Database Engineer (PostgreSQL/GCP)

Job Title: Database Engineer (PostgreSQL/GCP)Location: 100% RemoteDuration: 4 Months with a high possibility of extensionJob Description:We're looking for a Database Engineer with strong, hands-on PostgreSQL ownership experience to support database migration and real-time replication work on Google Cloud. This is a build-and-run role — you'll be the person accountable for the database itself: sizing, securing, deploying, operating, and migrating it, not just connecting to it or transforming data that flows through it. Day-to-day, this role leans DBA/DataDevOps rather than pipeline development.What Success Looks Like:The databases you own are fast, available, recoverable, and cost-efficient — and you're the one who gets paged when they're not.Key Responsibilities:Migration:Plan and execute database migrations to Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL), including schema conversion, data validation, and cutover planningUse Database Migration Service (DMS) to migrate on-prem or cloud-based databases into Cloud SQL with minimal downtimeConfigure and manage Datastream for change data capture (CDC) and near real-time replication from source databasesOwn rollback planning for migrations — able to explain what happens if a cutover goes wrong, not just what happens if it goes rightDay-to-Day Operations:Administer and tune Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL) instances — performance, indexing, backups, high availabilityDiagnose slow-running databases: query analysis, missing indexes, CPU/memory/IO bottlenecks, locking/contentionSet up and maintain monitoring and alerting (CPU, memory, storage, connections, replication lag, error rates)Manage database users, permissions, and secure connectivity (private networking, encryption, connection pooling)Own backup strategy and — critically — have actually performed a restore, not just configured a backup schedulePlan and execute database version upgrades and maintenance windows on live systemsAutomate recurring database work (provisioning as code, scheduled maintenance, index upkeep)Design & Sizing:Size database instances (CPU, memory, storage) based on workload and growth projectionsDesign and configure high-availability setups (multi-zone/multi-region, read replicas)Make and justify cost/performance tradeoffsRequired Skills & Experience:Strong hands-on PostgreSQL experience — administration, performance tuning, schema design.Experience with Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL) on GCP — ideally provisioned and configured, not just usedExperience with Database Migration Service (DMS) and Datastream (or equivalent CDC tools) for migration and replicationDemonstrated on-call/incident-response experience for a database (not just for pipeline job failures)Solid understanding of migration best practices — minimal-downtime cutovers, validation, rollback strategiesComfortable troubleshooting replication lag and data consistency issuesPreferred:Experience with heterogeneous migrations (e.g., Oracle → PostgreSQL)Google Professional Cloud Database Engineer certification, or willingness to complete it (client requests this post-hire)Experience with Terraform or similar for database infrastructure automation