Staff Site Reliability Engineer - IT Disaster Recovery (ITDR) - job 19 of 20

The Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Visa is key to developing and executing the Disaster Recovery Program. Responsibilities include collaborating with various business and technology units to identify critical functions, establishing recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs), and implementing risk-mitigation strategies. Additionally, the engineer leads the testing activities to ensure systems readiness, utilizes their expertise in cloud-hosted services and network configurations to enhance recovery processes, and maintains comprehensive documentation to support Visa’s resilience.

To thrive as a Staff Site Reliability Engineer in Visa's IT Disaster Recovery team, candidates should possess a blend of technical expertise and leadership skills. This includes a deep understanding of network configurations, cloud services, and significant experience with databases like MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams are essential, as is experience in developing comprehensive disaster recovery strategies and conducting thorough testing and documentation.

Visa ensures the effectiveness of its disaster recovery processes through rigorous testing and real-time validations of its disaster recovery plans. The Staff Site Reliability Engineer regularly leads the annual DR testing activities to verify that systems are capable of being maintained or restored promptly during a disaster. Moreover, the team adheres to best practices and continuously updates and maintains recovery plans, including risk assessments and impact analyses, to align with business needs.

Key skills essential for success as a Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Visa include strong analytical abilities, expertise in network components, and proficiency in disaster recovery methodologies. Successful candidates will also demonstrate leadership capabilities, effective stakeholder communication, and the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams. Familiarity with cloud-hosted services and various databases is crucial to develop and execute robust disaster recovery strategies effectively.

The Staff Site Reliability Engineer position at Visa is unique due to its critical role in shaping disaster recovery protocols for an organization that processes millions of transactions daily. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects at the intersection of technology and finance, leading initiatives that enhance the resilience of systems used by millions globally. Additionally, Visa fosters a collaborative work environment, allowing for both remote flexibility and in-office opportunities to engage with a dynamic team.

When answering this question, be specific about your role in developing disaster recovery plans. Include examples of how you assessed risks, established RTOs and RPOs, and any challenges you faced during implementation. Highlight any methodologies you used or tools that supported your efforts.

Discuss the importance of regular testing and validation of disaster recovery plans. Share your approach to conducting scenario-based tests, including how you measure success and how often you recommend they be conducted to maintain readiness.

Emphasize your collaborative skills and communication strategies. Provide examples of how you’ve facilitated discussions, shared documentation, or coordinated efforts with cross-functional teams to ensure a unified approach to disaster recovery.

Outline your experience with cloud services in the context of disaster recovery. Discuss how cloud infrastructure has improved recovery time, scalability, and reliability while mentioning tools and services you've implemented.

Stress the importance of clear communication during a recovery event. Discuss your approach to notifying stakeholders, providing status updates, and documenting the recovery process, ensuring that all relevant parties are informed.

Share a specific example where you were responsible for troubleshooting or resolving an issue during a DR event. Describe the situation, what actions you took, and the outcomes to demonstrate your analytical and problem-solving skills.

Discuss various types of tests, such as simulation exercises, full interruption tests, and tabletop exercises. Explain what each test entails, their objectives, and how you measure the effectiveness of the DR plan.

Emphasize your commitment to continuous learning, and mention online courses, certifications, webinars, or industry conferences you participate in to stay informed about the latest technologies and methodologies in disaster recovery.

Highlight essential elements such as recovery objectives, contact information for key personnel, detailed recovery procedures, communication plans, and maintenance schedules. Stress the importance of keeping this documentation updated and easily accessible.

Provide a thoughtful strategy, emphasizing your problem-solving skills. Discuss the importance of analyzing what went wrong, how you would gather a response team, adjust the plan as necessary, and enhance training to prevent future occurrences.