Database Infrastructure Engineer
Job description
About the role
CERN is seeking a Database Infrastructure Engineer to join their team on a contract basis in Geneva, Switzerland. This role focuses on maintaining and advancing the database systems that support the organization's large-scale scientific research operations. The engineer will work closely with research teams to ensure data storage, retrieval, and management systems remain reliable and performant under demanding workloads. The position involves hands-on technical work across database architecture, deployment, and ongoing operational support for critical data infrastructure.
Key facts
What you'll do
Design and implement database solutions that meet the evolving needs of CERN's research data workflows and experiments.
Monitor database performance continuously and proactively identify and address bottlenecks or capacity constraints before they impact users.
Configure and maintain high-availability database clusters across multiple production and staging environments to ensure uptime.
Develop automation scripts and tooling to streamline database provisioning, patching, and routine maintenance tasks efficiently.
Collaborate with software engineers and application developers to optimize query performance and data access patterns.
Troubleshoot database failures and coordinate incident response activities during active production issues and outages.
Document infrastructure configurations, standard operating procedures, and architectural decisions for team reference and knowledge sharing.
Evaluate new database technologies and present well-reasoned recommendations for adoption based on project requirements.
Manage database backup strategies, recovery procedures, and conduct regular disaster readiness testing to verify resilience.
Coordinate with internal security teams to enforce access controls, authentication policies, and data protection standards.
Participate in capacity planning exercises and long-term infrastructure roadmap discussions with stakeholders.
Support database migrations between versions and platforms with minimal disruption to active services.
Conduct regular security audits on database configurations and recommend hardening measures as needed.
Review and update database documentation to reflect current infrastructure state and recent changes.
Assist with database security patch management and coordinate timely application of updates across systems.
Requirements
Experience with relational database administration and performance tuning in production environments handling significant data volumes.
Familiarity with at least one major database platform such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Oracle is required.
Solid understanding of Linux system administration and core command-line operations for daily management tasks.
Practical knowledge of networking fundamentals and distributed system architecture concepts is expected.
Ability to diagnose and resolve complex database issues quickly and effectively under time pressure.
Strong written communication skills for producing clear, accurate, and comprehensive technical documentation.
Willingness to work within a multidisciplinary environment alongside physicists, engineers, and technical staff.
Degree in computer science, information technology, or a related technical field is necessary.
Proven ability to work independently and take ownership of database infrastructure responsibilities.
Comfort with on-call rotation and responding to production incidents outside standard working hours.
Nice to have
Prior exposure to containerized deployments and orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes is valuable.
Experience with monitoring and observability tools for tracking database health and performance metrics.
Background in high-energy physics or scientific computing environments is a strong advantage.
Familiarity with cloud-based database services and data migration strategies is a helpful addition.
Knowledge of data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance requirements for research data.
Experience with database performance benchmarking and capacity modeling for future growth planning.
Skills & tools
PostgreSQL or MySQL database management and hands-on administration experience.
Linux operating system proficiency and shell scripting for automation purposes.
Network protocols and distributed system architecture understanding.
Database monitoring, alerting, and performance tooling experience.
Version control systems for managing infrastructure code and configurations.
Backup and recovery frameworks, procedures, and disaster planning knowledge.
Configuration management and infrastructure-as-code practices for repeatable deployments.
Logging and tracing tools for distributed system troubleshooting and analysis.
Practical notes
This is a contract position with a defined duration and scope of work.
The role is based in Geneva, Switzerland, at CERN facilities on-site.
Candidates should be prepared to work alongside international research teams on a daily basis.
Visa sponsorship and relocation considerations are managed by the hiring team directly.
The contract engagement may include renewal options based on project needs and performance.
The hiring process may include technical interviews and a practical assessment of database skills.
About the company
CERN runs the biggest particle physics lab globally. Founded in 1954, headquarters sit in Meyrin near Geneva, on the France Switzerland border. Membership includes 25 nations. Israel joined in 2013 and resides outside Europe. United Nations General Assembly status is observer. Scientific exploration drives operations. International collaboration defines culture. Roles span engineering, computing, and research. Opportunities attract diverse talent. Ambitions center on advancing knowledge. Work happens at the intersection of theory and experiment, supported by shared infrastructure and open science principles.