Senior PostgreSQL Database Engineer

D2 Technical Services • Springfield, VA

8h • $145,000 - $155,000 • Onsite

About The Position

This role combines hands-on PostgreSQL administration with database engineering and architecture. The engineer serves as the team's primary database subject matter expert, partnering with software developers and systems engineers to maintain reliable database operations and improve performance, design, security, and maintainability. The environment uses PostgreSQL for transactional and analytical workloads and OpenShift for application deployment. The position is on-site at the customer location and requires an active TS/SCI clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a polygraph.

The role is responsible for database administration, architecture and schema improvements, performance optimization, operational support in OpenShift environments, reliability and recovery, monitoring, security, lifecycle management, documentation, and technical guidance. The salary range is typically $145,000–$155,000, with compensation dependent on candidate qualifications and other factors. Benefits include health, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) match; accrued PTO; STD/LTD and life insurance; referral bonuses; and professional development reimbursement.

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI security clearance and ability to obtain and maintain a polygraph; polygraph sponsorship may be available.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent education, training, certifications, and experience.
• Five or more years of experience in database administration, database engineering, database architecture, or a related technical discipline.
• Hands-on experience administering and supporting PostgreSQL databases.
• Experience with relational database design, data modeling, SQL, schema development, indexing, and query optimization.
• Experience troubleshooting database issues and managing database users, roles, permissions, and configurations.
• Experience with database backups, restores, upgrades, and routine maintenance.
• Working knowledge of database high availability, replication, and disaster recovery concepts.
• Ability to collaborate with developers and infrastructure engineers to resolve technical issues and improve system performance.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting PostgreSQL in OpenShift, Kubernetes, containerized, or Linux-based environments.
• Experience with PostgreSQL replication, failover, connection pooling, or high-availability technologies.
• Experience with database monitoring, logging, alerting, and performance diagnostics.
• Experience supporting both transactional and analytical data workloads.
• Experience with database automation, scripting, infrastructure as code, or repeatable deployment practices.
• Experience planning and executing database migrations, upgrades, and modernization initiatives.
• Familiarity with database security practices in regulated or classified environments.
• Experience with Oracle database administration or Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migration.
• CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent, as required by the applicable customer environment.

Responsibilities

• Administer PostgreSQL databases, including configuration, accounts, roles, permissions, routine maintenance, patching, upgrades, and operational troubleshooting.
• Design and refine schemas, data models, indexing strategies, and data access patterns to support application functionality, performance, and changing system requirements.
• Analyze SQL queries and execution plans, identify performance bottlenecks, and improve queries, indexes, configuration, and resource utilization.
• Support PostgreSQL deployment, connectivity, configuration, monitoring, and operational integration with OpenShift-based systems in collaboration with platform and application teams.
• Implement and maintain backup and restore procedures, validate recovery processes, and support high availability, replication, and disaster recovery capabilities.
• Configure and maintain database monitoring, logging, alerting, capacity tracking, and operational reporting to proactively identify and resolve issues.
• Advise software developers on schema design, SQL development, transaction management, data access patterns, and database integration.
• Identify and implement practical improvements to database performance, reliability, scalability, and maintainability.
• Plan and execute database upgrades, migrations, configuration changes, and modernization efforts while minimizing operational risk and service disruption.
• Document database architecture, configurations, security controls, operational procedures, and recommended engineering practices.
• Apply access controls, least-privilege permissions, auditing, and other security practices in accordance with customer and system requirements.
• Serve as the primary database technical resource for the engineering team, helping troubleshoot issues and inform database design and operational decisions.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) match
• Accrued PTO
• STD/LTD insurance
• Life insurance
• Referral bonuses
• Professional development reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior