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- 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 exciting projects and excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical services that support justice systems.
- Qualifications: Strong PostgreSQL experience and problem-solving skills required.
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. 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.
Requirements
- 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.
- 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
Contact Detail:
Methods 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 practising common DBA questions and scenarios. We recommend setting up mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the process.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository with examples of your work, especially any projects involving PostgreSQL or Azure. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can do.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Database Administrator (DBA)
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 match 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 experience in live service environments and your problem-solving skills.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Be specific about your technical skills in your application. Mention your proficiency in SQL, database troubleshooting, and any experience with Terraform. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their expertise clearly!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Methods
✨Know Your PostgreSQL Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your PostgreSQL skills, especially performance tuning and indexing strategies. Be ready to discuss how you've optimised queries in the past and any experience you have with JSON/JSONB handling.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've diagnosed and resolved complex issues in live service environments. Highlight your analytical skills and how you've contributed to maintaining high availability and operational stability.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Azure and Terraform
Since this role involves managing databases in Microsoft Azure, make sure you understand Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server and have a grasp of infrastructure-as-code using Terraform. Be ready to discuss any relevant projects or experiences.
✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders
Practice explaining technical concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with product teams or security functions.