Staff Backend Engineer - Database Change Management

GitLab
Bengaluru
Workplace: RemoteFull timeFunction: Software EngineeringSkills: ["Technical leadership","Mentorship","Code review","Asynchronous communication","Independent execution"]

Lead the redesign of GitLab’s database migration system from sequential migrations to a dependency-graph model that enables faster, safer, low-downtime upgrades. Own the migration validation and test framework, including versioned fixture data, CI-integrated test running, and correctness checks. Serve as senior technical anchor for an India-based group, shaping architecture decisions through async communication and technical reviews across regions.

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FursaFursa
GitLab
GitLab
4 days ago

Staff Backend Engineer - Database Change Management

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Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 8 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead the redesign of GitLab’s database migration system from sequential migrations to a dependency-graph model that enables faster, safer, low-downtime upgrades. Own the migration validation and test framework, including versioned fixture data, CI-integrated test running, and correctness checks. Serve as senior technical anchor for an India-based group, shaping architecture decisions through async communication and technical reviews across regions.
Location: Bengaluru
Workplace: Remote
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Software Engineering
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Lead the design and delivery of a migration validation and test framework from initial approach through production use.
  • •Build a dependency graph migration system supporting safe ordering, parallel execution, and three-phase low-downtime upgrades.
  • •Review schema migrations from engineers for safety, backward compatibility, and reliability.
  • •Mentor intermediate engineers through pairing, code review, and design feedback.
  • •Collaborate with related database teams to support GitLab.com and self-managed deployments, and author/defend architecture proposals at Staff level.

Pay and Benefits

Perks:Paid LeaveEquityLearning BudgetParental Leave

Key Requirements

  • •Deep experience with Ruby on Rails migration internals (Active Record) or comparable depth in another framework’s migration system (e.g., Django or Ecto).
  • •Production PostgreSQL experience, including schema changes on large tables and understanding locking and failure modes under load.
  • •Track record delivering a system from design through implementation and adoption.
  • •Experience mentoring engineers through pairing, code review, and design/technical feedback.
  • •Strong written communication and good judgment balancing reliability, safety, backward compatibility, and delivery needs.
Experience:Production databasesDatabase migrationsDevSecOps
Skills:Technical leadershipMentorshipCode reviewAsynchronous communicationIndependent execution
Languages:En
Tech Stack:Ruby on RailsActive RecordPostgreSQLDjangoEctoCIGitLab.com

Company Brief

GitLab
Provides a single application for the complete DevSecOps lifecycle, offering source code management, CI/CD, security, and collaboration tools to help teams deliver software faster and more securely.
Industry: Developer Tools
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 250M to 500M
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: San Francisco, United States
Founded: 2011
WebsiteLinkedIn