Junior PostgreSQL Database Engineer

Job Description

At Ascendco, we are building technology that empowers surgical teams to improve their work-life and deliver better patient care. Our cloud-based platform helps healthcare organizations harness clean data, follow compliant workflows, and use analytics to drive continuous improvement.

We are looking for a Junior PostgreSQL Database Engineer who enjoys working close to the data and solving performance problems. In this role, you will help improve the reliability, efficiency, and maintainability of the PostgreSQL databases that power our platform. You will work closely with experienced database and software engineers to optimize SQL queries, improve indexing strategies, troubleshoot performance issues, and support ongoing database operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their career who wants to deepen their expertise in PostgreSQL, SQL performance tuning, Linux systems, and large-scale healthcare data platforms. If you enjoy investigating problems, understanding how systems work, and continuously improving performance, you’ll thrive in this role.

Responsibilities

Database Performance & Optimization

• Analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize SQL queries for performance, scalability, and reliability
• Review query execution plans and identify opportunities for improvement
• Evaluate and implement indexing strategies to improve application performance
• Partner with software engineers to identify and resolve database bottlenecks
• Help improve database design, query patterns, and overall system efficiency

Database Operations & Maintenance

• Support PostgreSQL maintenance activities including VACUUM, ANALYZE, indexing, statistics management, and routine health checks
• Monitor database performance, resource utilization, and availability
• Investigate slow queries, locking issues, blocking sessions, and connection problems
• Review database logs and monitoring tools to identify emerging issues before they impact users
• Assist with backup, recovery, and disaster recovery processes

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with database engineers, software developers, and data teams to improve platform performance
• Document recurring issues, tuning recommendations, and operational procedures
• Contribute ideas that improve database reliability, maintainability, and scalability
• Stay current on PostgreSQL best practices and continuously expand your technical expertise

Requirements

Must-Haves

• 1-3 years of experience working with PostgreSQL, SQL development, database support, or related software engineering roles
• Strong SQL skills and understanding of relational database concepts
• Familiarity with query optimization, indexing, and execution plan analysis
• Working knowledge of PostgreSQL maintenance concepts including VACUUM, ANALYZE, autovacuum, and statistics
• General Linux command-line experience and basic system troubleshooting skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work independently
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience troubleshooting database performance issues in production environments
• Familiarity with backup, restore, replication, or high-availability concepts
• Experience supporting SaaS applications
• Exposure to Python or software development practices
• Experience working with healthcare data or other mission-critical systems

Work Environment & Culture

At Ascendco, we believe in ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We are drivers, not passengers. When you see an opportunity to improve something, we encourage you to take initiative and help make it happen.

You will work alongside experienced engineers who enjoy mentoring, sharing knowledge, and solving challenging problems together. We move quickly, support one another, and focus on building technology that has a meaningful impact on healthcare teams and patients.

Our hybrid work model combines the flexibility of remote work with the energy and collaboration that comes from working together in person.

Why Join Ascendco?

Your work will directly support the data platform behind software that helps surgical teams operate more efficiently and deliver better patient care. You’ll gain hands-on experience with large-scale PostgreSQL environments, collaborate with talented engineers, and develop skills that will accelerate your career.

If you’re passionate about databases, enjoy solving complex technical problems, and want to grow as part of a mission-driven team, we’d love to meet you.