Senior Database Consultant, PostgreSQL

📋 Description

• Offer extensive support for all aspects of database and application infrastructure to a varied clientele.

• Consult and deliver services while implementing enhancements and optimizations for managed services clients.

• Coordinate, analyze, design, implement, and manage IT solutions, including configuration and maintenance of database servers.

• Evaluate client infrastructure and processes, providing recommendations for best practices to improve operational efficiency.

• Guarantee maximum uptime and recoverability for all database systems.

• Oversee backup protocols and disaster recovery strategies, including proactive monitoring to avert potential issues.

• Manage backup, clustering, mirroring, replication, failover, and restoration of compromised databases.

• Create and assess action plans for maintenance, deployment, and upgrades, ensuring that all pertinent client documentation is completed.

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of client information, including alerts, transitions, and briefing notes.

• Develop, implement, and sustain intricate data architectures (e.g., normalized and/or dimensional data models and DDL generation).

• Execute data transformation and migration using scripts or stored procedures.

• Lead problem management initiatives by analyzing incidents for recurring patterns and engineering technical solutions.

• Participate fully in the team’s on-call rotation, typically one weekend each month.

• Establish, manage, and fulfill client commitments in conjunction with team members.

• Compile client status and incident reports, regularly review client reports, and address client requests and inquiries.

• Ensure alignment with client operational procedures, including change management, and oversee client allotments.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proficiency and experience in installing, configuring, and upgrading PostgreSQL databases and tools pertinent to PostgreSQL Administration.

• Experience in administering PostgreSQL within virtualized and cloud settings, particularly AWS, GCP, or Azure.

• Familiarity with scripting (bash/python) and software development (C++, Java, Go).

• Knowledge of automation technologies such as Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and SALT.

• Strong debugging skills with a methodical approach to troubleshooting, identifying and remedying known errors, along with the ability to think creatively to solve complex problems.

• Excellent documentation skills.

• Preferred qualifications include an understanding of current IT service standards like ITIL.

• Active contribution to projects relevant to PostgreSQL or other database and infrastructure software.

• Practical experience in monitoring PostgreSQL databases using industry-standard tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, SolarWinds, pgAdmin, Zabbix, Nagios, and Datadog.

• Experience with cloud-native and managed database monitoring tools, including AWS CloudWatch, Google Cloud Operations (Stackdriver), and Azure Monitor.

• This includes configuring monitoring solutions, evaluating performance metrics, setting up alerts, and troubleshooting database issues in cloud environments.

• Experience in configuring, setting up, and managing PostgreSQL on Kubernetes is a plus.

• Familiarity with monitoring and observability solutions using Prometheus and Grafana is advantageous.

• Required experience with High Availability (HA) solutions for PostgreSQL, including Patroni and repmgr.

• The candidate should have expertise in configuring and managing automated failover, replication, and cluster health monitoring to ensure database resilience and minimal downtime.

• Additionally, familiarity with EnterpriseDB (EDB) solutions such as EDB Postgres Distributed (PGD) for multi-master replication and EDB BigAnimal for managed PostgreSQL in the cloud is highly beneficial.

• Understanding of automatic failover strategies, consensus-based leader election, and cloud database resilience is an asset.

• Required experience with PostgreSQL backup tools, including Barman, pgBackRest, pg_basebackup, etc.

• The candidate should be adept at configuring full, incremental, and differential backups, as well as managing Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) and WAL archiving for disaster recovery.

• Experience in migrating databases from various database engines, including Oracle, MySQL, and MSSQL, to PostgreSQL.

• Utilizing migration tools such as ora2pg, AWS/GCP/Azure Database Migration Services (DMS), and other CDC-based methods to ensure a seamless transition with minimal downtime.

• Familiarity with migrating between on-premises and cloud databases.

• Experience in analyzing and optimizing schema conversions, SQL compatibility challenges, and performance tuning after migration.

• Experience with Debezium and Striim is not mandatory but considered beneficial.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive total rewards package.

• Opportunity to blog during work hours; take a day off to volunteer for your preferred charity.

• Flexibility to work remotely from your home, with no daily travel requirements to an office!

• All you need is a reliable internet connection.

• Collaborate with some of the brightest and most talented professionals in the industry!

• Sharpen your skills or learn new ones with our generous training allowance; engage in professional development days, attend training, earn certifications—whatever you prefer!

• We provide all the necessary equipment for remote work, including a laptop with your choice of operating system, along with an annual budget to personalize your workspace!

• Pythian is committed to the health and well-being of our team members.

• You will receive an annual wellness budget to prioritize your well-being (use it for gym memberships, massages, fitness activities, and more).

• Furthermore, you will benefit from a generous allocation of paid vacation and sick days, as well as a day off to volunteer for your favorite charity.