Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE)

As a Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) at Rackspace Technology, you will be primarily responsible for ensuring the performance, scalability, and reliability of our MongoDB database infrastructure. This includes designing and optimizing MongoDB clusters, implementing monitoring and alerting strategies, troubleshooting performance issues, and automating processes. Collaborating with SRE and DevOps teams will also be key, as you'll be integrating databases into CI/CD pipelines and ensuring best practices for database security and disaster recovery.

To be considered for the Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) role at Rackspace Technology, candidates should ideally have a Bachelor's degree in software development, database programming, or computer engineering. In terms of experience, having over 5 years in an SRE position managing database workloads, particularly with MongoDB, or 5+ years as a developer with advanced MongoDB knowledge is preferred. Proficiency in automation frameworks, Python, or Ansible, as well as strong communication skills, are also highly valued.

Success as a Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) at Rackspace Technology hinges on a strong knowledge of MongoDB, particularly with indexes, query tuning, replication, and sharding. Additionally, having advanced analytical and problem-solving skills is crucial. Familiarity with database automation techniques, including scripting with Python and using tools like Ansible, will greatly enhance your ability to perform effectively in this role. Strong communication skills enable collaboration with cross-functional teams, making you a valuable asset in achieving our database management goals.

Yes, the Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) position at Rackspace Technology is suitable for a general remote work environment. This provides flexibility, allowing you to contribute effectively from a location that is most comfortable for you while still being part of a collaborative team. However, it should be noted that there may be an on-call rotation requirement, including during holidays, to provide 24/7 support.

The Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) position at Rackspace Technology offers significant growth opportunities, thanks to our commitment to employee development and fostering talent. You will have access to ongoing training in advanced database management techniques, exposure to cutting-edge technologies, and chances to take on challenging projects that will enhance your skills. Additionally, being part of a successful and inclusive culture among a team of IT experts can lead to various career advancement opportunities within the company.

When preparing to answer this question, consider detailing your hands-on experience with MongoDB, including specific projects you've worked on, the challenges you faced, and how you optimized database performance. Highlight your skills in indexing, configuring clusters, and managing sharding, as well as any troubleshooting you've done to improve query performance.

For this question, explain your systematic approach to diagnosing performance issues. Talk about how you analyze query plans, monitor metrics, and utilize tools for identifying bottlenecks. Provide a specific example where your analysis led to a measurable improvement in performance.

Highlight your experience with automation frameworks, especially Python or Ansible. Discuss how you leverage these tools to automate repetitive tasks, manage backups, or deploy database changes effectively. Illustrate with a scenario where automation significantly improved operational efficiency.

In your answer, detail your understanding of MongoDB security best practices, including authentication, access control, and encryption. Provide examples of how you've implemented these practices in previous roles to protect sensitive databases from unauthorized access.

Discuss concepts of replication, sharding, and failover mechanisms you've implemented. Give examples of how you designed systems for redundancy and monitored them to ensure continuous availability. Emphasize your proactive approach to mitigating downtime.

Share specific challenges related to database scaling, performance issues, or integration with CI/CD pipelines. Discuss the steps you took to address these obstacles, what you learned from them, and how the solutions improved the overall database operations.

Explain your commitment to continuous learning by mentioning resources such as industry blogs, webinars, conferences, and certification programs. You can also speak about engaging with online communities or forums specific to MongoDB and database management.

Articulate your strategy for effective disaster recovery, including backup solutions, recovery point objectives (RPO), and recovery time objectives (RTO). Provide examples of how you've developed and tested these plans in previous roles.

Discuss how working with SRE and DevOps teams has been essential in previous experiences. Emphasize the importance of communication in understanding requirements, sharing knowledge, and collaboratively optimizing database environments to drive better business outcomes.

Share your approach to task prioritization, especially when managing multiple database workloads or ensuring uptime during critical incidents. Describe methods you use to assess urgency and impact while maintaining productivity during stressful situations.