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Database

PostgreSQL DBA

Administers and tunes PostgreSQL databases, including HA, replication and extensions.

Experience level: SeniorCoding level: MediumTechnical difficulty: 80/100

Administers and tunes PostgreSQL databases, including HA, replication and extensions.

Entry

Senior

Coding

Medium

Key skills

PostgreSQL administrationStreaming replication / PatroniPerformance tuningVacuum & maintenance
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Career overview

The PostgreSQL DBA administers PostgreSQL databases: installation, streaming replication, high availability with Patroni, performance tuning, extensions (PostGIS, pg_partman), vacuum strategy and security. PostgreSQL is the dominant open-source relational database for modern applications. The role leads to Senior DBA, Database Engineer or Database Architect positions.

Main responsibilities

  • Administer and tune PostgreSQL databases
  • Tune queries, indexes and execution plans
  • Manage database users, roles and auditing
  • Plan and run version upgrades and migrations
  • Design and verify backup and restore procedures
  • Monitor platform health, alerts and dashboards
  • Build high availability and disaster recovery setups
  • Prepare and execute change requests in production
  • Keep technical documentation up to date
  • Mentor junior team members and review their work

Technical skills

PostgreSQL administration92%
Streaming replication / Patroni85%
Performance tuning85%
Vacuum & maintenance82%
Extensions (PostGIS)75%
Security80%
Linux78%
Scripting (Bash/Python)72%

Technologies

PostgreSQLPatronipgBouncerpgBarmanPostGISpg_partmanpgAdminLinuxAnsibleTerraformPythonBashGitPrometheusGrafanaZabbixDockerKubernetespgBackRest

Education level

Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.

High School / Bac

Less common

Bac+2 (2-year degree)

Less common

Bac+3 (Bachelor)

Common entry point

Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)

Common entry point

Experience & coding level

Experience level

Entry LevelJuniorIntermediateSeniorExpert

Coding level

No codingLowMediumHighVery High
Technical difficulty80%

Useful certifications

Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.

  • PostgreSQL Associate / Professional
  • AWS Certified Database
  • Linux Foundation Certified Engineer

Where can this career take you?

Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.

Direct progression

PostgreSQL DBASenior DBA
Where Can Your IT Career Take You?

Where can you go next?

Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.

Senior DBALow

Overlap: 25% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Advanced SQL & internals, High availability design, Cloud databases

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Where can you go from here?

A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.

  1. PostgreSQL DBA
  2. Senior DBA
  3. Database Engineer
  4. Database Reliability Engineer
  5. Database Architect
  6. Enterprise Architect
Soft skills
  • Rigour and attention to detail
  • Problem solving
  • Analytical thinking
  • Autonomy
  • Clear communication
  • Sense of ownership

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Next step

The path to Senior DBA

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PostgreSQL DBASenior DBA

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