Senior Database Administrator

At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. 

And that's where you come in:

The Senior Database Administrator will be responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of our database systems, with a particular focus on AWS PostgreSQL Aurora and Amazon DynamoDB. This individual will play a key role in architecting scalable and resilient database solutions, ensuring data integrity, and collaborating with development and operations teams to support our applications.

• Design, deploy, and manage highly available and scalable database solutions using AWS PostgreSQL Aurora and Amazon DynamoDB.
• Administer and maintain database instances, including configuration, patching, upgrades, and performance tuning.
• Implement and manage robust backup and recovery strategies for both relational and NoSQL databases.
• Monitor database performance, identify bottlenecks, and proactively implement solutions to optimize performance and efficiency.
• Ensure database security, including access controls, encryption, and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Collaborate with software engineers to design optimal database schemas, write efficient queries, and troubleshoot database-related application issues.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts and tools for database administration tasks, leveraging AWS services and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Shell).
• Participate in on-call rotations and provide expert support for critical database incidents.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior database administrators and other technical staff.
• Stay current with emerging database technologies and best practices, particularly within the AWS ecosystem.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in database administration, with significant experience in AWS environments.
• Deep expertise in PostgreSQL and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, including replication, performance tuning, and high availability features.
• Proven experience administering and optimizing Amazon DynamoDB, including table design, indexing, and performance considerations.
• Proficiency in SQL and NoSQL query languages.
• Strong understanding of AWS services relevant to database management, such as RDS, EC2, S3, CloudWatch, and IAM.
• Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like AWS CloudFormation or Terraform is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, agile environment.

• We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:
• Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program - because everyone should have a stake in our success.
• Flexible schedules and a remote-friendly culture, with hybrid or onsite work options available in some regions for specific roles
• Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual company-wide "Dim the Lights" week in late December, when we encourage everyone to step back and recharge
• Comprehensive wellness programs and mental health support
• Annual learning and development stipends to support your growth
• The technology and tools you need to do your best work — typically a Mac, with PC options available in some locations
• Motivosity employee recognition program
• A culture rooted in inclusivity, support, and meaningful connection

We believe in hiring great people and treating them right. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas and outcomes.

Instructure is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws in every country where we operate.

All employees must pass a background check as part of the hiring process. To help protect our teams and systems, we've implemented identity verification measures. Candidates may be asked to verify their legal name, current physical location, and provide a valid contact number and residential address, in accordance with local data privacy laws.

Any attempt to misrepresent personal or professional information will result in disqualification.