Here is the problem I am running into, in 2005 - the way that we have implemented SOX regulations is to segregate operational and development duties - thus, as the production DBA, I have no permission to do design work, otherwise how could they trust (and prove) that I wasn't implementing malicious code?

As one who came into DBA work as a hybrid developer/DBA, this has been immensely frustrating - and has made my job relatively boring.  I'll be definitely honing my dev skills, but unfortunately I can't really use them in my position as it stands - I'd have to cross over into our dev team, or find somewhere else not under SOX regulations....