PostgreSQL DBA

Job Description

Company: Cognizant
Location: Charlotte, NC
Workplace Type: On-site
Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role

Cognizant is seeking a PostgreSQL DBA within its Cognizant Infrastructure Services (CIS) Practice to create scalable data models for utilities domain use cases and enable trustworthy analytics that advance organizational decisions. This role involves end-to-end administration, performance tuning, and infrastructure reliability for mission-critical PostgreSQL environments.

What You’ll Do / Key Responsibilities

• Database Administration & Operations: Administer and maintain PostgreSQL databases across Production, UAT, and Development environments; manage provisioning, configuration, lifecycle management, storage utilization, and capacity planning.
• Backup, Recovery & DR: Design, implement, and validate logical and physical backup/restore strategies using PostgreSQL utilities; conduct recovery drills and meet defined RPO/RTO objectives.
• High Availability & Replication: Architect and support PostgreSQL HA topologies, configure and monitor streaming replication and logical replication, manage replication lag, and execute failover/switchover drills.
• Performance Tuning & Optimization: Resolve bottlenecks by tuning PostgreSQL engine parameters, memory, I/O, and autovacuum settings; analyze execution plans, indexes, and partitioning strategies while mitigating lock contention.
• Security & Compliance: Implement enterprise database security standards, manage role-based access control (RBAC), enforce least-privilege principles, and support compliance audits.
• Automation & Scripting: Develop automated health checks, routine maintenance tasks, and monitoring scripts using Bash, Python, Shell, or native PostgreSQL utilities.
• Incident & Problem Management: Provide root cause analysis (RCA) for critical incidents, support change releases, and maintain up-to-date SOPs, runbooks, and recovery documentation.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience in PostgreSQL administration, query optimization, partitioning, and managing large datasets in complex enterprise environments.
• Relational & Dimensional Modeling: Strong background in data warehousing, relational schema design, and high-volume analytics architectures.
• Automation & Integration: Solid proficiency with Bash, Python, or shell scripting alongside database integration tools.
• High Availability & DR: Demonstrated expertise in configuring and troubleshooting PostgreSQL streaming replication, failovers, and backup validation.
• Security & Governance: Comprehensive understanding of database security, retention policies, and role-based access controls.
• Work Authorization: Must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred / Bonus Qualifications

• Practical exposure to utilities or energy domain data (e.g., smart metering, asset management, and usage analytics).
• Experience supporting cloud migrations and hybrid database deployments.

Benefits & Perks

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions
• Short-term and Long-term Disability coverage
• Paid Parental Leave

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer.