Database Administrator (DBA) in Reading

Database Administrator (DBA) Reading | Hybrid | Permanent Help shape the data platform behind a mission-critical technology solution. We're looking for an experienced Database Administrator to take ownership of a complex, high-availability database environment that supports a sophisticated operational software platform. This is an opportunity to join an innovative engineering team where reliability, performance and automation are central to delivering cutting-edge technology. Working closely with software engineers, platform specialists and data teams, you'll ensure the database layer remains secure, resilient and highly optimised while supporting the continued evolution of a growing product. Key Responsibilities * Own the design, administration and ongoing optimisation of production MariaDB/MySQL databases. * Develop and manage robust database schema migrations with safe deployment, validation and rollback processes. * Monitor, analyse and optimise database performance in high-volume, write-intensive environments. * Design and maintain backup, recovery and data retention strategies, regularly validating restore processes. * Implement and maintain database security, permissions and audit controls. * Create automation, monitoring and health-check tooling to improve operational efficiency and scalability. * Collaborate with software developers to optimise queries, indexing strategies and data models. * Support the wider engineering function by contributing to CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment processes. * Provide guidance on database architecture and best practice across development teams. Key Skills & Experience * Strong commercial experience administering production MariaDB or MySQL databases. * Excellent understanding of database performance tuning, indexing and query optimisation. * Experience designing and executing schema migration strategies. * Knowledge of backup, recovery and disaster recovery best practices. * Automation experience using SQL alongside Python or Bash scripting. * Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across engineering and technical teams. Desirable Experience * PostgreSQL administration. * Containerised environments using Docker. * Event-driven architectures or messaging technologies such as RabbitMQ. * Experience supporting distributed or multi-site database deployments. * Background working within regulated, security-conscious or mission-critical environments. What's on Offer * Hybrid working with regular collaboration from the Reading office. * The opportunity to work on technically challenging, large-scale software products. * A collaborative engineering culture focused on quality, innovation and continuous improvement. * Competitive salary and benefits package. * Long-term career development within a growing technology business. Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance