Lead Database Administrator (Lead DBA) – PostgreSQL & AWS Cloud

Lead Database Administrator (Lead DBA) – PostgreSQL & AWS Cloud

Dallas, TX

12+ Months Contract

Phone/Skype

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Lead DBA with strong expertise in PostgreSQL (including EDB) and AWS cloud platforms. The ideal candidate will lead database architecture, administration, performance optimization, and cloud migration initiatives across hybrid environments (on-premises and AWS). This role requires deep technical skills, leadership capabilities, and a proactive approach to reliability, security, and cost optimization.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and mentor a team of DBAs, providing technical guidance and best practices.
• Define database standards, governance, and operational procedures.
• Collaborate with application, DevOps, and cloud teams to align database strategies with business goals.
• Drive continuous improvement in database performance, scalability, and reliability.

Database Administration (PostgreSQL & EDB)

• Manage and support PostgreSQL databases across on-premises (EDB) and AWS environments.
• Perform database provisioning, configuration, patching, upgrades, and decommissioning.
• Ensure high availability using replication, clustering, and failover mechanisms.
• Implement backup and recovery strategies, including disaster recovery planning and testing.

AWS Cloud Database Management

• Administer and optimize Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL environments.
• Design and manage cloud-native database architectures for scalability and resilience.
• Monitor database performance using AWS-native tools and third-party solutions.
• Automate deployments and operations using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools.

• Work with AWS Services like RDS Global Cluster, EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, KMS, etc.

Performance & Optimization

• Analyze and tune database performance.
• Implement proactive monitoring and alerting mechanisms.
• Identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements for high-throughput systems.

Cost Optimization

• Optimize AWS database costs.
• Monitor usage patterns and recommend cost-saving strategies without compromising performance.
• Implement automation to reduce manual overhead and operational expenses.

Security & Compliance

• Enforce database security best practices, including access control, encryption, and auditing.
• Ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Manage roles, privileges, and data protection strategies.

Migration & Modernization

• Plan and execute migrations from on-premises PostgreSQL (EDB) to AWS (RDS/Aurora).
• Support heterogeneous and homogeneous migration strategies.
• Validate data integrity and performance post-migration.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 12+ years of experience as a DBA, with at least 5+ years in a lead role.
• Strong expertise in PostgreSQL and EDB Postgres Advanced Server.
• Hands-on experience with:
• Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
• Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL
• EC2, S3, VPC, Lambda
• Deep understanding of:
• High availability (replication, failover)
• Backup & recovery strategies
• Performance tuning and query optimization
• Experience with automation/scripting (Shell, Python, or similar).
• Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code tools (Terraform preferred, CloudFormation).
• Strong understanding of database security and compliance.