# Senior Backend Engineer - Database Change Management

**Company:** [GitLab](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/gitlab)
**Location:** Remote
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** Ruby on Rails, Ruby, Active Record, Database Migrations, Django, Ecto, Postgres, SQL, Schema Design, Continuous Integration, Dependency Graphs, Code Review
**Posted:** 2026-08-24

> Design and deliver a validation framework and dependency-graph migration system that makes GitLab upgrades safer, faster, and more reliable. The role requires deep Rails or comparable migration-framework expertise, production PostgreSQL experience, technical leadership, mentoring, and strong asynchronous communication.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Lead the design and delivery of a database migration validation and test framework from initial approach through production use.
- Contribute to a dependency graph migration system supporting safe ordering, parallel execution, and three-phase, low-downtime upgrades.
- Mentor intermediate engineers through pairing, code review, and design feedback.
- Make and document technical decisions asynchronously for teams working across time zones.
- Review schema migrations for safety, backward compatibility, and reliability.
- Collaborate with Distribution, Quality Assurance, Database Architecture, Database Automation, and database framework teams supporting GitLab.com and self-managed deployments.
- At Staff level, author and defend architecture proposals and represent the team in technical reviews.

## Requirements
- Deep experience with Ruby on Rails in large production codebases, including Active Record migration internals, or comparable depth with another framework's migration system such as Django or Ecto.
- Production PostgreSQL experience, including schema changes on large tables, locking behavior, and data definition language failure modes under load.
- Track record of leading delivery of a system from design through implementation and adoption.
- Experience mentoring engineers through pairing, code review, and technical feedback.
- Strong written communication and ability to work independently in an asynchronous, distributed environment.
- Sound judgment balancing reliability, safety, backward compatibility, and delivery needs.
- Interest in serving as a senior technical presence for an India-based engineering group while collaborating across regions.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Benefits supporting health, finances, and well-being.
- Flexible paid time off.
- Team Member Resource Groups.
- Equity compensation and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
- Growth and Development Fund.
- Parental leave.

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