Senior PostgreSQL Database Engineer

About the role

**ACTIVE TS/SCI SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED**

This position combines hands-on PostgreSQL administration with database engineering and architecture. You will serve as the team's primary database subject matter expert, partnering with software developers and systems engineers to maintain reliable database operations while improving database performance, design, security, and maintainability.

Our environment uses PostgreSQL for both transactional and analytical data workloads and leverages OpenShift for application deployment. The ideal candidate enjoys solving practical database challenges, can independently troubleshoot operational issues, and can recommend and implement improvements to how databases are designed, deployed, monitored, and maintained.

What You'll Do

- Administer PostgreSQL databases: Manage database configuration, user accounts, roles, permissions, routine maintenance, patching, upgrades, and operational troubleshooting.

- Design and improve database architectures: Develop and refine schemas, data models, indexing strategies, and data access patterns to support application functionality, performance, and evolving system requirements.

- Optimize database performance: Analyze SQL queries and execution plans, identify performance bottlenecks, and implement improvements to queries, indexes, database configuration, and resource utilization.

- Support database operations in OpenShift environments: Collaborate with platform and application teams to support PostgreSQL deployment, connectivity, configuration, monitoring, and operational integration with OpenShift-based systems.

- Maintain database reliability and recoverability: Implement and maintain backup and restore procedures, validate recovery processes, and support existing high-availability, replication, and disaster recovery capabilities.

- Monitor database health: Configure and maintain database monitoring, logging, alerting, capacity tracking, and operational reporting to identify and resolve issues proactively.

- Collaborate with software developers: Advise on schema design, SQL development, transaction management, data access patterns, and database integration to ensure efficient and reliable application behavior.

- Drive continuous improvement: Identify database performance, reliability, scalability, and maintainability improvements; evaluate appropriate tools and approaches; and implement practical solutions.

- Support database lifecycle management: Plan and execute database upgrades, migrations, configuration changes, and modernization efforts while minimizing operational risk and service disruption.

- Establish and maintain standards: Document database architecture, configurations, security controls, operational procedures, and recommended engineering practices.

- Maintain database security: Apply appropriate access controls, least-privilege permissions, auditing, and security practices in accordance with applicable customer and system requirements.