Senior PostgreSQL Database Engineer

Senior PostgreSQL Database Engineer
St. Louis, MO/Springfield, VA
$115,000-$155,000
Marathon TS is seeking a Senior PostgreSQL Database Engineer to support the operation, design, and continuous improvement of database capabilities for a mission-critical government system. This role combines hands-on PostgreSQL administration with database engineering and architecture to ensure reliable, secure, and high-performing database operations.

The ideal candidate will serve as the team's primary database subject matter expert (SME), collaborating with software developers and systems engineers to optimize database performance, troubleshoot operational issues, and improve database design, security, and maintainability. The environment leverages PostgreSQL for transactional and analytical workloads and OpenShift for application deployment.
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.
• Provide technical guidance: Serve as the primary database technical resource for the engineering team, helping troubleshoot issues and make informed decisions about database design and operational practices.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED
Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Location: On-site at the customer location.
• Security Clearance: Active TS/SCI required
• Primary Database Technology: PostgreSQL.
• Application Platform: OpenShift.
• Other Technologies: Oracle experience is beneficial but not required.

US Citizenship Required

Marathon TS is committed to the development of a creative, diverse and inclusive work environment. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Marathon TS will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Marathon TS does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as "protected status ").

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