The federal public security organisation runs an automated biometric identification system and needs a medior PostgreSQL Database Administrator / Engineer to strengthen its systems team. You will work on database architecture and integration for high-availability PostgreSQL clusters and contribute to Python backend development, while using container tooling such as Docker and Kubernetes for deployment and GitLab for CI/CD.
The mission
The work sits inside an ICT systems division responsible for on-premises datacentre infrastructure, system standards and third-line support for critical public-sector services. The technical landscape includes Linux servers, container platforms (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift), PostgreSQL as the primary relational store and other NoSQL and vector stores for specialised indexing and retrieval. Your role supports a high-security, regulated environment where data integrity, availability and auditability are essential.
Day to day you will design, operate and optimise PostgreSQL databases used by backend services, implement reliable backup and restore procedures and build data integration mechanisms to exchange information with external systems. You join a multidisciplinary team of internal and external engineers, provide third-line database support for development projects, integrate Python backend code with database layers and contribute to standards, runbooks and automated CI/CD pipelines in GitLab.
Your responsibilities
- Own the production PostgreSQL environment and deliver measurable improvements in availability, backup recovery time and query performance
- Design and implement database schemas, replication and synchronization mechanisms that support secure biometric data workflows and integrations with NoSQL/vector stores
- Implement monitoring, alerting and logging using tools such as the Elastic Stack to reduce mean time to detection and resolution
- Build and maintain automated deployment and migration pipelines in GitLab CI/CD using container images (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes / OpenShift)
- Troubleshoot performance issues, perform tuning and capacity planning on Linux-hosted database clusters
- Document operational procedures, runbooks and change plans to meet audit and compliance requirements
Your profile
Essential skills
- 3+ years operational experience managing PostgreSQL databases in production environments
- Proven backend development experience with Python, integrating applications with relational databases
- Practical experience with containerisation and orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift
- Experience with automation and configuration management, for example Ansible
- Familiarity with logging and monitoring stacks such as the Elastic Stack
- Comfortable working on Linux servers and writing GitLab CI/CD pipelines
- Knowledge of REST webservices and data integration patterns, and experience with other NoSQL stores (key-value, document, vector)
- Methodical documentation skills, ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and provide third-line support
Languages
- French C1 or Dutch C1, passive knowledge of the other language at B1
- English B2
Education
- Bachelor or Master in computer science or equivalent practical experience