Database Administrator PostgreSQL

Database Administrator PostgreSQL

Position Summary

The Database Administrator (DBA) will be responsible for the reliability, performance, security, scalability, and operational support of client’s enterprise database platforms, with a primary focus on PostgreSQL and cloud-hosted PostgreSQL environments.

The role will support the continued expansion of PostgreSQL across the enterprise, including application databases, data services, integrations, and AI-enabled platforms. The DBA will work closely with Data Engineering, AI Platform, Infrastructure, Security, Application Development, and Data Governance teams to ensure database environments are resilient, secure, observable, and scalable.

While PostgreSQL is the primary focus, the role will also provide support for client’s existing Microsoft SQL Server environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. PostgreSQL Administration

• Install, configure, maintain, patch, and upgrade PostgreSQL environments.
• Administer cloud-hosted PostgreSQL platforms, including Google Cloud AlloyDB and Cloud SQL.
• Manage schemas, roles, permissions, extensions, replication, and database configuration.
• Design and support backup, recovery, high-availability, and disaster-recovery strategies.
• Monitor WAL activity, replication health, connections, locks, blocking, storage, and database growth.

2. Performance & Reliability

• Monitor and troubleshoot database performance using PostgreSQL statistics, execution plans, logs, and monitoring tools.
• Identify slow-running queries and recommend improvements to:
• Indexing
• SQL queries
• Schema design
• Application access patterns
• Tune PostgreSQL configuration, including memory, autovacuum, checkpoints, WAL, parallelism, and connection management.
• Perform capacity planning and proactively identify performance, scalability, and reliability risks.
• Participate in production incident troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.

3. Security & Governance

• Implement database access based on least-privilege principles.
• Manage database roles, service accounts, authentication, and authorization.
• Support database auditing, encryption, vulnerability remediation, and periodic access reviews.
• Partner with Security and Data Governance teams to protect sensitive and regulated healthcare data.
• Ensure database configurations and operational procedures align with enterprise security and compliance requirements.

4. Monitoring & Automation

• Develop proactive monitoring and alerting for:
• Database availability
• Performance
• Backups
• Replication
• Blocking and locks
• Storage and capacity
• Automate repeatable DBA activities using Python, Bash, PowerShell, SQL, Terraform, or similar tools.
• Integrate database administration and deployment processes with Jenkins, Bitbucket, and CI/CD workflows.
• Reduce manual operational work through automation, standardization, and reusable processes.

5. Platform & Engineering Support

• Participate in the design and implementation of new PostgreSQL database services.
• Support database requirements for APIs, applications, data pipelines, AI platforms, and enterprise services.
• Assist development and engineering teams with:
• Schema design
• Indexing
• Partitioning
• Query optimization
• Database architecture
• Support migrations from legacy database platforms to PostgreSQL and cloud-native database services where appropriate.

6. Microsoft SQL Server Support

PostgreSQL will be the primary specialization; however, the DBA will also support the existing Microsoft SQL Server environment, including:

• Database administration and troubleshooting.
• Always On Availability Group monitoring and support.
• Backup and restore operations.
• Blocking, deadlock, and performance analysis.
• Security and access management.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of database administration or database engineering experience.
• Strong hands-on experience administering PostgreSQL in production environments.
• Strong understanding of PostgreSQL architecture and internals, including:
• WAL and replication
• MVCC
• VACUUM and autovacuum
• Indexing
• Query planning and execution
• Roles and permissions
• Backup and recovery
• Proven experience troubleshooting database performance and production incidents.
• Experience supporting high-availability and disaster-recovery environments.
• Working knowledge of Linux.
• Experience scripting or automating administrative tasks.
• Strong understanding of database security and least-privilege access.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Google Cloud AlloyDB, Cloud SQL, or PostgreSQL on GCP.
• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server.
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, or containerized platforms.
• Experience with Python, Bash, PowerShell, Terraform, or similar automation technologies.
• Experience with Jenkins, Bitbucket, or CI/CD platforms.
• Familiarity with:
• BigQuery
• Google Cloud Storage (GCS)
• Pub/Sub
• Cloud data platforms
• Experience supporting databases used by APIs, data engineering, or AI/ML applications.
• Experience working in healthcare or other regulated environments.