Postgres DBA

Location: Charlotte, NC — 100% onsite

About the role

Cognizant is looking for a PostgreSQL DBA to create scalable data models for utilities domain use cases and enabling trustworthy analytics that advance organizational decisions and deliver positive value to customers and communities through reliable data‑driven services.

Cognizant’s CIS (Cognizant Infrastructure Services) Practice is a global leader in providing IT infrastructure services. We deliver innovative solutions to optimize and transform IT infrastructure, ensuring business agility and operational efficiency. Our services include cloud computing, data center management, network services, and cybersecurity. We focus on understanding client needs and delivering customized solutions to drive business success.

Responsibilities

Database Administration & Operations

• Administer and maintain PostgreSQL databases across Production, UAT, and Development environments.
• Ensure database availability, reliability, and operational stability.
• Perform database provisioning, configuration, and lifecycle management.
• Manage database startup, shutdown, connectivity, and service health validation.
• Monitor database growth, storage utilization, and capacity planning.

Backup, Recovery & Disaster Recovery

• Design, implement, and test backup and recovery strategies.
• Perform logical and physical backups using PostgreSQL utilities.
• Conduct restore validations and recovery drills.
• Define and maintain RPO/RTO objectives.
• Ensure disaster recovery readiness and periodic DR testing.

High Availability & Replication

• Design and support PostgreSQL HA architectures.
• Configure and maintain streaming replication and logical replication.
• Monitor replication health and replication lag.
• Plan and execute failover and switchover activities.
• Support enterprise‑grade HA/DR solutions.

Performance Tuning & Optimization

• Analyze and resolve database performance bottlenecks.
• Tune PostgreSQL parameters, memory, I/O, and autovacuum settings.
• Review and optimize SQL execution plans.
• Design indexes, partitioning strategies, and query optimization solutions.
• Monitor lock contention, blocking sessions, and database wait events.

Security & Compliance

• Implement database security standards and best practices.
• Manage users, roles, privileges, and access controls.
• Enforce least‑privilege principles.
• Support audits, compliance requirements, and security reviews.

Incident, Problem & Change Management

• Resolve critical incidents within SLA commitments.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and drive preventive actions.
• Support change, release, and deployment activities.
• Coordinate recovery activities during major incidents.

Automation & Monitoring

• Develop automation scripts using Bash, Python, Shell, or PostgreSQL utilities.
• Automate health checks, maintenance tasks, and reporting.
• Implement proactive monitoring, alerting, and observability solutions.
• Monitor backups, jobs, replication, and database health.

Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Create and maintain SOPs, runbooks, architecture documents, and recovery procedures.
• Maintain operational documentation and troubleshooting guides.
• Produce health reports, audit evidence, and management updates.

Requirements

• Extensive hands‑on experience working with PostgreSQL including design, tuning, partitioning, and management of large datasets in complex enterprise environments.
• Strong knowledge of data warehousing, dimensional modeling, and relational design principles to construct efficient and maintainable schemas suited for high‑volume analytics.
• Practical exposure to utilities or energy domain data such as metering, asset management, and usage analytics enabling better alignment between data solutions and industry needs.
• Solid proficiency in data integration tools, scripting, or procedural languages that work effectively with PostgreSQL ecosystems to orchestrate reliable data movement and transformation.
• Familiarity with hybrid work practices and collaborative tools which support effective communication and coordination across onsite and remote teams during standard day shifts.
• Understanding of data governance, security, and compliance requirements including concepts such as role‑based access, retention, and quality controls to ensure trustworthy data operations.
• Experience in performance monitoring and capacity planning for database platforms enabling proactive tuning and stable operation under growing data and workload demands.
• Support cloud migration and hybrid database deployments and lead complex troubleshooting and performance investigations.

Applications will be accepted until October 26, 2026.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long‑term/Short‑term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave