PostgreSQL Database Administrator

We are looking for a hands-on PostgreSQL DBA to help manage database services across our on-premises infrastructure and GCP. The role combines production operations with project work, including migration from Community PostgreSQL to EDB Postgres, high-availability standardization, database consolidation, and operational automation.
You will work closely with DBAs, SRE, infrastructure, application, and security teams. We need someone who can assess the current environment, identify risks and improvements, recommend practical solutions, and follow them through to stable production operations.
Here are the core functions, responsibilities, and expectations for this role:
PostgreSQL and EDB administration. Administer the full database lifecycle, including installation, configuration, patching, upgrades, capacity planning, security, monitoring, incident response, and decommissioning.
High availability with EFM. Configure, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot EDB Failover Manager clusters; perform planned switchovers and failover tests; validate application connectivity; and safely reintegrate failed or former primary nodes.
Backup and recovery with Barman. Configure and monitor base backups and WAL archiving or streaming, manage retention, execute point-in-time recovery, and conduct documented restore and disaster-recovery tests against agreed RPO and RTO targets.
Monitoring and alerting with PEM. Register and manage servers and agents, configure meaningful metrics and alert thresholds, investigate alerts and performance trends using graphs, and maintain notification and escalation integrations.
Automation and version control. Use TPA and Ansible/Spacelift to build repeatable PostgreSQL/EDB environments and maintain playbooks and configuration in Git and GitHub using branches, pull requests, and peer review.
Replication and recovery. Configure and troubleshoot physical streaming and logical replication, replication slots, WAL retention, lag, and timeline issues; use pg_rewind when appropriate to resynchronize a node after timelines diverge.
Performance engineering. Analyze execution plans and wait or lock behavior, tune SQL and indexes, and optimize PostgreSQL and operating-system settings, including autovacuum, memory, storage, and checkpoint or WAL behavior.
Connectivity and security. Operate PgBouncer and manage roles, privileges, authentication, pg_hba.conf, TLS, secrets, and least-privilege access in line with organizational standards.
Migrations and consolidation. Plan and execute major and minor version upgrades, Community PostgreSQL-to-EDB migrations, and database consolidation with validated rollback, testing, and minimal downtime.
Operational ownership. Create runbooks and architecture documentation, participate in change and incident processes, collaborate with engineering teams, and join an on-call rotation for production emergencies.
Additional tasks associated with this position may be assigned in response to company initiatives and business needs.
More information about this role:
This is a full-time and remote position based in the U.K. The target compensation package for this role is between GBP 50,000 and 54,000, subject upon internal equity and years of experience. We may make further adjustments through an approval process if the targeted compensation range needs to be modified based on business needs and market trends.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in information systems, computer science, technology, or a related field is strongly preferred. In lieu of degree, 2+ years of relevant and/or equivalent experience is acceptable.
Experience:
Minimum of 5+ years of hands-on PostgreSQL administration in production environments, including both routine operations and complex troubleshooting is required.
Hands-on production experience with EDB Postgres, EFM, Barman, PEM, and TPA, along with PostgreSQL monitoring using Prometheus and Grafana.
Strong understanding of PostgreSQL HA design, streaming replication, failure detection, switchovers, failovers, quorum or witness concepts, split-brain prevention, and node rejoin procedures.
Demonstrated experience with backup validation, WAL archiving, retention management, point-in-time recovery, and full restore or disaster-recovery testing.
Strong knowledge of PostgreSQL internals, including WAL, MVCC, vacuum and autovacuum, checkpoints, memory management, locking, and transaction behavior.
Strong SQL performance-tuning skills, including EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, BUFFERS), index design, query-plan analysis, and diagnosis of blocking or resource contention.
Solid Linux administration and troubleshooting skills, including CPU, memory, filesystem, storage I/O, systemd services, networking, and shell scripting.
Strong hands-on experience with Ansible, Git, and GitHub, including playbooks, inventories, pull requests, peer review, conflict resolution, and version-controlled TPA configuration.
Hands-on experience configuring, administering, and troubleshooting PgBouncer.
Experience with GCP and/or AWS, including virtual machines, networking, storage, identity and access management, and cloud monitoring.
Clear written and verbal communication, disciplined documentation, sound production judgment, and willingness to participate in an on-call rotation.
Ideal Candidate Profiles, Talents, and Desired Qualifications:
Experience with comparable PostgreSQL tools such as Patroni, repmgr, pgBackRest, or pgWatch.
Experience with Terraform and automation using Bash or Python.
Previous involvement in large PostgreSQL migrations, major-version upgrades, database consolidation, or hybrid on-premises/cloud environments.
Experience administering MariaDB or MySQL.
You are a practical, accountable DBA who balances availability and data protection with delivery needs. You investigate carefully, communicate risk clearly, automate repeatable work, test recovery procedures rather than assuming they work, and remain calm during production incidents.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Yes