At a Glance
- Tasks: Modernise and scale database systems while ensuring reliability and performance.
- Company: Join Starling, a fast-moving UK bank with a tech-driven culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and family-friendly policies.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fintech by delivering innovative data solutions.
- Qualifications: Expertise in PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, and a passion for distributed systems.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Starling is a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast‑moving, disruptive tech company. With more than 3,000 people across London, Southampton, Cardiff and Manchester, we empower teams to deliver banking services at the touch of a phone. Our technologists are at the very heart of Starling. We thrive in a fast‑paced environment that is all about building new solutions, delivering technology that keeps us on the cutting edge of fintech, and collaborating across the business.
The way to thrive at Starling is to be a self‑driven individual who takes full ownership of everything—from building and designing to sharing knowledge and ensuring efficient processes that deliver the best possible results for our customers. Our Data teams are aligned to divisions covering Banking Services & Products, Customer Identity & Financial Crime, and Data & ML Engineering. We are excited about delivering meaningful insights to both the business and our customers. We are looking for talented data professionals at all levels to join the team. We value people who care about customers, the code they write, and the contribution they make to Starling.
Hybrid Working
We have a hybrid approach to working. Our preference is that you’re located within commuting distance of one of our offices. In Technology, you’re expected to attend the office a minimum of one day per week.
Our Data Environment
Our Data teams cover Banking Services & Products, Customer Identity & Financial Crime, and Data & ML Engineering. We deliver impactful insights to the business and our customers.
Responsibilities
- Modernize and Scale the RDS Fleet: ensure reliability, automate upgrades, and tune performance across hundreds of instances.
- Architect Cross‑Cloud Portability: use CNPG and cloud‑native patterns to keep our database layer provider‑agnostic.
- Evolve Observability & Monitoring: build proactive monitoring and alerting to detect regressions before they affect customers.
- Support Replication & Mobility: enable data streaming and zero‑downtime migration strategies for consistency and availability.
- Fortify Business Continuity (BCP): design disaster recovery strategies and automation for resilient data durability and rapid recovery.
Qualifications
- PostgreSQL & Kubernetes expert with experience using CNPG for stateful workloads on Kubernetes.
- Systems thinker: use code (Terraform, custom APIs) to provision infrastructure, avoiding manual implementations.
- Distributed Systems enthusiast: enjoy the challenge of multi‑tenant, multi‑region, multi‑cloud scenarios with rigorous data integrity.
- Security & Observability mindset: build deep observability (Prometheus/Grafana/OpenTelemetry/Humio) and guardrails for secure operation.
- Engineering via code: deliver backend services in Java with clean relational modeling and performant DDL.
Interview Process
- Stage 1 – 30 min chat with a team member.
- Stage 2 – Take‑home challenge.
- Stage 3 – 60 min technical interview with two team members.
- Stage 4 – 45 min final with two data executives.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday (plus public holidays and a birthday day). Annual leave increases with length of service; buy or sell up to five extra days.
- 16 hours paid volunteering time per year.
- Salary sacrifice and company‑enhanced pension scheme.
- Life insurance at 4× salary & group income protection.
- Private medical insurance with VitalityHealth, including mental health support and cancer care.
- Partner discounts (Waitrose, Mr & Mrs Smith, Peloton).
- Generous family‑friendly policies.
- Perkbox membership for retail discounts, wellness platform, and weekly perks.
- Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, salary‑sacrifice gym partnerships, and EV leasing.
Starling Bank is an equal‑opportunity employer. We consider applicants 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.
Database Reliability Engineer in London employer: Starling Bank
Starling Bank is an exceptional employer that champions a culture-first approach, fostering creativity and innovation in a dynamic environment. With a competitive benefits package, including generous leave and private medical insurance, employees are supported in their personal and professional growth. Located in Greater London, the bank promotes diversity and inclusion, making it a rewarding place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Database Reliability Engineer in London
✨Tap into Local Tech Meetups
Get yourself to local tech meetups or database management conferences. It's a really great way to meet industry professionals and potentially uncover unadvertised full-time roles. When chatting with people, mention your skills and interests in database management; you never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects can not only sharpen your database skills but also get you noticed by employers. Many companies look for candidates who actively contribute to projects – it shows initiative and a real passion for the field. Plus, it's a perfect excuse to connect with other developers and expand your professional network.
✨Utilise Professional Bodies
Sign up for professional bodies related to database management, like the British Computer Society. They often host events and networking opportunities that can lead directly to job openings in the full-time market. Plus, it adds a nice touch to your professional profile!
✨Showcase Your Skills in a Public Portfolio
As you’re on the hunt for that full-time role, make sure to have a public portfolio that displays your best database projects. This can easily set you apart from the competition. And when you apply for roles, definitely mention it – it shows employers you mean business and are proud of your work!
We think you need these skills to ace Database Reliability Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your database skills:When applying for a full-time role in database management, it’s super important to highlight your skills with specific database technologies like SQL, NoSQL, or any relevant data visualisation tools. We want to see how you've used these tools in real projects, so don't shy away from detailing your hands-on experience!
Tailor your CV for data:Make sure your CV is structured clearly, focusing on your previous experience in database management. Use specific metrics to demonstrate your impact, like how you improved data retrieval times or reduced errors. This isn't just about what you've done; it’s about what you’ve achieved with your skills!
Craft a compelling cover letter:In your cover letter, share what excites you about database management and how you can contribute to Starling Bank. Mention any relevant projects where you tackled challenges or implemented new solutions. Let us know why you want to join our team and how your passion aligns with our goals.
Document your projects:If you've worked on interesting database projects—maybe during your studies or in previous roles—be sure to include those in your application. If you can, link to a portfolio or GitHub repo where we can see examples of your work. Having a tangible showcase of your skills will really make your application stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank
✨Brush Up on Database Tools
Make sure you're well-versed with popular database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. Incorporating real-world examples of how you've used these tools in past projects will show that you can put theory into practice, which is something Starling Bank will definitely appreciate.
✨Know Your SQL Inside Out
Get ready for some technical questions focused on SQL queries and database design. We should anticipate coding challenges where you might need to optimise queries or design a database schema on the spot. Practising these problems will build our confidence to impress in the interview.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Besides just technical know-how, be prepared to answer scenario-based questions that test your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Think about how you would approach data integrity issues or handle performance bottlenecks — Starling Bank will want to see your analytical side!
✨Show Your Collaboration Spirit
Since this is a full-time role, it's crucial to highlight how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams or contributed to team projects in the past. Emphasising our interpersonal skills will demonstrate that you’re not just a tech wizard, but also a team player who fits well with Starling Bank's culture.
