Senior Database Engineer

Airbus
Full_timeGdańsk, Poland

📍 Job Overview

  • Job Title: Senior Database Engineer
  • Company: Airbus
  • Location: Gdańsk, Pomorskie, Poland
  • Job Type: On-site, Full-time
  • Category: DevOps Engineer, System Administrator, Database Administrator
  • Date Posted: June 11, 2025
  • Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of database solutions for a microservices environment at NAVBLUE, an Airbus subsidiary focused on Flight Operations, Air Traffic Management solutions, and services.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability while maintaining high availability and disaster recovery strategies.
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building and improving development processes within an agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in database management, with a focus on performance optimization, scalability, and high availability. Familiarity with microservices architecture and cloud infrastructure is essential for success in this position.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

  • Database Design & Development: Architect, design, and implement highly optimized relational and NoSQL database schemas, ensuring data integrity, performance, and scalability for microservices.
  • Performance Optimization & Tuning: Proactively analyze and optimize complex queries, implement efficient indexing strategies, and manage partitioning/sharding to ensure peak database performance and handle high throughput.
  • Reliability & Disaster Recovery: Design, implement, and maintain robust backup, disaster recovery, and high-availability solutions, including replication (master-slave/multi-master) and failover configurations, to ensure data durability and system uptime.
  • Cloud Database Management: Deploy, configure, and manage database instances within cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS RDS, Aurora), leveraging cloud-native features for scalability and operational efficiency.
  • Technical Leadership & Collaboration: Lead technical designs, mentor junior engineers, and proactively identify, propose, and implement new processes or architectural improvements to enhance team efficiency, code quality, and timely delivery.
  • Software Architecture & Best Practices: Contribute to software architecture discussions, translate system-level designs and architectural blueprints into robust, maintainable, and high-quality code, applying the latest best practices in software engineering.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Master's degree in software engineering or a related field is preferred.

Experience: Over 6 years of experience in roles directly responsible for the availability, performance, and security of critical databases.

Required Skills:

  • Expertise in Database Technologies: Strong command of MySQL, PostgreSQL, AWS Aurora, SQL Server, and experience with MongoDB, DynamoDB, or Redis.
  • Database Performance & Scalability: Proven ability in query optimization, operating system optimization, advanced indexing strategies, and implementing partitioning/sharding and caching (Redis).
  • Cloud Database Operations: Hands-on experience deploying, managing, and optimizing databases within AWS infrastructure (RDS, Aurora) and virtual machine infrastructure (SQL Server).
  • Database Reliability & Security: Experience with high availability (replication, failover), backup automation, Point-In-Time Recovery (PITR), and data security (encryption, SQL injection prevention).
  • Automation & DevOps: Proficiency in integrating database changes into CI/CD pipelines using schema migration tools (DbUp, EF migrations, Flyway, Liquibase) and Git for version control.
  • Scripting & Troubleshooting: Strong scripting skills (Python/Bash) for automation and ability to analyze logs and monitor performance using tools like AWS Cloudwatch, Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana, or pgBadger.
  • Solid understanding of DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, containerization with Docker, and monitoring/logging tools.
  • Demonstrated experience in leading software development teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture, and effectively representing the team's technical vision and needs to stakeholders, including architects and senior management.
  • Strong capability in identifying technical challenges and bottlenecks, constructively proposing and implementing effective solutions, while actively building team engagement, fostering a positive atmosphere, and championing team spirit.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with ETL/ELT pipeline design and tools (e.g., Apache Airflow).
  • Familiarity with Change Data Capture (CDC) solutions.
  • Knowledge of database services on other cloud platforms (e.g., Azure SQL Database, Google Cloud Spanner).
  • Understanding of ORM frameworks (Entity Framework, Dapper, SQLAlchemy, Hibernate) from a database performance perspective.
  • Experience with data governance or data lineage concepts and tools.
  • Active contributions to open-source database projects or the broader database community.
  • Proficiency in designing and implementing GraphQL backends or similar API patterns that interact heavily with databases.
  • Understanding of airline operations, flight planning, or air navigation principles.
  • Passion for the aviation industry.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Demonstrate a strong track record of designing, implementing, and optimizing database solutions for complex, high-traffic systems.
  • Showcase your ability to ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability through case studies and live demos.
  • Highlight your expertise in cloud database management, performance optimization, and disaster recovery strategies.

Technical Documentation:

  • Provide comprehensive documentation for your database projects, including schema design, query optimization strategies, and performance metrics.
  • Include examples of your approach to high availability, backup automation, and data security measures.
  • Showcase your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and integrate database changes into CI/CD pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: To make a strong impression, tailor your portfolio to emphasize the specific requirements of this role, such as microservices architecture, cloud infrastructure, and high-availability strategies. Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively within an agile development environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for a Senior Database Engineer in Gdańsk, Poland, is between 15,000 - 20,000 PLN per month, based on market research and regional adjustments.

Benefits:

  • Competitive health and pension plans
  • Employee discounts on Airbus products and services
  • Flexible working arrangements and remote work options
  • Opportunities for professional development and training
  • A dynamic and international work environment

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard office hours, Monday through Friday. Flexibility for maintenance windows and project deadlines may be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and regional adjustments. Actual compensation may vary depending on the candidate's experience, skills, and the company's internal policies. Benefits may also vary based on the company's policies and the candidate's employment status.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

  • Industry: Airbus is a global leader in aerospace, defense, and related services, with a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.
  • Company Size: As a subsidiary of Airbus, NAVBLUE operates as a medium-sized company within the broader Airbus ecosystem, offering a unique blend of startup agility and corporate stability.
  • Founded: NAVBLUE was founded in 2016 as a joint venture between Airbus and Thales, focusing on Flight Operations, Air Traffic Management solutions, and services.

Team Structure:

  • NAVBLUE operates as a small, agile team within the broader Airbus organization, with a focus on collaboration and cross-functional integration between developers, designers, and stakeholders.
  • The team is structured around specific product areas, with each team responsible for the full lifecycle of its products, from concept to delivery and maintenance.
  • The Database Engineer role will work closely with software development teams, system administrators, and DevOps engineers to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance of database solutions within the microservices architecture.

Development Methodology:

  • NAVBLUE follows Agile methodologies, with a focus on iterative development, continuous integration, and frequent deployment cycles.
  • The team uses Scrum for project management, with regular sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives to ensure continuous improvement.
  • Code reviews, automated testing, and performance monitoring are integral parts of the development process, with a strong emphasis on quality and maintainability.

Company Website: Airbus

📝 Enhancement Note: As a subsidiary of Airbus, NAVBLUE benefits from the company's strong commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. The team's agile structure and collaborative culture foster a dynamic and engaging work environment for database engineers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the Senior level, with a focus on technical leadership, mentoring, and driving architectural decisions within the database team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in database management, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality, scalable, and performant database solutions.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Database Engineer will report directly to the Database Team Lead and collaborate closely with software development teams, system administrators, and DevOps engineers to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance of database solutions within the microservices architecture.

Technical Impact: The Senior Database Engineer will play a critical role in ensuring the availability, performance, and scalability of NAVBLUE's data persistence layer. Their work will directly impact the user experience, system uptime, and overall efficiency of the company's products and services.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Technical Growth: Expand your expertise in cloud database management, microservices architecture, and emerging database technologies to drive innovation and improve NAVBLUE's products and services.
  • Leadership Development: Develop your leadership skills by mentoring junior engineers, driving technical decisions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions that meet business objectives.
  • Architecture & Design: Contribute to the design and implementation of NAVBLUE's database architecture, ensuring scalability, performance, and high availability to support the company's growing customer base and product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth and development within the database team and the broader NAVBLUE organization. By demonstrating strong technical leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous learning, the Senior Database Engineer can make a lasting impact on the company's products, services, and overall success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: NAVBLUE operates a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation, creativity, and cross-functional teamwork. The office features open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and breakout areas to support various work styles and team interactions.

Office Location(s): NAVBLUE's headquarters are located in Gdańsk, Poland, with additional offices in Toulouse, France, and other global locations. The Gdańsk office is conveniently located near the city center, with easy access to public transportation and amenities.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: NAVBLUE's open-plan workspace encourages collaboration and communication between team members, with dedicated areas for team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions.
  • Specialized Workspaces: The office features specialized workspaces for different roles, including dedicated areas for software development, system administration, and DevOps teams, as well as quiet spaces for focused work and concentration.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: NAVBLUE's team structure encourages cross-functional collaboration between developers, designers, and stakeholders, with regular syncs and stand-ups to ensure alignment and progress towards shared goals.

Work Schedule: NAVBLUE operates a standard Monday through Friday workweek, with flexible working hours and remote work options available for eligible employees. The team follows an agile development methodology, with regular sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives to ensure continuous improvement and timely delivery of projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: NAVBLUE's modern, collaborative workspace and flexible work arrangements create an ideal environment for database engineers to thrive, with ample opportunities for growth, learning, and professional development.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

  1. Online Assessment: Complete an online assessment to evaluate your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit with NAVBLUE's values and work environment.
  2. Technical Phone Screen: Participate in a technical phone screen to discuss your database management experience, cloud infrastructure knowledge, and problem-solving approach to complex database challenges.
  3. On-site Technical Interview: Attend an on-site technical interview at NAVBLUE's Gdańsk headquarters, where you will:
    • Present your portfolio and discuss your approach to database design, performance optimization, and high-availability strategies.
    • Solve technical challenges and participate in a system design discussion to evaluate your ability to make informed architectural decisions and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
    • Engage in a cultural fit assessment to ensure alignment with NAVBLUE's values, work environment, and team dynamics.
  4. Final Evaluation: Participate in a final evaluation with NAVBLUE's leadership team to discuss your technical skills, cultural fit, and potential for growth within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Tailor your portfolio to highlight your expertise in database design, performance optimization, and high-availability strategies, with a focus on microservices architecture and cloud infrastructure.
  • Include case studies and live demos that demonstrate your ability to ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability in complex, high-traffic systems.
  • Showcase your problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on your knowledge of database design principles, query optimization techniques, and cloud infrastructure best practices.
  • Familiarize yourself with NAVBLUE's products, services, and industry-specific challenges to demonstrate your understanding of the company's unique context and requirements.
  • Prepare for system design discussions by reviewing microservices architecture principles, high-availability strategies, and data modeling best practices.

ATS Keywords: Database Design, Performance Optimization, Disaster Recovery, Cloud Database Management, Microservices Architecture, Agile Development, Technical Leadership, Database Security, Automation, Scripting, DevOps Practices, Team Collaboration, Query Optimization, High Availability, Data Integrity, Database Technologies (MySQL, PostgreSQL, AWS Aurora, SQL Server, MongoDB, DynamoDB, Redis), Cloud Infrastructure (AWS RDS, Aurora), Database Management Tools (DbUp, EF migrations, Flyway, Liquibase), Monitoring Tools (AWS Cloudwatch, Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana, pgBadger), CI/CD Pipelines, Docker, Kubernetes, Airline Operations, Flight Planning, Air Navigation Principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: By strategically incorporating relevant ATS keywords throughout your resume, portfolio, and interview preparation, you can increase your visibility to NAVBLUE's Applicant Tracking System and improve your chances of being shortlisted for the Senior Database Engineer role.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: (Not applicable for this role)

Backend & Server Technologies:

  • Relational Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, AWS Aurora, SQL Server
  • NoSQL Databases: MongoDB, DynamoDB, Redis
  • Cloud Infrastructure: AWS (RDS, Aurora), Virtual Machine Infrastructure (SQL Server)
  • Database Management Tools: DbUp, EF migrations, Flyway, Liquibase
  • Monitoring Tools: AWS Cloudwatch, Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana, pgBadger
  • CI/CD Pipelines: GitLab CI, Cloudbees, Jenkins, GitHub Actions
  • Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
  • Version Control: Git
  • Scripting Languages: Python, Bash

Development & DevOps Tools:

  • Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA
  • Version Control Systems: Git, GitHub, GitLab
  • CI/CD Pipeline Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Cloudbees, GitHub Actions
  • Container Orchestration: Kubernetes, Docker Compose
  • Cloud Infrastructure Management: AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, Terraform
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform, CloudFormation
  • Configuration Management: Ansible, Puppet
  • Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog, AWS Cloudwatch
  • Infrastructure Automation: Ansible Tower, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarity with NAVBLUE's technology stack, including relational and NoSQL databases, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps tools, is essential for success in the Senior Database Engineer role. By demonstrating your expertise in these technologies and your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, you can make a strong impression during the interview process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

  • Customer Focus: NAVBLUE prioritizes customer satisfaction and user experience, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative, and reliable products and services.
  • Collaboration: NAVBLUE fosters a culture of collaboration, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
  • Innovation: NAVBLUE encourages creativity, experimentation, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in flight operations, air traffic management, and related services.
  • Quality: NAVBLUE is committed to delivering high-quality products and services, with a strong emphasis on testing, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: NAVBLUE's team structure encourages collaboration between developers, designers, and stakeholders, with regular syncs, stand-ups, and workshops to ensure alignment and progress towards shared goals.
  • Code Review Culture: NAVBLUE emphasizes code reviews, pair programming, and collective code ownership to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and performant code.
  • Knowledge Sharing & Mentoring: NAVBLUE fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and mentoring, with regular training opportunities, brown bag sessions, and technical workshops to drive continuous learning and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: NAVBLUE's customer-focused, collaborative, and innovative culture creates an ideal environment for database engineers to thrive, with ample opportunities for growth, learning, and professional development. By demonstrating your alignment with these values and your commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused solutions, you can make a strong impression during the interview process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Microservices Architecture: Design, implement, and maintain database solutions that ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability within a microservices architecture, with a focus on high availability, fault tolerance, and seamless integration.
  • Cloud Infrastructure: Deploy, configure, and manage database instances within cloud infrastructure, leveraging cloud-native features for scalability and operational efficiency, while ensuring data security, compliance, and disaster recovery.
  • Data Modeling & Optimization: Develop and optimize database schemas, indexes, and queries to ensure peak performance, scalability, and data integrity, with a focus on minimizing data redundancy, normalization, and denormalization.
  • Data Migration & ETL/ELT: Design, implement, and maintain data migration strategies, ETL/ELT pipelines, and change data capture (CDC) solutions to ensure data consistency, accuracy, and timeliness across multiple databases and systems.
  • Data Governance & Security: Implement and enforce data governance policies, data lineage concepts, and security best practices to ensure data privacy, integrity, and compliance with relevant regulations and standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Technical Skill Development: Expand your expertise in database management, cloud infrastructure, microservices architecture, and emerging technologies to drive innovation and improve NAVBLUE's products and services.
  • Leadership Development: Develop your leadership skills by mentoring junior engineers, driving technical decisions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions that meet business objectives.
  • Architecture & Design: Contribute to the design and implementation of NAVBLUE's database architecture, ensuring scalability, performance, and high availability to support the company's growing customer base and product portfolio.
  • Industry-specific Knowledge: Deepen your understanding of airline operations, flight planning, and air navigation principles to drive informed decision-making and improve the user experience of NAVBLUE's products and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: NAVBLUE's technical challenges and growth opportunities offer database engineers a unique chance to drive innovation, improve user experience, and make a lasting impact on the company's products, services, and overall success. By demonstrating your commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, and technical excellence, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Senior Database Engineer role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  1. Database Design & Optimization: Describe your approach to designing and optimizing database schemas, indexes, and queries to ensure peak performance, scalability, and data integrity. Provide specific examples of your experience with relational and NoSQL databases, as well as your familiarity with cloud infrastructure and microservices architecture.
  2. Cloud Database Management: Explain your experience with deploying, configuring, and managing database instances within cloud infrastructure, with a focus on AWS RDS, Aurora, and other relevant services. Discuss your strategies for ensuring data security, compliance, and disaster recovery in the cloud.
  3. Performance Tuning & Optimization: Describe your approach to performance tuning and optimization, with a focus on query optimization, indexing strategies, and partitioning/sharding. Provide specific examples of your experience with EXPLAIN plans, EXPLAIN ANALYZE, and other performance analysis tools.
  4. High Availability & Disaster Recovery: Explain your experience with designing, implementing, and maintaining high-availability solutions, including replication (master-slave/multi-master) and failover configurations. Discuss your strategies for ensuring data durability, system uptime, and minimal downtime during maintenance windows and unexpected failures.
  5. Data Migration & ETL/ELT: Describe your experience with designing, implementing, and maintaining data migration strategies, ETL/ELT pipelines, and change data capture (CDC) solutions. Discuss your approach to ensuring data consistency, accuracy, and timeliness across multiple databases and systems.

Company & Culture Questions:

  1. NAVBLUE's Products & Services: Explain your understanding of NAVBLUE's products, services, and industry-specific challenges, and how your database management expertise can address these challenges and drive innovation within the company.
  2. Agile Development Methodology: Describe your experience with Agile development methodologies, such as Scrum, and how you have applied these principles to drive collaboration, continuous improvement, and timely delivery in previous roles.
  3. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Explain your approach to collaborating with cross-functional teams, including developers, designers, and stakeholders, to ensure alignment, progress, and successful delivery of projects.
  4. Technical Leadership: Describe your experience with leading technical designs, mentoring junior engineers, and driving architectural decisions within database teams. Discuss your ability to balance technical excellence with stakeholder expectations and business objectives.
  5. User Experience & Customer Focus: Explain your commitment to delivering high-quality, user-focused solutions that meet the needs of NAVBLUE's customers and drive customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Tailor your portfolio to highlight your expertise in database design, performance optimization, and high-availability strategies, with a focus on microservices architecture and cloud infrastructure.
  • Include case studies and live demos that demonstrate your ability to ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability in complex, high-traffic systems.
  • Showcase your problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
  • Prepare a structured presentation that walks the interview panel through your portfolio, explaining your approach to each project, the challenges you faced, and the solutions you implemented to address these challenges.
  • Be ready to answer questions about your portfolio, your thought process, and your approach to database management, performance optimization, and high-availability strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: By strategically preparing for technical and company-specific interview questions, you can demonstrate your alignment with NAVBLUE's values, technical requirements, and cultural fit. By showcasing your expertise in database management, cloud infrastructure, and microservices architecture, you can make a strong impression and increase your chances of success in the Senior Database Engineer role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Database Engineer position at NAVBLUE, an Airbus subsidiary, follow these steps:

  1. Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to highlight your relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments in database management, cloud infrastructure, and microservices architecture. Include specific examples of your experience with relational and NoSQL databases, performance optimization, and high-availability strategies.
  2. Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio that showcases your expertise in database design, performance optimization, and high-availability strategies, with a focus on microservices architecture and cloud infrastructure. Include case studies, live demos, and technical documentation that demonstrates your problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
  3. Research NAVBLUE: Familiarize yourself with NAVBLUE's products, services, and industry-specific challenges. Understand the company's unique context, work environment, and cultural values to ensure a strong fit with the organization and the Senior Database Engineer role.
  4. Prepare for Technical Challenges: Brush up on your knowledge of database design principles, query optimization techniques, and cloud infrastructure best practices. Familiarize yourself with NAVBLUE's technology stack, including relational and NoSQL databases, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps tools, to ensure a strong foundation for the technical interview process.
  5. Apply Online: Submit your application through the application link provided, including your resume, portfolio, and any other required documents. Ensure that your application materials are tailored to the Senior Database Engineer role and highlight your relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments.
  6. Prepare for the Interview Process: Review the interview process outlined in the job description and prepare for each stage, including the online assessment, technical phone screen, on-site technical interview, and final evaluation. By strategically preparing for each stage of the interview process, you can increase your chances of success and make a strong impression on NAVBLUE's hiring team.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have over 6 years of experience in database management and a strong command of various database technologies. A Master's degree in software engineering or a related field is preferred, along with proficiency in English.