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GitLabStaff Backend Engineer, Database Automation (Go)
GitLab is an intelligent DevSecOps orchestration platform trusted by millions of registered users and over half of the Fortune 100 to ship secure software efficiently. The…
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About This Role
GitLab is an intelligent DevSecOps orchestration platform trusted by millions of registered users and over half of the Fortune 100 to ship secure software efficiently. The company operates as a fully remote team and applies artificial intelligence as a core productivity multiplier across its daily workflows. Within this environment, the Database Excellence group is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer specializing in database automation using the Go programming language. This position…
Job Description
GitLab is an intelligent DevSecOps orchestration platform trusted by millions of registered users and over half of the Fortune 100 to ship secure software efficiently. The company operates as a fully remote team and applies artificial intelligence as a core productivity multiplier across its daily workflows. Within this environment, the Database Excellence group is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer specializing in database automation using the Go programming language.
This position focuses on building and advancing database automation and PostgreSQL as a service capabilities to support high-throughput, always-on internet services. The role involves designing lifecycle automation for PostgreSQL across infrastructure, replacing bespoke setups with standardized platforms, and developing tools such as SQL traffic replay and major version upgrade automation. The professional joining this group will own technical direction for major initiatives, provide mentorship, and partner with various engineering teams to maintain database performance, scalability, and data health at GitLab.com scale.
The role suits an autonomous engineer with substantial background in complex production environments, infrastructure as code, and stateful service lifecycle management. Candidates should be comfortable working asynchronously in a distributed team while upholding core values of transparency, collaboration, inclusion, and open source contribution.
Responsibilities
- Design, construct, and upkeep Go-based automation for the complete PostgreSQL lifecycle including provisioning, configuration, upgrades, failover, scaling, and decommissioning.
- Produce automation functioning across infrastructure-as-code tooling and cloud infrastructure while assessing operator-based methodologies.
- Utilize AI agents for service building and operation tasks encompassing implementation, review, and reduction of repetitive duties.
- Engineer automation for internet-scale, high-throughput, always-on production workloads prioritizing correctness, latency, and availability.
- Integrate compute, storage, networking, identity and access management, and managed data services from various cloud providers into a unified PostgreSQL platform.
- Develop a PostgreSQL as a service platform to substitute customized database arrangements with standardized provisioning and lifecycle administration.
- Coordinate with product management, infrastructure, software delivery, and engineering units to design and deploy high-performing solutions.
- Investigate, design, and deploy enhancements regarding PostgreSQL performance, scalability, and data health to preserve operational runway.
- Perform code reviews on database automation and Go updates contributed by peers, focusing on safety, maintainability, and performance.
- Author documentation covering automation practices, PostgreSQL operational patterns, and guidance for platform users and contributors.
- Create secure and repeatable automation for PostgreSQL major version upgrades evaluated against real production traffic.
- Manage production services end-to-end and utilize operational feedback to steer iterative improvements.
Requirements
- Professional software engineering background utilizing PostgreSQL within large, complex production settings.
- Experience developing or operating a database-as-a-service product.
- Proficiency in Go encompassing the design, implementation, testing, and review of backend services.
- Familiarity with infrastructure as code and fundamental database operations concepts like high availability, replication, backups, and system-level performance trade-offs.
- Strong written communication abilities and capability to operate asynchronously within a distributed, all-remote team.
- Self-directed work style featuring organizational competence, priority management, and alignment with company values.
Qualifications
- Experience developing Kubernetes operators, controllers, or analogous automation handling the lifecycle of stateful services.
- Familiarity with Ruby, particularly Ruby on Rails application codebases.
Core Skills
Benefits
- Flexible paid time off
- Team member resource groups
- Equity compensation and employee stock purchase plan
- Growth and development fund
- Parental leave
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Is this position remote?
Yes, this role is fully remote, though some positions may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements.
What is the employment type?
The position is full-time.
What is the salary for this role?
The base salary range for United States residents is $152,800 to $259,200 USD, though exact compensation is determined by interviews, education, experience, market data, and geographic location. Salary for locations outside the US is not specified.
What primary programming language is used in this role?
The role primarily uses Go to build automation for the full lifecycle of PostgreSQL across infrastructure.
Sample Interview Questions
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