Staff Backend Engineer, Database Automation (Go) - GitLab

Role Overview

As a Senior or Staff Backend Engineer with the Database Excellence group, you will build and evolve database automation and PostgreSQL-as-a-Service capabilities. You will use Go to automate the full lifecycle of PostgreSQL across GitLab's infrastructure, ensuring database operations are safe, consistent, and scalable for high-throughput, always-on services.

Key Responsibilities

• Automation Development: Design and maintain Go-based automation for the full PostgreSQL lifecycle (provisioning, configuration, upgrades, failover, and scaling).
• Infrastructure Scaling: Build automation that integrates across infrastructure-as-code and cloud providers to support internet-scale production workloads.
• AI Integration: Utilize AI agents to streamline development, code review, and operational tasks.
• Platform Engineering: Develop a standardized PostgreSQL-as-a-Service platform to replace bespoke database setups.
• Operational Excellence: Research and implement improvements to PostgreSQL performance, scalability, and data health.
• Collaboration: Partner with product management, infrastructure, and software delivery teams to ship high-performing solutions.
• Leadership: Set technical direction for major initiatives, conduct design reviews, and mentor other engineers.

What You Bring

• Professional experience working with PostgreSQL in large, complex production environments.
• Proficiency in Go, including designing, testing, and reviewing backend services.
• Experience developing Kubernetes operators, controllers, or similar automation for stateful services.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure-as-code, high availability, replication, and performance trade-offs.
• Excellent written communication skills and experience working in an all-remote, distributed environment.
• Ability to manage priorities as a "manager of one" and align with GitLab's values of transparency and collaboration.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with Ruby on Rails (helpful for designing automation that application teams depend on).

Benefits

• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Comprehensive health, financial, and well-being benefits
• Parental Leave