Kubernetes Database Reliability Engineer

About the role

The ICRC is looking for an experienced Kubernetes Database Reliability Engineer to modernize its database ecosystem by moving databases from traditional virtual machines to containers on Kubernetes. The goal is to improve availability and security and to make services easier to automate and faster to deliver. The engineer designs the target architecture, builds GitOps-based delivery with Helm and Kustomize, manages the lifecycle of containerized databases across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, sets standards, leads a platform and works closely with application teams. The role is based in Geneva, Switzerland, on a long-term open-ended assignment starting in January 2027.

Key responsibilities

• Own the lifecycle of containerized databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) in Kubernetes clusters, from design and provisioning to upgrades, migrations and decommissioning, on-premises and in the cloud.
• Design and test backup, restore, point-in-time recovery and disaster recovery strategies, including object storage targets, and run regular recovery exercises.
• Deploy and operate Kubernetes database operators (e.g. CloudNativePG, MongoDB operators) and define standards for their use.
• Build reusable, versioned Helm charts and Kustomize overlays to provision databases consistently across environments and clusters.
• Automate provisioning and delivery of database workloads using GitOps, Ansible and CI/CD pipelines.
• Apply security standards (RBAC, network policies, secrets management, encryption, image scanning, pod security) and ensure compliance with ICRC policies and data protection regulations.
• Support the observability stack: monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana), logging and distributed tracing (OpenTelemetry).

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience, including 5 years in a similar position.
• Desirable: Kubernetes certification (CKA, CKAD or CKS) or equivalent; database certification; ITIL, DevOps or Agile (e.g. SAFe) certification; experience in a complex international environment.
• Strong written and spoken English; French is an asset.

Required skills

• Operating PostgreSQL and MongoDB on Linux and Kubernetes, including high availability, replication, backup/restore and disaster recovery.
• Advanced Linux knowledge and understanding of Kubernetes control plane, API server, CNI and CSI.
• Scripting and automation (Bash/Shell, Ansible, Azure DevOps pipelines); Python or Go for platform tooling and custom controllers.
• GitOps with Argo CD, Helm and Kustomize.
• Troubleshooting complex production incidents and knowledge of data privacy regulations.