PostgreSQL Performance Engineer (m/w/d), Citus (columnar storage)

By leveraging innovative technologies, Client aims to provide robust solutions that empower clients to harness the full potential of their data.

Technology Musthave:
Deep expertise in PostgreSQL internals and query handling General database performance topics & data management/handling Strong SQL and data modelling skills Familiarity with analytical workloads and update-heavy scenarios Experience designing and interpreting performance experiments Knowledge of observability tools and performance metrics
Data Modeling

Further needed skills:
Hands-on experience with Citus (including columnar storage) is a plus

Task Description:
Scope of Work Workload Profiling & Bottleneck Analysis Analyze current ingestion and transformation workloads to identify performance bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and resource constraints across all table types and usage patterns. Architectural Evaluation Assess the continued use of Citus in our setup, including a comparison of its benefits and limitations versus native PostgreSQL features, especially in a single-node context. Columnar vs. Row-Based Storage Experiments Conduct targeted experiments comparing columnar Citus tables and regular row-based tables from multiple perspectives: Query performance for large analytical workloads Update performance, especially for non-append-only tables Indexing strategies and other query optimizations Special attention will be given to large tables that require both frequent updates and fast querying, where columnar storage may offer advantages but also introduces limitations (e. g. , lack of update support in Citus columnar tables). General Performance Optimization Investigate broader performance questions beyond storage format, including: Query planning and execution Index usage and tuning Parallelization and batching strategies Memory and I/O optimization Optimization Patterns Develop and document improved ingestion and transformation patterns that make optimal use of PostgreSQL and Citus features, including indexing, partitioning, and parallelization. Tooling & Observability Set up or enhance monitoring and profiling tools (e. g. , pg_stat_statements, auto_explain, pgBadger) to support ongoing performance analysis. Recommendations & Guidelines Deliver a set of actionable recommendations and implementation guidelines for improving performance, maintainability, and scalability of the platform.
English mandatory

Location: Switzerland, Basel
"Onsite at Customer","Remote (but in the same country the project is)"
Body Leasing
Start date is ASAP. There is an unspent budget, and we can position additional role in the current team. Subject to client's approval. Onsite requirements - no more than 1 day per week.

Type of contract is payrolling (temporary employment). A Swiss residence (or willing to relocate( is necessary.  

The Client lead would like to start interview next week and to allow this, we expect candidates in the next 24-48h maximum.  The onsite presence is 1 day a week. And there is a plan for extension for at least half year in 2026.