Engineering Manager, Database Reliability, Scalability

GitLab is an open-core software company that develops the most comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps Platform, used by more than 100,000 organizations. Our mission is to enable everyone to contribute to and co-create the software that powers our world. When everyone can contribute, consumers become contributors, significantly accelerating human progress. Our platform unites teams and organizations, breaking down barriers and redefining what's possible in software development. Thanks to products like Duo Enterprise and Duo Agent Platform, customers get AI benefits at every stage of the SDLC. 

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

As an Engineering Manager for our Database Reliability, Scale & Operations team, you'll build and lead the group that owns 's PostgreSQL backbone. You'll shape our database strategy and architecture, guide data store selection for different use cases, and drive operational excellence so our customers experience a fast, always available platform as we continue to grow. Your work will span technical leadership and people management. You'll hire and coach exceptional engineers, set clear and measurable objectives, and act as a force multiplier by enforcing healthy database practices and helping the team move from reactive firefighting to proactive planning. You'll collaborate closely with Platform/Infrastructure, Product, Development, and Support teams, serve as the escalation point for Tier-2 on-call, and ensure lessons from running PostgreSQL at scale feed back into how GitLab builds and operates its product.

Some examples of our projects:

• Scaling PostgreSQL horizontally and vertically to support growth
• Improving performance, capacity, compliance, and availability of our database infrastructure

• Lead the Database Reliability, Scale & Operations team to ensure availability, security, scalability, and operational excellence for
• Define and drive database strategy, including data store selection for different use cases and cost optimization across environments
• Build, coach, and retain a high-performing, distributed engineering team, creating an environment where team members can thrive and deliver results
• Set clear objectives, establish healthy database practices, and hold the team accountable while acting as a force multiplier for their impact
• Collaborate with Platform, Infrastructure, Product, Development, and Support teams to influence and advocate for sound database decisions across GitLab
• Serve as the escalation point for the team's Tier-2 on-call process to help meet availability and reliability goals
• Lead agile projects focused on PostgreSQL reliability, performance, capacity management, and scaling initiatives in an asynchronous, remote-first environment
• Translate complex database and distributed systems topics into clear, actionable language for technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Experience leading distributed engineering teams responsible for reliability, scale, and operations in a production environment
• Background in hiring, coaching, and developing engineers, with a focus on building healthy team culture and sustainable on-call practices
• Applied experience designing and operating database systems at scale, including PostgreSQL and distributed data stores, with attention to performance, availability, and security
• Ability to define database strategy, including data store selection and cost-conscious architectural decisions, in collaboration with product and platform stakeholders
• Practice setting clear, measurable objectives, establishing operational best practices, and holding teams accountable while remaining open to feedback and iteration
• Skill in collaborating across infrastructure, platform, product, and support teams to drive shared outcomes and resolve complex technical issues
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to explain database decisions and risks to leadership and non-technical partners
• Openness to candidates with diverse backgrounds and transferable skills relevant to database reliability, large-scale systems, and technical people management

At GitLab, our Database Reliability, Scale & Operations team is responsible for building, running, and owning the full lifecycle of the PostgreSQL database engine that powers We focus on reliability, scalability, performance, and security of the database and its supporting services, and we develop patterns and frameworks that guide how GitLab grows and scales its database infrastructure for both SaaS and self-managed customers. We work asynchronously across regions, using engineering principles and production learnings to inform our decisions and to feed improvements back into Product, Development, and Support. We partner closely with Support when self-managed customers encounter complex database issues and continuously look for ways to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive capacity planning, compliance alignment, and resilience engineering.

The base salary range for this role's listed level is currently for residents of the United States only. This range is intended to reflect the role's base salary rate in locations throughout the US. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, alignment with market data, and geographic location. The base salary range does not include any bonuses, equity, or benefits. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.

United States Salary Range

$131,600 - $282,000 USD

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off 
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental leave 
• Home office support

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.

Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.  

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GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab's policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.