Database Reliability Engineer

ABOUT VEG

In 2014, VEG was born with a mission to help people and their pets when they need it most by challenging norms and fixing the ER experience. Since then, we’ve expanded rapidly, with hospitals nationwide open 24/7/365, and created an ER experience that focuses on what our pets and pet parents really need. We’ve done the same for our people (VEGgies), finding a way to say YES so they are empowered to achieve great things, grow in unexpected ways, and find a place where they truly belong.

We’re rethinking emergency care from every angle—from how we run our hospitals to how we support the people working inside them. That’s where our headquarters team comes in. Whether building technology to make our hospitals more efficient, recruiting and growing incredible VEGgies, or bringing our brand to life through marketing, our VQ (VEG Headquarters) team makes it all possible—ensuring our hospitals and people have everything they need to help pets and their families.

VEG is a 2025 and 2026 certified Great Place to Work®.

THE JOB

We are looking for a Database Reliability Engineer who understands both the architecture and orchestration of data – someone with a sharp engineering mind and a passion for building systems that never blink. In this role, you’ll be on the frontlines of our global expansion, bringing your expertise in AWS RDS, PostgreSQL, and Python to architect a data roadmap that scales from startup speed to global enterprise scale for hundreds of hospitals worldwide. At VEG, we find a way to say YES to building resilient, self-healing systems that eliminate “toil” and empower our medical teams to provide life-saving care 24/7/365.

You will take ownership of the performance and stability of our data layer, implementing the standards and SLOs that ensure our systems remain robust as we expand. Join us to tackle complex challenges at the core of our infrastructure and make a measurable impact on the future of veterinary medicine – all while being part of a team that values your technical craft and your drive to see us thrive.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Analyze complex database access patterns to identify bottlenecks, then design and implement optimizations in Postgres and Python to ensure high performance as our workload keeps growing

• Architect and execute the roadmap to transition our data layer from startup scale to a global enterprise footprint, supporting our continued hospital expansion

• Build and maintain a world-class observability stack to transform 'surprises' into predictable, automated alerts

• Define and enforce Service Level Objectives (SLOs) and database best practices, ensuring that as we scale, our data remains resilient, secure, and highly available

WHAT YOU NEED

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience

• 7+ years of experience in DBRE/DBA/SRE/DevOps roles managing high-traffic production databases

• Deep PostgreSQL internal expertise, including a strong understanding of MVCC, indexing strategies, and query optimization

• Proven track record of managing RDS for PostgreSQL across Multi-AZ deployments, with a focus on parameter group tuning and high-concurrency traffic via RDS Proxy

• Designed and executed roadmaps for transitioning from a single primary database to a multi-cluster environment, utilizing read replicas, caching layers, and service-specific data stores

• You have direct experience with technologies relevant to our technical stack, which currently includes: AWS, RDS Proxy, PostgreSQL (RDS), Python

WHO YOU ARE

• Empathetic, instinctively taking a people-centric approach, whether supporting your colleagues or making an effort to understand different perspectives

• Have a sense of humility; acknowledging mistakes, sharing credit with others, and lifting up your team’s’ accomplishments

• Feel a strong sense of ownership over your work, taking responsibility for outcomes and staying committed to achieving long-term, impactful results

• Curious by nature; you ask insightful questions and continuously seek out opportunities to learn and grow your skills and knowledge

HOW WE INVEST IN YOU

• Competitive Compensation Including ($170,000 - $220,000) + bonus + benefits.

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits that start on day one, and access to free therapy or counseling

• Paid parental leave, up to 10 weeks at 100% of regular salary, and offering inclusive fertility and family-building care for all types of families

• Unlimited PTO to use for vacation or sick days—however you need it!

• Generous employee referral program, so our awesome people can bring in more awesome people.

• And the little (big) things, like casual office attire, ability to bring your fur baby to work, cool VEG swag, food in the fridge for when you’re hungry and free lunches twice a week!!

• Company laptop and a monthly cell phone reimbursement

DEI

At VEG, diversity is not just a word—it's a strength that fuels innovation and kindness. Our mission is “Helping people and their pets when they need it most.” And we do that better when our VEGgies (employees) feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. That's why we're devoted to creating an environment that reflects the diverse communities we serve—where different perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated.

We are focused on providing equitable opportunities for growth, promoting inclusive decision-making, and ensuring that everyone's perspective is considered. Saying yes to VEG means helping us build a culture where your unique experiences and background contribute to a shared vision: being the world’s veterinary emergency company.