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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Backend Engineer - Database Change Management - **Company:** GitLab - **Location:** United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Automation of Tests, Code Review, Databases, Data Definition Language, Django Web Framework, PostgreSQL, Ruby on Rails, Backend, Gitlab, Database Migration, Integration Tests - **Published:** August 24, 2026 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/gitlab/jobs/8716271002 ## About the Role * Deep experience with Ruby on Rails in large production codebases, including Active Record migration internals, or comparable depth in another framework's migration system, such as Django or Ecto. * Production PostgreSQL experience, including schema changes on large tables, locking behavior, and data definition language failure modes under load. * A track record of leading delivery of a system from design through implementation and adoption. * Experience mentoring engineers through pairing, code review, and technical feedback. * Strong written communication and the ability to make progress independently in an asynchronous, distributed environment. * Sound judgment when balancing reliability, safety, backward compatibility, and delivery needs. * An interest in serving as a senior technical presence for an India-based engineering group while collaborating across regions. ## Description As a Senior Backend Engineer, Database Upgrades, you'll help replace GitLab's sequential database migration system with a dependency graph model that makes upgrades faster and safer for GitLab.com and self-managed customers. You'll lead the design and delivery of a migration validation and test framework, including versioned fixture data across about 1,000 tables, a continuous integration (CI)-integrated test runner, and required correctness checks. You'll also serve as the senior technical anchor for our India-based engineering group, using clear written decisions to influence a team working across India, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. The manager for this role is based on the US West Coast. We're open to hiring this role at Staff level for a candidate whose experience matches that scope. At Staff level, you'll also own architecture decisions for the migration system and lead design work across teams. What you'll do * Lead the design and delivery of the migration validation and test framework from initial approach through production use. * Contribute to a dependency graph migration system that supports safe ordering, parallel execution, and three-phase, low-downtime upgrades. * Mentor intermediate engineers through pairing, code review, and design feedback. * Make and document technical decisions asynchronously so team members can build on them across time zones. * Review schema migrations from engineers across GitLab for safety, backward compatibility, and reliability. * Collaborate with Distribution, Quality Assurance, Database Architecture, Database Automation, and database framework teams to support GitLab.com and self-managed deployment methods. * At Staff level, author and defend architecture proposals and represent the team in technical reviews across GitLab., What is your current country of residence?* Select... Are you subject to any employment agreements and/or post-employment restrictions with your current employer or a past employer?* Select... It is important to us to create an accessible and inclusive interview experience. Please let us know if there are any adjustments we can make to assist you during the hiring and interview process. What is your GitLab username? Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for a visa to remain in your current location?* Select... Have you previously worked at or consulted for GitLab?* Select... Voluntary Self-Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file. As set forth in GitLab's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. Gender Select... Are you Hispanic/Latino? Select... Race & Ethnicity Definitions If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. 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