Senior Database Administrator (PostgreSQL / CloudSQL / ClickHouse / Kubernetes)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Database Administrator (DBA) to own and optimize the performance, security, and scalability of our data platforms across PostgreSQL, Cloud SQL, and ClickHouse environments.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on expertise in replication, encryption, query optimization, automation, and cloud-native database management — working closely with Engineering and Operations teams to ensure seamless database performance, secure data handling, and efficient production migrations.

This role is critical in designing and maintaining high-performing, resilient database ecosystems that power our fintech and data-driven products.

Key Responsibilities

Database Administration & Optimization

• Manage and optimize PostgreSQL / CloudSQL / ClickHouse databases in production, staging, and analytics environments.
• Design and implement replication, high availability, and clustering (Patroni, pgPool-II, HAProxy, etc.).
• Conduct query insights and performance tuning using tools like pg_stat_statements, EXPLAIN/ANALYZE, and Query Insights (CloudSQL).
• Fine-tune queries, indexing, and schema design for both transactional (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads.
• Collaborate with development teams to optimize database performance from a product and application perspective.

Database Security & Encryption

• Implement and manage database encryption at rest and in transit (TDE, SSL/TLS).
• Administer key management and rotation policies integrated with HSMs or KMS solutions (Google KMS / AWS KMS).
• Enforce role-based access control (RBAC), data masking, and auditing to meet compliance requirements.
• Ensure databases comply with PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and organizational security standards.

Data Migration & Operations

• Lead client data migrations from staging to production environments, ensuring integrity and zero downtime.
• Design and execute ETL pipelines, validation scripts, and rollback procedures.
• Automate data onboarding workflows and integrate migrations into CI/CD pipelines.
• Work with Ops and Engineering teams to align database operations with product release cycles.

Automation & Cloud-Native Operations

• Automate provisioning, scaling, and maintenance via Terraform, Ansible, or Python.
• Deploy and manage databases within Kubernetes using StatefulSets, Helm charts, or Operators.
• Integrate monitoring and observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, CloudSQL Insights, pgBadger, Datadog) for query-level insights and anomaly detection.
• Optimize resource usage and cost efficiency across multi-cloud database environments.

Collaboration & Architecture

• Partner with Engineering to define data models, indexing strategies, and optimal query structures.
• Collaborate with Operations to achieve SLA targets for uptime, latency, and throughput.
• Participate in capacity planning, architecture reviews, and database scaling strategies.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 8+ years of hands-on experience managing PostgreSQL / CloudSQL in production environments.
• Strong experience with ClickHouse or similar analytical databases (e.g., BigQuery, Redshift).
• Expertise in database encryption, key management, and security compliance frameworks (PCI DSS, ISO 27001).
• Proficiency in query tuning, performance insights, and database observability tools.
• Solid knowledge of replication, high availability, backups, and disaster recovery.
• Experience with Kubernetes, containerized databases, and automation tools (Terraform, Ansible, Python).
• Excellent collaboration, documentation, and troubleshooting skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GCP CloudSQL, AWS RDS, or Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
• Familiarity with data pipelines (Airflow, dbt, Kafka) and ETL workflows.
• Certifications: PostgreSQL Certified DBA, CKA/CKAD (Kubernetes), or Cloud Professional (GCP/AWS/Azure).
• Strong understanding of database observability and query analytics tools (CloudSQL Insights, pgBadger, pganalyze).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Database uptime and SLA compliance
• Query performance improvements and latency reduction
• Successful client data migrations and zero-error cutovers
• Encryption and security audit compliance
• Automation coverage and reduction in manual tasks