Intermediate Backend Engineer - Database Change Management
Builds and maintains Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL systems that make database upgrades safe, fast, and predictable. The role requires production backend engineering experience, schema migration and performance-tuning expertise, and strong asynchronous collaboration skills.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Build and test systems that safely apply database schema changes during upgrades for GitLab.com and self-managed customers.
- Develop and maintain testing frameworks that validate schema changes before production.
- Implement checks and safeguards to prevent failed or slow upgrades.
- Review and improve database schema migrations for safety, consistency, and backward compatibility.
- Collaborate with operations, packaging, distribution, and QA teams to improve upgrade reliability.
- Document upgrade procedures, schema-change patterns, and migration best practices.
- Identify operational needs and deliver incremental improvements to customer upgrades.
Requirements
- Professional software engineering experience with PostgreSQL in large, complex production environments.
- Experience with schema migrations and performance tuning.
- Proficiency with Ruby on Rails and backend feature and service development.
- Ability to reason about software design, algorithms, and system-level trade-offs involving reliability, safety, and backward compatibility.
- Strong written communication skills and comfort working asynchronously in a distributed team.
- Self-directed work style and effective prioritization.
- Experience working with operations or infrastructure teams, or willingness to develop cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Alignment with GitLab’s values, including transparency, teamwork, inclusion, and open-source contribution.
Benefits
- Health, financial, and well-being benefits.
- Flexible paid time off.
- Team member resource groups.
- Equity compensation and employee stock purchase plan.
- Growth and development fund.
- Parental leave.
Skills
Ruby on Rails, Postgres, Database Schema Migrations, Performance Tuning, Backend Services, Algorithms, System Design, Database Upgrades, Backward Compatibility, Asynchronous Work
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