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- Tasks: Manage and optimise PostgreSQL databases, ensuring data integrity and performance.
- Company: Join a leading IT consultancy transforming the public sector in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days off, private medical insurance, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and exciting projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical services while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with PostgreSQL and strong 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 other platforms. Let them know you're on the hunt for a Database Administrator role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opening at Methods or elsewhere.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your PostgreSQL skills. Be ready to discuss performance tuning and query optimisation, as these are hot topics for DBAs. We want you to shine when it comes to showcasing your technical prowess!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research the company culture at Methods. Understanding their values and mission can help you tailor your responses during interviews. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. 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)
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, performance tuning, 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’s super easy, and you'll be able to keep track of your application status. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
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 query optimisation. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've handled JSON/JSONB data and any challenges you've faced in live service environments.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share real-life scenarios where you've diagnosed complex issues across application and database layers. Highlight your approach to root cause analysis and how you resolved performance bottlenecks or outages.
✨Understand Compliance and Security
Familiarise yourself with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, especially as it relates to database security and access control. Be ready to explain how you've implemented compliance measures in past roles.
✨Communicate Effectively with Stakeholders
Practice explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences. This role requires collaboration with various teams, so demonstrating your ability to communicate clearly will set you apart.