PostgreSQL Database Administrator

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom.

📋 Description

• Oversee the complete PostgreSQL and EDB database lifecycle, which includes installation, configuration, patching, upgrades, capacity planning, security, monitoring, incident response, and decommissioning.

• Set up, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot EDB Failover Manager clusters.

• Conduct planned switchovers and failover tests, verify application connectivity, and reintegrate nodes that have failed or were previously primary.

• Configure and monitor Barman for base backups and WAL archiving or streaming.

• Manage backup retention, perform point-in-time recovery, and execute documented restore and disaster-recovery tests in line with RPO and RTO objectives.

• Handle PEM servers and agents, set up metrics and alert thresholds, investigate alerts and performance trends, and maintain notification and escalation integrations.

• Develop repeatable PostgreSQL/EDB environments utilizing TPA and Ansible/Spacelift.

• Maintain playbooks and configuration in Git and GitHub, employing branches, pull requests, and peer review processes.

• Configure and troubleshoot physical streaming and logical replication, replication slots, WAL retention, lag, and timeline-related issues.

• Utilize pg_rewind to resynchronize nodes after timeline divergence when necessary.

• Analyze execution plans and wait or lock behaviors, optimize SQL and indexes, and enhance PostgreSQL and operating system settings.

• Operate PgBouncer and manage roles, privileges, authentication, pg_hba.conf, TLS, secrets, and implement least-privilege access.

• Plan and execute version upgrades, Community PostgreSQL-to-EDB migrations, and database consolidation with rollback validation, testing, and minimal downtime.

• Create runbooks and architectural documentation.

• Engage in change and incident processes while collaborating with DBAs, SRE, infrastructure, application, and security teams.

• Participate in an on-call rotation for production emergencies.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in information systems, computer science, technology, or a related discipline is highly preferred.

• Alternatively, 2+ years of relevant and/or equivalent experience is acceptable in lieu of a degree.

• A minimum of 5+ years of hands-on PostgreSQL administration experience in production settings is essential.

• Practical experience with EDB Postgres, EFM, Barman, PEM, and TPA in a production environment.

• Experience in PostgreSQL monitoring using Prometheus and Grafana.

• A solid understanding of PostgreSQL high availability design, streaming replication, failure detection, switchovers, failovers, quorum or witness concepts, split-brain prevention, and node rejoining procedures.

• Familiarity with backup validation, WAL archiving, retention management, point-in-time recovery, and full restore or disaster-recovery testing.

• Deep knowledge of PostgreSQL internals, including WAL, MVCC, vacuum and autovacuum, checkpoints, memory management, locking, and transaction behavior.

• Strong skills in SQL performance tuning, including expertise in EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, BUFFERS), index design, query-plan analysis, and diagnosing blocking or resource contention.

• Solid Linux administration and troubleshooting skills, covering CPU, memory, filesystem, storage I/O, systemd services, networking, and shell scripting.

• Significant hands-on experience with Ansible, Git, and GitHub, including playbooks, inventories, pull requests, peer reviews, conflict resolution, and version-controlled TPA configuration.

• Experience in configuring, administering, and troubleshooting PgBouncer.

• Familiarity with GCP and/or AWS, encompassing virtual machines, networking, storage, identity and access management, and cloud monitoring.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, disciplined documentation skills, sound production judgment, and a willingness to be part of an on-call rotation.

• Experience with Patroni, repmgr, pgBackRest, or pgWatch is a plus.

• Experience with Terraform and automation using Bash or Python is preferred.

• Experience with large PostgreSQL migrations, major-version upgrades, database consolidation, or hybrid on-premises/cloud environments is advantageous.

• Experience in administering MariaDB or MySQL is desirable.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible remote work options.

• Commitment to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace.

• Opportunities for career advancement and internal promotions.

• Participation in the on-call rotation for production emergencies.