OpenSource Database Administrator

Optimal Growth Technologies; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimal Growth Technologies is seeking a seasoned Postgres Database Engineer to join our midrand-based team. You will install, configure, and optimize open-source databases, ensuring high availability, security, and performance across development, test, and production environments.

You will collaborate with DevOps, Infrastructure, and SecOps to implement robust backup, disaster recovery, and automation using IaC/CI/CD tools, while maintaining documentation and security compliance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience managing PostgreSQL or open-source databases in production.
• Experience with high availability, replication, and disaster recovery.
• Strong knowledge of PostgreSQL architecture, internals, and tools.
• Exposure to Hybrid Cloud environments (Azure/AWS) is a plus.
• Proficiency in tuning SQL queries and performance monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Open-Source Database Support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and more.
• Design, install, and maintain high-availability and disaster recovery setups.
• Monitor, tune, and ensure SLAs for critical data platforms.
• Automate routine tasks with scripts, IaC and CI/CD integrations.
• Provide 24/7 on-call support and collaborate with DevOps and SecOps.

Skills

Project Management

Problem solving

Written and verbal communication

PostgreSQL experience

Team player

High availability / DR

SQL tuning

Linux administration

Monitoring tools

Automation / IaC

Education

STEM degree or equivalent

Tools

Prometheus

Grafana

Zabbix

Ansible

Terraform

Job description

Postgress Database Engineer

Location: Midrand

Duration: 12 month

Role purpose

We are seeking a versatile and skilled Open-Source Database Administrator (DBA) to join our database support team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, management, optimisation, and security of open-source database environments that power critical business applications.

Role description

In this role, you will collaborate closely with business owners, developers, DevOps, Infrastructure, and SecOps teams to ensure the high availability, performance, scalability, and security of critical data platforms. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the stability and continuous improvement of enterprise database environments while supporting business-critical systems and services.

Key Responsibilities

• Open-Source Database Support
• Support the current PostgreSQL open-source databases.
• Future open-source databases can include MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, etc.
• Support cloud database solutions (e.g., AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL/MySQL).
• Manage & maintain the Oracle Golden Gate (OGG) replication environment which include troubleshooting and resolving issues related to OGG replication.
• Provide 24/7 support for critical systems, including on-call rotations
• Design, Install & Maintain
• Design and implement high-availability, replication, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Install, configure, and maintain open source databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB in development, test, and production environments.
• Execute patching updates, upgrades & migrations
• Monitoring & Capacity Management
• Monitor and tune database performance to meet SLAs.
• Perform capacity planning and resource allocation.
• Backup & Recovery
• Develop and manage robust backup and recovery strategies using appropriate tools.
• Ensure active-active and DR environments are all in sync to facilitate BCM activities
• Automation: Automate administrative tasks using scripts, configuration management, IaC and CI/CD tools.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with your team members in an agile framework to provide open-source database services and support.
• Collaborate with business and IT teams in a project context to work on new initiatives and requirements.
• Security & Risk Management : Ensure data security through proper user management, permissions, and encryption techniques of the databases.
• Documentation & Reporting: Provide regular updates to management on support & project status, challenges, and risks.
• Document database configurations, processes, and best practices.
• Stay current with open source database technologies and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
• Information Security: Comply with MPA's information security policy, standards and procedures
• Report all suspected security and/or policy breaches and potential security risks to MPA Corporate Security
• Protect MPA's information assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference
• Protect your user accounts and associated passwords.

Competencies / Skills

Technical / Professional Expertise

• Project Management skills
• Excellent problem analysis and resolution skills to support work in reactive and proactive environments
• Good written and verbal skills.
• Proven track record of managing and maintaining PostgreSQL and other open-source databases.
• Should be a good team player and should be able perform well under stress
• Teamwork. Ability to operate effectively in a technically complex environment.
• Act with Simplicity and Speed
• High level of Trust and Trusted Essential:
• Educated to degree level in STEM or equivalent working experience.
• At least 5 years' experience in managing PostgreSQL or open-source databases in a production environment.
• Strong knowledge of PostgreSQL architecture, internals, and tools.
• Hands-on experience with replication, high availability, and disaster recovery.
• Proficiency in writing and tuning SQL queries.
• Have exposure to the SAFe Agile framework.
• Have worked in Hybrid Cloud environments like Microsoft Azure.
• Solid understanding of Linux administration (e.g., RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu).
• Experience with monitoring tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, Zabbix) and automation frameworks (e.g., Ansible, Terraform).

Desirable

• Optional Certifications - EDB Certified PostgreSQL Associate/Professional; Relevant cloud platform certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP); Linux administration certifications.
• ITIL Service Management experience
• Demonstrable working knowledge and competence using JIRA and Confluence
• Experience with DevOps and DevSecOps teams.
• Experience working within a multi-national team and serving customers from multiple countries would be of benefit.
• Familiarity with cloud-based database services (AWS RDS, GCP, Azure) is a plus.
• Knowledge of Oracle databases with experience in the RAC, Grid, ASM and data guard technologies.
• Knowledge of Oracle engineered systems (EXADATA & ZFS) and familiarity with Exadata System Software and monitoring tools (e.g., ExaWatcher).