Database Reliability Engineer - Cross-Cloud, Zero-Downtime

Database Reliability Engineer - Cross-Cloud, Zero-Downtime

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Architect and manage reliable database systems across multiple clouds with zero downtime.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking bank revolutionising the financial industry.
  • Benefits: Flexible working options, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment focused on innovation and customer care.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on banking technology while working with cutting-edge tools.
  • Qualifications: Expertise in PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, and coding with Java.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Requirements

  • PostgreSQL & Kubernetes Expert: You have extensive experience working with Postgres and a passion for running stateful workloads natively on Kubernetes. You are excited to leverage CNPG to manage persistence, high availability, and automated failover.
  • Systems Thinker: You have a natural reluctance for manual implementation. You believe infrastructure should be managed entirely via code, using Terraform to provision the foundation and custom APIs to handle the orchestration.
  • Distributed Systems Enthusiast: You are excited by the challenge of multi-tenant, multi-region, and multi-cloud while ensuring rigorous data integrity and mobility.
  • A Security & Observability Mindset: You believe security is paramount. You focus on building deep observability (Prometheus/Grafana/OpenTelemetry/Humio) and automated guardrails so the fleet is secure by design without requiring manual intervention.
  • Engineering via Code: While you are a systems expert, your primary delivery mechanism is code. You leverage Java to build robust, testable backend services that orchestrate our data layer, taking pride in clean relational modeling and performant DDL.

You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway.

What the job involves

  • 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.
  • Modernize and Scale the RDS Fleet: Ensure the rock-solid reliability of our existing RDS footprint. You will architect automated strategies for seamless, multi-version upgrades and proactive performance tuning to minimize downtime across hundreds of instances.
  • Architect Cross-Cloud Portability: Use CNPG and cloud-native patterns to ensure our database layer remains provider-agnostic, allowing seamless deployment across AWS and GCP.
  • Evolve Observability & Monitoring: Build deep, proactive monitoring and alerting for our global database fleet. You will ensure we have the visibility to detect performance regressions and health issues before they impact our customers.
  • Support Replication & Mobility: Support data streaming and Zero-Downtime migration strategies, ensuring data consistency and availability.
  • Fortify Business Continuity (BCP): Design and implement rigorous Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery strategies. You will build the automation that ensures data durability and rapid recovery across regions, guaranteeing that the database remains resilient in the face of any failures.

Database Reliability Engineer - Cross-Cloud, Zero-Downtime employer: Starling

At Starling, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our supportive environment where talented data professionals can thrive, tackle exciting challenges, and contribute to transforming banking for good. With a focus on modern technologies and a flexible approach to work, we ensure that our team members are engaged, valued, and equipped with the tools they need to succeed in a dynamic, cross-cloud landscape.

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Contact Details:

Starling Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Database Reliability Engineer - Cross-Cloud, Zero-Downtime

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Attend meetups, webinars, or industry events where you can connect with folks in the database and cloud space. Don’t be shy—introduce yourself and share your passion for PostgreSQL and Kubernetes. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a GitHub repository showcasing your projects related to database reliability and cloud-native patterns. This is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in Terraform, Java, and observability tools. Plus, it gives potential employers a sneak peek into your coding style and problem-solving abilities.

Tip Number 3

Don’t just apply—engage! When you find a role that excites you, reach out to someone at the company through LinkedIn or our website. Ask questions about the team culture or the tech stack. This shows your genuine interest and can help you stand out from the crowd.

Tip Number 4

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your systems thinking and coding skills. Practice explaining complex concepts like multi-cloud strategies and automated failover in simple terms. Remember, we want to see how you think and approach problems, so be ready to showcase your passion for building resilient systems!

We think you need these skills to ace Database Reliability Engineer - Cross-Cloud, Zero-Downtime

PostgreSQL
Kubernetes
Terraform
Java
Prometheus
Grafana
OpenTelemetry

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for PostgreSQL & Kubernetes:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience with PostgreSQL and Kubernetes. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely excited about running stateful workloads and can share specific examples of how they've done this in the past.

Emphasise Your Systems Thinking:Let us know how you approach infrastructure management. If you believe in managing everything via code, mention your experience with Terraform and any custom APIs you've worked with. We want to see that you think critically about systems and automation!

Demonstrate Your Enthusiasm for Distributed Systems:We’re looking for someone who thrives on challenges related to multi-tenant, multi-region, and multi-cloud environments. Share your experiences and how you’ve ensured data integrity and mobility in these scenarios. It’s all about showing us your excitement for tackling complex problems!

Don’t Worry About Tick Boxes:If you’re feeling hesitant because you don’t meet every single requirement, just go for it! We value enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. So, if you’re excited about the role, apply through our website and let’s have a chat!

How to prepare for a job interview at Starling

Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your PostgreSQL and Kubernetes knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with stateful workloads and how you've managed high availability and automated failover in the past. They’ll want to see your passion for these technologies, so don’t hold back!

Showcase Your Coding Skills

Since engineering via code is key for this role, be prepared to talk about your experience with Terraform and Java. Bring examples of how you've used code to manage infrastructure and orchestrate data layers. If you can, share a project where you’ve implemented clean relational modelling or performance tuning.

Demonstrate Your Systems Thinking

This role requires a systems thinker, so think about how you can convey your reluctance for manual implementation. Prepare to discuss how you’ve approached problems with a mindset focused on automation and orchestration, especially in multi-tenant and multi-cloud environments.

Emphasise Security and Observability

Security is paramount, so be ready to talk about your experience with observability tools like Prometheus or Grafana. Discuss how you’ve built automated guardrails and monitoring strategies to ensure data integrity and security without manual intervention. This will show you understand the importance of a secure design.