About the role

We are looking for a permanent Senior Database Reliability Engineer, who has DevOps and infrastructure engineer experience, to join our well-established team.

As a Senior experienced Database Reliability Engineer, you will have expertise in PostgreSQL and cloud technologies. You will have a proven track record of managing, optimizing, and securing database environments, as well as have strong collaboration skills. Experience with SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) is highly desirable.

Skills & Experience

You will:

• Manage, maintain, and optimize AWS Aurora PostgreSQL databases to ensure high availability, and security.
• Design and implement database solutions in AWS Aurora PostgreSQL global databases using CDK and CI/CD pipelines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, DevOps, and Product Owners, to support database-related needs and initiatives.
• Administer PostGIS and other extensions in AWS Aurora PostgreSQL.
• Maintain Postgres trusted language extensions (TLE) scripts and configurations.
• Have experience managing AWS resources using cdk/cloudformation/terraform in production environment.
• Design, implement, and maintain disaster recovery orchestration, including automated DR testing and reporting.
• Monitor and benchmark database performance, building tooling to surface cluster-wide optimization opportunities.
• Ensure data integrity and resilience is maintained through effective backup and recovery strategies.
• Provide production database support and triage, diagnosing and resolving issues raised through support tickets (e.g., access/permission requests, index and query issues).
• Support legacy system and database migrations, including engine version compatibility checks and data integrity validation during restores.
• Support cutover and go-live activities, including migration rehearsals/dry-runs, execution, and rollback contingency planning, occasionally outside standard business hours.

You Have:

• Proven experience as a Database Administrator with a focus on PostgreSQL.
• Strong understanding of AWS technologies and experience with AWS database services (e.g., RDS, Aurora).
• Experience with spatial databases and geospatial data, particularly PostGIS.
• Experience working in an Agile environment, with familiarity or certification in SAFe.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience with database automation tools and scripting (e.g., Python, Bash).
• Knowledge of data security practices and compliance requirements.
• Experience triaging and resolving production database incidents/support requests in a timely manner.
• Willingness and ability to work flexible or non-standard hours to support planned cutover/go-live windows.

Nice to Have:

• Certification in PostgreSQL or cloud technologies (Primarily AWS).
• Experience with Serverless technologies (e.g., Lambda).
• Familiarity with other database systems (e.g., MySQL, Redis) is a plus.
• Familiarity with AWS CDK

What We Offer:

• Interesting work which impacts Aotearoa as we care for whenua, moana and arawai.
• Wellbeing reimbursements
• Annual Flu Vaccinations
• Reduced Health Insurance Premiums
• Diverse groups and networks
• If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks.
• A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave