At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our engineering team to manage and optimize PostgreSQL databases.
- Company: Starling is the UK's leading digital bank, revolutionizing banking with tech-driven solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible hours, private medical insurance, and a vibrant work culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-paced, innovative environment that values collaboration and personal ownership.
- Qualifications: Experience as a DBA, knowledge of Postgres, and a self-motivated attitude are essential.
- Other info: We embrace hybrid working and support diversity and inclusion in our workplace.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Job Description
Starling is the UK’s first and leading digital bank on a mission to fix banking! Our vision is fast technology, fair service, and honest values. All at the tap of a phone, all the time.We are about giving customers a new way to spend, save and manage their money while taking better care of the planet which has seen us become a multi-award winning bank that now employs over 2300 across five offices in London, Cardiff, Dublin, Southampton, and soon to be Manchester.
Our journey started in 2014, and since then we have surpassed three million accounts (and four account types!) with 350,000 business customers. We are a fully licensed UK bank but at the heart, we are a tech first company, enabling our platform to deliver brilliant products.Our technologists are at the very heart of Starling and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that is all about building things, creating new stuff, and disruptive technology that keeps us on the cutting edge of fintech. We operate a flat structure to empower you to make decisions regardless of what your primary responsibilities may be, innovation and collaboration will be at the core of everything you do.
Help is never far away in our open culture, you will find support in your team and from across the business, we are in this together!The way to thrive and shine within Starling is to be a self-driven individual and be able to take full ownership of everything around you: From building things, designing, discovering, to sharing knowledge with your colleagues and making sure all processes are efficient and productive to deliver the best possible results for our customers. Our purpose is underpinned by five Starling values: Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim For Greatness.Hybrid WorkingWe have a Hybrid approach to working here at Starling – our preference is that you\\\\\\'re located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we\\\\\\'re able to interact and collaborate in person.Our Data EnvironmentOur Data teams are aligned to divisions covering the following Banking Services & Products, Customer Identity & Financial Crime and Data & ML Engineering. Our Data teams are excited about delivering meaningful and impactful insights to both the business and more importantly our customers.
Hear from the team in our latest blogs or our case studies with Women in Tech.We are looking for talented data professionals at all levels to join the team. We value people being engaged and caring about customers, caring about the code they write and the contribution they make to Starling. People with a broad ability to apply themselves to a multitude of problems and challenges, who can work across teams do great things here at Starling, to continue changing banking for good.About the Role:Working within our engineering team, you will be responsible for the application and infrastructure used to support our PostgreSQL databases.
This will include: Working within the DBA team to build out our Database Manager application used to manage and monitor our databases. Working with our teams to understand their database needs and make adjustments from an application and infrastructure standpoint. Monitoring and optimising the performance of databases Query analysis to understand how our databases are being used Allocating for systems requirements and planning future needs Working within the team to understand how to manage and maintain Postgres database infrastructure Monitor and optimise the performance of our ever growing PostgreSQL database. Keep our database estate up to date – both from a vulnerability management and supported Postgres version point of view Managing and monitoring data replication Lead regular disaster recovery testing initiatives Own and improve technical documentation and processes for database tasks – enabling teams to self help with e.g.
allocating system storage and planning storage needs; performing upgrades; optimising database queries Own and improve monitoring dashboards and alerts Own cost optimisation – reviewing and proposing recommendations for optimising database footprint, including reserved instance lifecycle management Embrace automation and be reluctant for manual implementation Implement security best practices Demonstrate knowledge of new technologies and changes in the industry RequirementsThe ideal candidate will have experience in the following: Proven experience working as a DBA Experience of using infrastructure as code. Preferably Terraform Experience working with AWS RDS Postgres or GCP Cloud SQL databases Understanding of Postgres administration, monitoring, disaster recovery and performance tuning Self-motivated person able to drive change, take initiative and own their work Ability to communicate at all levels of the business to understand the users needs Built and deployed PostgreSQL clusters into production (would consider Oracle/MySQL and similar technologies) Knowledge of Postgres configuration settings A strong understanding of Postgres’ vacuum/MVCC process Worked within high availability, scalable environments Ability to engage with all levels of the business to understand user needs Strong ability to solve complex technical issues Interview ProcessInterviewing is a two way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious.
In general you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team: First Interview – 30 minutes Technical Interview – 90 minutes Final Interview – 45 minutes Benefits 25 days holiday (plus public holidays) An extra day’s holiday for your birthday, taken a week on either side of the day 16 hours paid volunteering time a year Part-time and/or flexible hours available for most roles Hybrid/remote working Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton Generous family-friendly policies Enhanced sick pay Contributory pension scheme Varied social groups set up and run by our employees Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a cashback scheme, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, a birthday box and weekly free coffee Access to ‘salary sacrifice’ benefits such as Cycle to Work scheme Full details are available on our careers siteAbout Us:Starling is a leading digital bank on a mission to disrupt the banking industry.Since our launch in 2014, we\\\\\\'ve surpassed 2 million accounts, including over 350,000 business accounts. Our total deposits, meanwhile, have topped £5 billion and we have lent over £2bn over the same period.
We\\\\\\'re a fully licensed UK bank, and we have the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive technology company. We\\\\\\'ve won the Best British Bank award four years running, and now employ over 1500 people across our London, Southampton, Cardiff & Dublin offices.Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.By submitting your application, you agree that Starling Bank may collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes.
Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we may process, where we may process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.
Database Engineer (DBA) - London employer: Starling Bank
Contact Detail:
Starling Bank Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Database Engineer (DBA) - London
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with PostgreSQL and its administration. Since the role focuses on managing PostgreSQL databases, having a solid understanding of its configuration settings, performance tuning, and disaster recovery processes will set you apart.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience with infrastructure as code, particularly Terraform. Highlight any projects where you've successfully implemented this technology, as it aligns with Starling's tech-first approach.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your problem-solving skills in technical interviews. Be ready to share specific examples of complex issues you've resolved, especially in high availability and scalable environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with the company culture by researching Starling's values. During your interviews, express how you embody these values like 'Own It' and 'Aim For Greatness', and be prepared to ask insightful questions about their team dynamics.
We think you need these skills to ace Database Engineer (DBA) - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company Culture: Familiarize yourself with Starling's mission and values. Highlight how your personal values align with theirs, especially around innovation, collaboration, and customer care.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects your experience as a DBA, particularly with PostgreSQL and cloud technologies like AWS RDS or GCP Cloud SQL. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in performance tuning and disaster recovery.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced tech environment. Discuss your self-motivation and ability to drive change, and provide examples of how you've taken ownership of projects in the past.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to PostgreSQL administration and infrastructure as code. Be ready to discuss your experience with monitoring, optimizing databases, and implementing security best practices.
How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to familiarize yourself with Starling's values: Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim For Greatness. Show how you embody these values in your work and how they align with your personal ethos.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Given the technical nature of the role, be ready to discuss your experience with PostgreSQL databases, AWS RDS, and infrastructure as code, particularly Terraform. Brush up on your knowledge of database performance tuning and disaster recovery processes.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, and how the DBA role contributes to Starling's mission. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to share examples of complex technical issues you've solved in the past. Highlight your self-motivation and initiative in driving change, as these traits are highly valued at Starling.