writing and tuning production SQL

SQL Developer job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: SQL Developer

Department: Information Technology

Reports to: Database Lead

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

Key responsibilities

Write, test and optimise SQL queries, stored procedures, functions and triggers for application and reporting needs.
Design tables, keys, indexes and views with the right normalization and constraints for data integrity.
Analyse slow queries with execution plans and tune indexes and joins to bring response times down.
Build and schedule data loads and ETL jobs that move data between systems reliably.
Write scripts for data corrections and one time fixes, and test them on a copy before running in production.
Support application developers by shaping queries and result sets to match feature requirements.
Set up backups, restore tests and basic security roles with the database administrator.
Document schema, procedures and data dictionaries so the team can maintain the database.
Investigate data quality issues, trace them to the source and fix the loading logic.
Take part in code reviews for database changes before they reach production.

Requirements

Graduate in computer science, IT or a related field (B.E., B.Tech, BCA or MCA)
Strong command of a relational database such as SQL Server, Oracle or MySQL
A database certification is an advantage
2 to 5 years writing and tuning production SQL

KRAs and KPIs for a SQL Developer

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result area	How to measure it
Query performance	High run queries tuned to meet the agreed response time targets
Delivery	Assigned database tasks completed within sprint commitments
Data integrity	No production data corruption caused by a released change
Job reliability	Scheduled data loads succeed above 99 percent, with failures fixed same day
Code quality	Database changes pass review with rework kept low
Documentation	Schema and procedure docs updated for every released change

Skills and tools

SQL query writingStored procedures and functionsIndex and query tuningDatabase design and normalizationETL and data loadsExecution plan analysisBackup and restore basicsProblem solvingAttention to detail

Tools used day to day: SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, SSMS, SSIS, Git.

Reporting line and career path

Moves up from: Junior SQL Developer, Data Analyst, Application Support Engineer
Next roles: Senior SQL Developer, Database Administrator, Data Engineer

Interview questions for a SQL Developer

How do you read an execution plan to find why a query is slow?
Explain the difference between a clustered and a non clustered index.
When would you use a temporary table versus a common table expression?
A nightly data load failed halfway. How do you make it safe to rerun?
How do you prevent and detect deadlocks in a busy database?
Walk me through how you would tune a report that times out.

Managing a SQL Developer in ZeniaHR

AttendanceOffice based on a general or flexible shift with core hours, since deep query work needs focus time. Web punch on the approved office network suits office days. Allow work from home requests and mobile app punch with a location check for the days worked from home.LeavePlan leave around reporting cycle deadlines and major data migrations, when the team needs this developer. Reporting manager then HR approve leave, and the leave apply preview shows the balance after and any sandwiched days before submission.Performance and KRAsTrack query performance and job reliability every month against the KRAs above. Hold the formal review each quarter using goals typed as KPI, and rate delivery, code review quality and how quickly production data issues were resolved.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a SQL developer do?

A SQL developer writes and tunes the queries, stored procedures and database objects behind an application or reporting system. They design tables and indexes, build data loads, fix slow queries and protect data integrity. Their job is to make sure other systems can read and write data correctly and fast.

What is the difference between a SQL developer and a database administrator?

A SQL developer builds and tunes database code: queries, procedures, schema and data loads. A database administrator runs the server itself: installation, backups, security, patching, high availability and capacity. They overlap on tuning and design, but the developer focuses on data and code while the administrator focuses on the platform.

Which database should a SQL developer learn in India?

SQL Server, Oracle and MySQL all have strong demand across Indian companies, and PostgreSQL is growing fast in product firms. Core SQL skills carry across all of them, so learn one deeply and understand the concepts. Query tuning and stored procedure skills matter more to employers than the brand.