📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Database Engineer
Company: Barclays
Location: Knutsford, Radbroke Hall, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-04-24
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Primary Responsibilities: Ensure system reliability, availability, and scalability through proactive monitoring and maintenance. Develop automation tools and collaborate with development teams to integrate best practices.
Key Skills: Ansible, DevOps automation tools, SRE practices, MongoDB, containers, Kubernetes, scripting languages (Python, Bash).
Assistant Vice President Expectations: Advise decision-making, lead teams, manage risk, and strengthen controls.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in database management, system engineering, and DevOps practices to ensure the reliability and performance of Barclays' critical technology infrastructure.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

System Monitoring & Maintenance: Proactively monitor and maintain systems to ensure high availability and minimal disruption.
Incident Response: Analyze, resolve, and prevent system outages and disruptions.
Automation & Scripting: Develop tools and scripts to automate operational processes and improve system resilience.
Performance Optimization: Monitor and optimize system performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement performance tuning best practices.
Collaboration & Best Practices Integration: Work with development teams to integrate reliability, scalability, and performance best practices into the software development lifecycle.
Trend Awareness & Community Contribution: Stay informed of industry trends and contribute to Barclays' technology communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a hands-on approach to system engineering, with a focus on proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Relevant certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Database Specialty, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert) are a plus.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in database engineering, system administration, or a related role. Proven expertise in Ansible, DevOps automation tools, and SRE practices.

Required Skills:

Expertise in Ansible for database server configurations
Expertise in DevOps automation tools (e.g., git, JIRA, database CI/CD tools)
Good working knowledge of leading SRE practices across large organizations or complex teams
Strong scripting skills (e.g., Python, Bash) for automation and migration tasks

Preferred Skills:

Working knowledge of MongoDB
Hands-on experience with containers and Kubernetes
Experience with database performance tuning and optimization
Familiarity with leading SRE practices and large-scale system management

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates with a strong background in database management, system engineering, and DevOps practices will be well-suited to this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate experience with database server configurations using Ansible.
Showcase automation tools and scripts developed to improve system resilience and efficiency.
Highlight problem-solving skills and incident response case studies.
Display knowledge of SRE practices and performance optimization techniques.

Technical Documentation:

Document code quality, commenting, and documentation standards for automation scripts.
Describe version control, deployment processes, and server configuration management.
Explain testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques used in previous projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio demonstrating hands-on experience with database management, system engineering, and DevOps practices will be crucial for success in this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £60,000 - £80,000 per annum (based on market research for mid-senior level database engineers in the United Kingdom)

Benefits:

Competitive pension scheme
Private healthcare and dental coverage
Generous annual leave and flexible working arrangements
Employee discounts on various products and services
Learning and development opportunities, including access to e-learning platforms and professional certifications

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 35-40 hours per week, with flexibility for deployment windows and maintenance tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on market research for mid-senior level database engineers in the United Kingdom, with adjustments for regional cost of living and experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: Large (over 100,000 employees)

Founded: 1690 (as a goldsmith's bank), with a long history in the finance industry

Team Structure:

Large, cross-functional technology teams working on various aspects of Barclays' digital infrastructure.
Centralized database engineering teams collaborating with development, QA, and operations teams.
Flat hierarchy, with a focus on agile and collaborative working environments.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum methodologies for software development and project management.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for automated testing and deployment.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles for version control and automated infrastructure management.

Company Website: Barclays

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' large size and extensive technology teams offer ample opportunities for collaboration, learning, and career growth within the organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Mid-Senior Level Database Engineer, responsible for ensuring the reliability, availability, and scalability of critical systems and platforms.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Database Engineering Manager, with a dotted line to the relevant business unit or product team.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on Barclays' digital infrastructure, ensuring minimal disruption to operations and maintaining high system performance.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical progression to Senior Database Engineer or Database Engineering Manager roles.
Specialization in specific database technologies or emerging trends (e.g., NoSQL databases, cloud migration).
Leadership development through mentoring, coaching, and project management opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays offers a structured career progression path for database engineers, with opportunities for technical specialization and leadership development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space with state-of-the-art technology and amenities.

Office Location(s): Knutsford, Radbroke Hall, United Kingdom

Workspace Context:

Open-plan offices with dedicated team spaces and quiet areas for focused work.
Access to multiple monitors, testing devices, and collaboration tools.
Regular team-building activities, social events, and wellness initiatives.

Work Schedule: Full-time, typically 35-40 hours per week, with flexibility for deployment windows, maintenance, and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' Knutsford office offers a modern, collaborative work environment with ample opportunities for professional growth and development.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Online Assessment: A short online assessment to evaluate technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Technical Phone Screen: A phone call to discuss technical skills, experience, and career goals.
On-site Interview: A full-day on-site interview consisting of:
- Technical deep dive: A detailed discussion of technical skills, experience, and problem-solving approaches.
- System design challenge: A hands-on exercise to assess system design and architecture skills.
- Behavioral interviews: Discussions focused on problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability.
Final Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager or a senior stakeholder to discuss cultural fit and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight automation tools and scripts developed to improve system resilience and efficiency.
Demonstrate problem-solving skills and incident response case studies.
Showcase knowledge of SRE practices and performance optimization techniques.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on Ansible, DevOps automation tools, and SRE practices.
Familiarize yourself with database performance tuning and optimization techniques.
Practice system design challenges and prepare for technical deep dives.

ATS Keywords: Ansible, DevOps, SRE, MongoDB, containers, Kubernetes, Python, Bash, database management, system engineering, incident response, performance optimization, automation, scripting, CI/CD, IaC, agile, Scrum, cloud migration, NoSQL databases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' interview process focuses on assessing technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit, with a strong emphasis on hands-on experience and practical examples.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Database Technologies:

Relational databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL)
NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra)
Cloud databases (e.g., AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database, Google Cloud SQL)

Infrastructure & Automation Tools:

Ansible (primary configuration management tool)
Terraform (Infrastructure as Code)
Docker (containerization)
Kubernetes (orchestration)
Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI (continuous integration/continuous deployment)
Git (version control)
JIRA (project management)

Monitoring & Logging Tools:

Prometheus and Grafana (monitoring)
ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) (logging and visualization)
Datadog or New Relic (application performance monitoring)

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' technology stack is diverse and extensive, with a strong focus on automation, infrastructure as code, and cloud migration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Respect: Value and appreciate the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of team members.
Integrity: Act with honesty and transparency in all interactions.
Service: Focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences and supporting team members.
Excellence: Strive for continuous improvement and high-quality outcomes.
Stewardship: Act responsibly and ethically, considering the long-term impact of decisions on the organization and its stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Collaborate with development, QA, and operations teams to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
Code Review Culture: Encourage peer programming and knowledge sharing to improve code quality and team skills.
Continuous Learning: Foster a culture of learning and development, with regular training, workshops, and hackathons.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' team culture emphasizes collaboration, continuous learning, and high-quality outcomes, with a strong focus on customer experience and ethical decision-making.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

System Scalability: Design and implement scalable solutions to accommodate growing user bases and data volumes.
Performance Optimization: Identify and address performance bottlenecks, and implement best practices for performance tuning.
Incident Response: Develop and maintain robust incident response plans to minimize system downtime and ensure business continuity.
Emerging Technologies: Stay informed of emerging database technologies and trends, and evaluate their potential integration into Barclays' infrastructure.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Training: Access to e-learning platforms, professional certifications, and external training courses to enhance technical skills and knowledge.
Mentoring & Coaching: Formal and informal mentoring programs to support career growth and development.
Leadership Development: Opportunities to develop leadership skills through project management, team mentoring, and architecture decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays offers numerous technical challenges and learning opportunities to support the growth and development of database engineers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Ansible: Describe your experience with Ansible and how you've used it to configure database servers. Provide examples of complex Ansible playbooks you've developed.
SRE Practices: Explain your understanding of SRE practices and how you've implemented them in previous roles. Discuss any challenges you've faced and how you overcame them.
Performance Optimization: Walk through a scenario where you identified and addressed a performance bottleneck in a database system. Describe the steps you took to diagnose the issue, implement a solution, and measure the impact of your changes.

Company & Culture Questions:

Barclays' Technology Stack: Demonstrate your understanding of Barclays' technology stack and how your experience aligns with the tools and platforms used by the organization.
Agile Methodologies: Explain your experience with Agile methodologies and how you've collaborated with development teams to integrate best practices into the software development lifecycle.
Incident Response: Describe your approach to incident response and how you've worked with teams to minimize system downtime and ensure business continuity.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Live Demonstrations: Prepare live demonstrations of your automation tools and scripts, highlighting their functionality and the problems they solve.
Case Studies: Develop case studies that illustrate your problem-solving skills, incident response, and performance optimization techniques.
Technical Walkthroughs: Prepare detailed walkthroughs of your portfolio projects, explaining your design decisions, technical approaches, and any challenges you faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' interview process focuses on assessing technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit, with a strong emphasis on hands-on experience and practical examples.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for the Database Engineer position at Barclays:

Submit Your Application: Visit the Barclays careers website and search for the "Database Engineer" role in Knutsford, Radbroke Hall. Complete the online application form, including your resume, cover letter, and portfolio links.
Tailor Your Portfolio: Highlight your experience with Ansible, DevOps automation tools, and SRE practices. Showcase your problem-solving skills, incident response case studies, and performance optimization techniques.
Prepare for Technical Phone Screen: Brush up on your technical skills, and be ready to discuss your experience and career goals.
Research Barclays: Familiarize yourself with Barclays' technology stack, agile methodologies, and incident response processes. Prepare questions to ask during your interviews to demonstrate your interest in the role and the organization.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Database Engineer