📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Data Infrastructure Engineer (m/f/d)
Company: Ratepay GmbH
Location: Berlin, Germany
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps, Infrastructure
Date Posted: 2025-04-10
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (Berlin-based)

🚀 Role Summary

Lead the operation, maintenance, and enhancement of Ratepay's cloud-based database systems, ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance.
Collaborate with product teams to design schemas, optimize queries, and manage data migrations.
Automate database provisioning and configuration using Terraform and Python.
Monitor, troubleshoot, and improve database performance using tools like CloudWatch and Datadog.
Manage backup and recovery strategies, and support production upgrades.
Widen internal capability by learning and supporting Microsoft SQL Server.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in cloud-based database systems and a willingness to learn new technologies to support the growing platform.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Database Management: Operate, maintain, and enhance PostgreSQL, DocumentDB, and ElastiCache in AWS, ensuring high availability and optimal performance.
Automation: Automate database provisioning and configuration using Terraform and Python to ensure reproducibility and efficiency.
Airflow Management: Manage and maintain Apache Airflow, ensuring reliable data processing and transformation.
Performance Tuning: Monitor, troubleshoot, and improve database performance using tools like CloudWatch and Datadog.
Backup & Recovery: Own backup and recovery strategies, and manage production upgrades to ensure business continuity.
Collaboration: Collaborate with product teams on schema design, queries, and data migrations to support platform growth.
Incident Response: Participate in on-call rotations and incident response to minimize downtime and ensure quick resolution.
Documentation & Training: Document operational procedures and train internal stakeholders to ensure knowledge sharing and consistent practices.
Microsoft SQL Server Support: Learn and support Microsoft SQL Server to widen internal capability and improve service offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves a high level of technical ownership and requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and performance optimization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant experience may substitute for a degree.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in cloud-based database systems, with a strong focus on PostgreSQL, AWS, Terraform, and Python.

Required Skills:

Database Proficiency: Deep technical ownership and performance tuning of critical database workloads, with a strong focus on PostgreSQL, DocumentDB, and ElastiCache.
Cloud Experience: Proven experience operating cloud-native databases with security, high availability, and observability in AWS.
Automation: Proficiency in automating infrastructure deployment and ensuring reproducibility using Terraform and Python.
Airflow Experience: Experience working with Apache Airflow to manage and maintain data processing pipelines.
Monitoring: Familiarity with monitoring tools like CloudWatch and Datadog for proactive performance tuning and incident alerting.

Preferred Skills:

Microsoft SQL Server: Growing support capabilities for Windows-based workloads to widen internal capability.
CI/CD for DB Changes: Improving deployment velocity and safety by implementing CI/CD pipelines for database changes.
Snowflake Experience: Familiarity with Snowflake to support data warehousing and analytics initiatives.
On-Call Experience: Experience operating in a 24/7 support model with a reliability focus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates with a strong background in cloud-based database systems and a willingness to learn new technologies will thrive in this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate your ability to design, implement, and maintain scalable database systems using PostgreSQL, AWS, and Terraform.
Showcase your experience with data migrations, schema changes, and performance optimization.
Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex database issues.
Include examples of your work with Apache Airflow and data processing pipelines.

Technical Documentation:

Provide clear and concise documentation of your database systems, including schema designs, configuration files, and deployment processes.
Include performance metrics, testing methodologies, and optimization techniques used in your projects.
Demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively through documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: A well-curated portfolio showcasing your technical expertise and problem-solving skills will help you stand out in the application process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €70,000 - €90,000 per year (based on market research and regional adjustments for Berlin)

Benefits:

Flexible Working Hours: Enjoy a flexible work schedule that balances your professional and personal life.
Remote Work: Work remotely from anywhere in the EU for up to 4 weeks a year.
Vacation Days: Take advantage of 28 vacation days per annum to relax and recharge.
Financial Security: Benefit from a pension plan to secure your financial future.
Medical Extras: Enjoy additional medical benefits, such as eye examinations.
Monthly Lunches: Enjoy monthly lunches with your team to foster camaraderie and collaboration.
Beets & Roots Discounts: Receive discounts at Beets & Roots, a popular Berlin-based restaurant.
Learning & Development: Access various self-development platforms, such as language learning and skills enhancement.
Health & Wellbeing: Prioritize your physical and mental health with gym memberships and fitness programs.
Ratepaw Community: Bring your dog to work when needed, as Ratepay's office is dog-friendly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on market research and regional adjustments for Berlin. It takes into account the experience level and the high level of technical ownership required for this role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Ratepay is a leading white-label Buy Now Pay Later payment provider, operating in the competitive and dynamic fintech industry.

Company Size: With over 200 employees and 40 different nationalities, Ratepay fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Founded: Established in 2009, Ratepay has grown to become a trusted partner for major online retailers and marketplaces, processing over 2.5 million transactions per month.

Team Structure:

Database Team: Collaborate with a dedicated team of database engineers, focusing on cloud-based database systems and data infrastructure.
Product Teams: Work closely with product teams to design schemas, optimize queries, and manage data migrations, supporting platform growth and innovation.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with designers, marketers, and other stakeholders to ensure user-centric and seamless payment experiences.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum: Utilize Agile methodologies and sprint planning to deliver high-quality features and improvements.
Code Review: Implement code review processes to ensure code quality, maintainability, and performance.
CI/CD Pipelines: Leverage CI/CD pipelines to automate deployment, testing, and release processes.

Company Website: Ratepay

📝 Enhancement Note: Ratepay's diverse and inclusive work environment fosters collaboration and innovation, making it an attractive place for experienced database engineers to grow their careers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Data Infrastructure Engineer Career Level: This role is at the mid-senior level, requiring a high degree of technical ownership and expertise in cloud-based database systems. The primary responsibility is to ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of Ratepay's data infrastructure as platform usage grows.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Data Infrastructure, working closely with the database team and collaborating with product teams to support platform growth and innovation.

Technical Impact: The technical decisions and optimizations made in this role directly impact the performance, scalability, and reliability of Ratepay's data infrastructure, supporting the growth and success of the platform.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: As the platform grows, there may be opportunities to take on a more senior role, leading a team of database engineers and driving technical strategy.
Architecture Decisions: With experience and expertise, you may have the opportunity to make critical architecture decisions that shape the future of Ratepay's data infrastructure.
Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies in the database and data infrastructure space, and drive their adoption within the organization to support continuous improvement and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth and development, both technically and professionally, as Ratepay continues to expand its platform and services.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Ratepay's office is located in the heart of Berlin, offering a modern and collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and creativity.

Office Location(s): The main office is located at Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin, Germany. Unfortunately, Ratepay is currently unable to support visa or relocation processes.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Workspace: Enjoy an open and collaborative workspace that encourages teamwork and knowledge sharing.
State-of-the-Art Tools: Utilize the latest tools and technologies to ensure high performance and productivity.
Dog-Friendly Office: Bring your dog to work when needed, as Ratepay's office is dog-friendly.

Work Schedule: Work a standard full-time schedule, with flexible working hours to balance your professional and personal life. Participate in on-call rotations and incident response as needed to ensure business continuity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ratepay's modern and collaborative work environment fosters innovation and creativity, making it an attractive place for experienced database engineers to grow their careers.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone/Video Screen: A brief phone or video call to discuss your background, experience, and motivation for the role.
Technical Deep Dive: A detailed technical conversation focused on your database expertise, performance tuning, and automation skills.
On-Site/Video Interview: A final on-site or video interview with the hiring manager and other team members to assess cultural fit and technical alignment.
Offer & Onboarding: A formal job offer and onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition into the team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience with cloud-based database systems, focusing on PostgreSQL, AWS, and Terraform.
Include examples of your work with Apache Airflow and data processing pipelines, demonstrating your ability to manage and maintain complex data infrastructure.
Showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex database issues, with a focus on performance optimization and scalability.
Include clear and concise documentation of your database systems, schema designs, and deployment processes.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your database administration skills, with a focus on PostgreSQL, AWS, and Terraform.
Familiarize yourself with Apache Airflow and data processing pipelines, ensuring you can manage and maintain complex data infrastructure.
Prepare for performance tuning and optimization challenges, demonstrating your ability to improve database performance and scalability.
Research Ratepay's products and services, ensuring you understand the business context and user needs.

ATS Keywords: [See the comprehensive list of web development and server administration-relevant keywords for resume optimization, organized by category: programming languages, web frameworks, server technologies, databases, tools, methodologies, soft skills, industry terms]

📝 Enhancement Note: Ratepay's interview process is designed to assess your technical expertise and cultural fit, ensuring you are the right candidate for the role. By preparing thoroughly and showcasing your skills and experience, you will increase your chances of success in the application process.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Database Technologies:

PostgreSQL: Utilize PostgreSQL for relational database management, ensuring high performance, scalability, and reliability.
DocumentDB: Use DocumentDB for NoSQL database management, supporting flexible data models and high throughput.
ElastiCache: Leverage ElastiCache for in-memory data caching, improving application performance and reducing database load.

Cloud Platform:

AWS: Utilize Amazon Web Services for cloud-based infrastructure, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.

Automation Tools:

Terraform: Use Terraform to automate infrastructure deployment and ensure reproducibility, improving efficiency and reducing human error.
Python: Utilize Python for scripting, automation, and data analysis, improving productivity and enabling rapid development.

Data Processing Pipeline:

Apache Airflow: Use Apache Airflow to manage and maintain data processing pipelines, ensuring reliable and efficient data transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ratepay's technology stack is designed to ensure high performance, scalability, and reliability, supporting the growth and success of the platform.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Ratepay Values:

Ownership: Take responsibility for your work and drive results that make a tangible impact on the business.
Growth: Continuously learn and improve, both personally and professionally, to support the growth of the team and the organization.
Integrity: Act with honesty, transparency, and fairness in all aspects of your work.
Collaboration: Work closely with your team and other departments to ensure alignment and successful outcomes.
Customer Centricity: Prioritize the needs of our customers, ensuring they have a seamless and enjoyable payment experience.
Inclusion: Foster a diverse and inclusive work environment, valuing the unique perspectives and experiences of each team member.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with product teams, designers, and stakeholders to ensure alignment and successful outcomes.
Code Review Culture: Implement code review processes to ensure code quality, maintainability, and performance.
Peer Programming: Encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration through peer programming and pair work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ratepay's values and collaboration style foster a positive and inclusive work environment, supporting the growth and success of the team and the organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Performance Optimization: Continuously optimize database performance and scalability to support the growing platform and user base.
Schema Design: Collaborate with product teams to design schemas that balance flexibility, scalability, and performance.
Data Migrations: Manage and execute data migrations with minimal downtime and impact on users.
Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies in the database and data infrastructure space, and drive their adoption within the organization to support continuous improvement and innovation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Deepen your expertise in cloud-based database systems, automation, and data processing pipelines.
Conference Attendance: Attend industry conferences and events to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in database management and data infrastructure.
Certification: Pursue relevant certifications to demonstrate your expertise and commitment to continuous learning.
Mentorship: Seek mentorship opportunities within the team to learn from experienced database engineers and drive your professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ratepay offers significant opportunities for technical growth and development, both in terms of skill acquisition and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Database Administration: Demonstrate your expertise in database administration, focusing on PostgreSQL, AWS, and Terraform.
Performance Tuning: Showcase your ability to optimize database performance and scalability, with a focus on query optimization, indexing, and caching.
Data Modeling: Explain your approach to data modeling and schema design, balancing flexibility, scalability, and performance.
Automation: Discuss your experience with automation tools like Terraform and Python, and how you have used them to improve efficiency and reduce human error.
Incident Response: Describe your experience with incident response and business continuity, ensuring minimal downtime and impact on users.

Company & Culture Questions:

Ratepay's Products: Demonstrate your understanding of Ratepay's products and services, and how they fit into the broader fintech landscape.
User Experience: Explain how you prioritize user experience in your work, ensuring seamless and enjoyable payment experiences for Ratepay's customers.
Collaboration: Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams, and how you ensure alignment and successful outcomes.
Inclusion: Discuss your commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and how you support the growth and development of your team members.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Technical Walkthrough: Provide a detailed walkthrough of your portfolio projects, focusing on your technical expertise and problem-solving skills.
Code Explanation: Explain your code and architecture decisions, demonstrating your ability to design and implement scalable database systems.
User Experience Demonstration: Showcase your ability to balance technical excellence with user-centric design, ensuring seamless and enjoyable payment experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: By preparing thoroughly and showcasing your skills and experience, you will increase your chances of success in the interview process and secure your dream role at Ratepay.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Data Infrastructure Engineer (m/f/d) position at Ratepay:

Customize Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your experience with cloud-based database systems, automation, and data processing pipelines, with a focus on PostgreSQL, AWS, and Terraform.
Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your relevant skills and experience, using the ATS keywords provided to improve your resume's visibility and searchability.
Prepare for Technical Challenges: Brush up on your database administration skills, with a focus on PostgreSQL, AWS, and Terraform. Familiarize yourself with Apache Airflow and data processing pipelines, ensuring you can manage and maintain complex data infrastructure.
Research Ratepay: Learn about Ratepay's products, services, and company culture to ensure a strong fit and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.

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

Senior Data Infrastructure Engineer (m/f/d)