Staff Site Reliability Engineer - IT Disaster Recovery (ITDR) - job 9 of 20

As a Staff Site Reliability Engineer in the IT Disaster Recovery team at Visa, your main responsibilities will include the development and execution of robust disaster recovery strategies to ensure that critical business functions can resume quickly after a disruption. You'll collaborate with different teams to define Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs), deploy industry best practices to safeguard information assets, and lead annual disaster recovery tests to validate readiness. Your expertise in databases, network configurations, and cloud services will inform your decision-making as you design and implement effective recovery solutions.

To be a successful candidate for the Staff Site Reliability Engineer role at Visa, you'll ideally possess a robust background in IT disaster recovery practices, coupled with relevant experience in cloud environments and data management. Familiarity with databases like MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB is essential. Additionally, a deep understanding of network configurations, VPNs, and firewalls will be beneficial. Candidates should demonstrate strong leadership skills, collaboration abilities, and a commitment to excellence in disaster recovery processes.

The Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Visa plays a pivotal role in enhancing cybersecurity through the implementation of disaster recovery protocols that incorporate strong information security measures. By regularly validating and maintaining the disaster recovery plan, you help mitigate risks that could compromise sensitive data and ensure business continuity. Your expertise in protective measures such as backups, encryption, and network security are vital in safeguarding Visa’s information assets against potential threats.

Excelling as a Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Visa requires a unique blend of technical and interpersonal skills. You'll need to lead courageously, demonstrating ownership and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Strong collaboration skills are necessary to effectively work with diverse teams across Visa. Additionally, a current knowledge of cloud services, network infrastructure, database systems, and disaster recovery best practices is crucial for successfully implementing and maintaining robust recovery strategies.

The hybrid work environment for the Staff Site Reliability Engineer role at Visa allows you the flexibility to work both remotely and from the office in Ashburn. Employees are expected to be in the office 2-3 days a week based on business needs, promoting collaboration and team engagement while still enjoying the benefits of remote work. This setup offers the best of both worlds, fostering a dynamic work culture while allowing for personal flexibility.

When designing a disaster recovery strategy for Visa's core platforms, I would start by identifying critical business functions and gathering input from all relevant teams to define RTOs and RPOs. Next, I would assess current vulnerabilities and implement solutions that align with best practices in disaster recovery, ensuring comprehensive coverage of data backups, network security, and application resilience. Communication and regular testing of this strategy will also be crucial to guarantee readiness during any potential disaster.

I have significant experience implementing and managing cloud-hosted solutions for disaster recovery, which includes utilizing services like AWS and Azure for backup and failover strategies. I would regularly assess service reliability and ensure that cloud configurations align with best practices for security and data integrity. It’s important to stay updated on new features offered by these platforms that can enhance disaster recovery efforts.

In disaster recovery planning, I follow a structured approach to risk assessment, which involves identifying potential risks to systems and data, analyzing the impact of those risks, and prioritizing them based on their severity and likelihood. I collaborate closely with various teams to ensure that all critical functions are included in our risk analysis, allowing us to develop effective mitigation strategies and ensure we can swiftly recover from any incidents.

To validate a disaster recovery plan, I would conduct a series of testing exercises, including table-top exercises and live drills, to simulate different disaster scenarios. Following these tests, I would review the outcomes, gather feedback from all participants, and make necessary adjustments to the plan. It’s important to also maintain documentation and keep the plan updated based on any changes in technology or business processes.

I stay current with advancements in disaster recovery technology by regularly attending industry conferences, participating in webinars, and subscribing to key publications and online forums relating to IT disaster recovery. Engaging with peers and experts in the field helps me discover new strategies, tools, and best practices that can enhance our disaster recovery processes.

In a previous role, I led a major disaster recovery test where we simulated a systems failure to assess our response readiness. We coordinated with IT and business units to ensure all components were involved. The outcome was successful, revealing gaps we hadn't previously identified, which allowed us to improve recovery strategies and better align them with actual business needs, significantly enhancing our overall disaster recovery posture.

Communication is vital in disaster recovery efforts as it guarantees that all stakeholders are informed and prepared to respond effectively. I emphasize clear, ongoing communication during planning and testing phases so that teams understand their roles and responsibilities during a disaster event. Post-disaster recovery updates are equally important to assess what went well and what can be improved, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

During a disaster recovery event, I would prioritize tasks based on the criticality of business operations and the predefined RTOs and RPOs. Immediate focus would be on restoring essential services that directly impact customer interactions, followed by less urgent systems. I would also ensure clear communication with stakeholders about progress and challenges to keep everyone aligned and informed.

Some challenges in disaster recovery planning and execution at Visa include ensuring all teams are adequately aligned and engaged in the process, as well as accounting for the complexity of diverse systems and technologies in use. Staying up-to-date with regulatory requirements and cybersecurity threats can also create obstacles. Addressing these challenges requires proactive communication, thorough documentation, and a commitment to continuous training and testing to ensure readiness.

Incorporating feedback into disaster recovery plans involves actively seeking input from team members and stakeholders during and after drills or real incidents. I would systematically analyze the feedback, identify patterns or common concerns, and make adjustments to the plans based on this data. This iterative process helps to ensure that the disaster recovery strategies remain effective and relevant in ever-changing environments.