Required permissions for the sde user in PostgreSQL

To perform the ArcSDE component installation and create or upgrade a geodatabase, the ArcSDE administrator (the sde user) must be granted super user permission and have the ability to select all the datasets in the geodatabase. You can revoke this permission after installation, geodatabase creation, or upgrading is performed.

The sde user also requires USAGE permissions on all other user schemas to compress and upgrade the geodatabase.