Database Administrator (DBA)

Database Administrator (DBA)

Full-Time 50000 - 60000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Methods Business and Digital Technology

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Manage and optimise PostgreSQL databases while ensuring data integrity and performance.
  • Company: Join a leading IT consultancy transforming the public sector in the UK.
  • Benefits: Enjoy remote work, competitive salary, wellness programmes, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career growth and fun team activities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on society through exciting projects and innovative technology.
  • Qualifications: Strong experience with PostgreSQL and cloud technologies, plus problem-solving skills.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.

Location: Remote and client site

About us

Methods is a £100M+ IT Services Consultancy who has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK. Established over 30 years ago and UK-based, we apply our skills in transformation, delivery, and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to create end‑to‑end business and technical solutions that are people‑centred, safe, and designed for the future. Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, systems integrators and software houses – with people, technology, and data at the heart of who we are, we believe in creating value and sustainability through everything we do for our clients, staff, communities, and the planet. We support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them. Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in early 2022.

Role Purpose

We are seeking an experienced Database Administrator to support critical services, ensuring the integrity, availability, performance, and security of data across highly regulated justice systems. This role operates within a live service environment where reliability, auditability, and data protection are paramount. You will work across BAU support (AMS/3rd Line) and change delivery (PET / Product teams), ensuring databases are resilient, compliant, and optimised to support operational case working systems. You will play a key role in supporting PostgreSQL (Azure Flexible Server) estates, contributing to performance tuning, incident resolution, data governance, and the evolution of reporting and analytics capabilities (including Microsoft Fabric).

Database Operations & Live Service Support

  • Manage and maintain PostgreSQL databases (Azure Flexible Server)
  • Provide BAU support (2nd/3rd line) for production incidents, including performance degradation, outages, and data issues
  • Ensure high levels of availability, resilience, and operational stability across all environments (Dev, SIT, NFT, Prod)
  • Support release activities, validating database changes and ensuring safe deployment into live service

Performance, Monitoring & Optimisation

  • Monitor database performance using tools such as Dynatrace and native Azure monitoring
  • Diagnose and resolve performance bottlenecks (queries, indexing, storage, connection limits)
  • Tune SQL queries and optimise schema design for high‑volume transactional systems
  • Support capacity planning and scaling for large datasets (including JSONB‑heavy workloads)

Security, Compliance & Data Governance

  • Implement and manage access controls, roles, and permissions, aligning with government security policies
  • Ensure compliance with: UK GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018 (Law Enforcement Processing)
  • Cross‑Government security standards and retention policies
  • Support audit and forensic analysis by ensuring data traceability and integrity
  • Work with security and architecture teams to reduce over‑permissioning and role sprawl

Backup, Recovery & High Availability

  • Design and maintain backup and recovery strategies (PITR, snapshots, geo‑redundancy)
  • Support disaster recovery planning and testing
  • Implement and maintain high availability patterns (replication, failover)

Cloud & Platform Engineering

  • Manage and optimise databases hosted in Microsoft Azure Flexible Server
  • Support infrastructure‑as‑code deployments using Terraform
  • Contribute to cost optimisation and efficient resource utilisation
  • Troubleshoot platform‑level issues (extensions, replication, CDC, permissions)

Data & Reporting Integration

  • Support integration of operational data into analytics platforms such as Microsoft Fabric
  • Assist with ingestion patterns (CDC, event‑based, batch)
  • Work with data engineers to structure data for reporting and audit use cases
  • Address challenges with semi‑structured data (e.g. JSON/JSONB fields)

Development Support & Collaboration

  • Collaborate with engineering teams on:
  • Database design and schema evolution
  • Query optimisation
  • Data modelling for services and reporting
  • Support CI/CD pipelines and automated database deployments
  • Provide guidance on best practices for database usage within microservices

Essential Skills & Experience

Technical

  • Strong experience with PostgreSQL, including:
  • Performance tuning
  • Indexing strategies
  • Query optimisation
  • JSON/JSONB handling
  • Experience with Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server
  • Proficiency in SQL and database troubleshooting
  • Experience with Terraform or similar IaC tooling
  • Understanding of:
    • Backup and recovery strategies
    • High availability and replication
    • Database security and access control

    Operational & Analytical

    • Experience working in live service / production support environments
    • Strong problem‑solving and root cause analysis skills
    • Ability to diagnose complex issues across application and database layers

    Collaboration & Communication

    • Ability to work across:
    • Product teams
    • Support teams (AMS/3rd line)
    • Architecture and security functions
  • Strong stakeholder communication, including explaining technical issues to non‑technical audiences
  • Desirable Skills

    • Experience with Microsoft Fabric or modern data platforms
    • Familiarity with observability tooling such as Dynatrace
    • Experience working within UK Government environments
    • Knowledge of CDC / data streaming patterns
    • Event‑driven architectures
    • Audit and forensic data analysis

    Security & Clearance

    Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance.

    Benefits

    • Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience
    • Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
    • Strong, inspiring and thought‑provoking leadership
    • A supportive and collaborative environment.

    Offers

    • Development access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme and training
    • Wellness 24/7 Confidential employee assistance programme
    • Social – Breakfast Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays and Pizza on the last Thursday of each month as well as commitment to charitable causes

    Time off

    • 25 days a year
    • Pension Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution
    • Discretionary Company Bonus based on company and individual performance
    • Life Assurance of 4 times base salary
    • Private Medical Insurance which is non‑contributory (spouse and dependants included)
    • Worldwide Travel Insurance which is non‑contributory (spouse and dependants included)

    Database Administrator (DBA) employer: Methods Business and Digital Technology

    Methods is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment where employees can thrive while contributing to meaningful projects that transform the public sector. With a strong focus on professional development, including access to LinkedIn Learning and management training, employees are encouraged to grow their skills and advance their careers. The company also promotes a healthy work-life balance with generous benefits such as private medical insurance, life assurance, and a commitment to employee wellness.
    Methods Business and Digital Technology

    Contact Detail:

    Methods Business and Digital Technology Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Database Administrator (DBA)

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or attend industry meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their projects and values, especially how they relate to data integrity and security. This will help you tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Practice common DBA interview questions and scenarios. Get comfortable discussing your experience with PostgreSQL, performance tuning, and compliance. The more prepared you are, the more confident you'll feel during the interview.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.

    We think you need these skills to ace Database Administrator (DBA)

    PostgreSQL
    Performance Tuning
    Indexing Strategies
    Query Optimisation
    JSON/JSONB Handling
    Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server
    SQL Proficiency
    Database Troubleshooting
    Backup and Recovery Strategies
    High Availability and Replication
    Database Security and Access Control
    Terraform or Similar IaC Tooling
    Problem-Solving Skills
    Root Cause Analysis
    Collaboration and Communication

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Database Administrator role. Highlight your experience with PostgreSQL, Azure, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a great fit. Don’t forget to mention your problem-solving skills and experience in live service environments.

    Showcase Your Technical Skills: Be sure to include specific examples of your technical expertise, especially around performance tuning and database security. We love seeing real-world applications of your skills, so don’t hold back!

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and we can’t wait to see your application come through!

    How to prepare for a job interview at Methods Business and Digital Technology

    ✨Know Your PostgreSQL Inside Out

    Make sure you brush up on your PostgreSQL skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss performance tuning, indexing strategies, and how to handle JSON/JSONB data. They’ll likely ask you to solve a few technical problems on the spot, so practice some common scenarios.

    ✨Understand the Role of Compliance

    Since this role involves working with highly regulated justice systems, it’s crucial to understand UK GDPR and data protection laws. Be prepared to explain how you would implement access controls and ensure data integrity in your previous roles.

    ✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

    Prepare examples of complex issues you've diagnosed and resolved in live service environments. They want to see your analytical thinking in action, so think of specific instances where you turned a challenging situation into a success.

    ✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders

    You’ll need to work with various teams, so practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms. Think about how you’ve communicated with non-technical stakeholders in the past and be ready to share those experiences during the interview.

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