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Database Systems Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Antithesis

Senior Systems Engineer, Database

Vienna, VA · On-site

$106K - $144K/yr

... engineering background; you've worked on or alongside database systems and understand what makes them tick -- the more depth, the better. • Product-minded: comfortable talking to internal customers ...

DCCA

Systems Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

They are seeking a Systems Engineer to analyze IT requirements, provide technical leadership, and ... DCCA provides database, systems development and related information technology services. Founded in ...

CGI Inc.

Database Engineer, Junior

Arlington, VA · On-site

The Database Engineer designs, develops, and manages database systems, ensuring they are efficient, reliable, and secure. They work with various database technologies, including relational and NoSQL ...

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Database Systems Engineer information

What is a database systems engineer's salary?

The salary for a database systems engineer typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in database management systems and cloud platforms can earn higher salaries.

What are some typical challenges faced by database systems engineers when managing large-scale databases?

Database Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring high availability, optimizing query performance, and managing data security for large-scale databases. Balancing the need for rapid data access with system reliability, especially during peak usage, requires careful planning and monitoring. Additionally, integrating new technologies or migrating data can present compatibility and downtime concerns, making collaboration with development and operations teams essential. Staying current with best practices and automation tools can help address these challenges effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a database systems engineer?

To thrive as a Database Systems Engineer, you need expertise in database architecture, SQL, data modeling, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with database management systems like MySQL, Oracle, or SQL Server, as well as certifications such as Oracle Certified Professional or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator, is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with teams and troubleshoot complex issues. These skills are crucial for ensuring database reliability, performance, and security in organizational environments.

What is a database systems engineer?

Database Systems Engineers are IT professionals who design, implement, maintain, and optimize database systems to ensure efficient data storage, retrieval, and security. They work with various database technologies, such as SQL, NoSQL, or cloud-based solutions, and collaborate with developers and administrators to support application needs. Their responsibilities often include database architecture, performance tuning, backup and recovery, and ensuring data integrity and availability for organizations.

What is the difference between Database Systems Engineer vs Database Administrator?

AspectDatabase Systems EngineerDatabase Administrator
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in computer science or related field; certifications like Oracle Certified Professional or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate are common.Similar credentials; often holds certifications such as Oracle DBA, Microsoft SQL Server Certification, or MySQL Certification.
Work EnvironmentWorks on designing, developing, and optimizing database systems, often involved in architecture and performance tuning.Manages day-to-day database operations, backups, security, and user access.
Employer & Industry UsageFound in tech companies, large enterprises, and organizations with complex data needs.Common in organizations requiring regular database maintenance and data security.

While both roles require similar credentials and work within the same industry, the Database Systems Engineer focuses on designing and developing database solutions, whereas the Database Administrator handles ongoing maintenance and security. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are popular job titles related to Database Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Database Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Database Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Database Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
Database Systems Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Database Systems Engineer job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Senior Systems Engineer, Database

Antithesis

Vienna, VA • On-site

$106K - $144K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Antithesis is reinventing software reliability by utilizing deterministic simulations to identify root causes of issues quickly. The role involves building and evolving Pangolin, a custom analytical database, while working closely with internal teams to enhance data exploration and system performance.
Responsibilities:
• Build and evolve Pangolin, our bespoke analytical database — a tree-native, streaming system handling terabytes of customer data daily.
• Work closely with internal customers — including the notebook/UI team — to define priorities, shape the roadmap, and deliver features that make data exploration faster and more fluid.
• Collaborate with the broader Infrastructure team on deployment, reliability, and scale.
• Write clean, well-reasoned design docs and contribute to the long-term technical direction of the system.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Strong proficiency in Rust; safe, performant, idiomatic code is second nature to you.
• Deep systems programming fundamentals — you can reason about memory, concurrency, and performance from first principles.
• Strong CS fundamentals in data structures and algorithms, with a habit of solving hard problems from the ground up.
• Strong backend engineering background; you've worked on or alongside database systems and understand what makes them tick — the more depth, the better.
• Product-minded: comfortable talking to internal customers, translating fuzzy requirements into concrete priorities, and owning delivery.
Preferred:
• Experience building, operating, or maintaining large-scale distributed backend systems
• Deep performance optimization experience
• Linux internals
• V8
• AWS (S3 & Lambda)
Company:
Antithesis is a simulation testing company that tests software reliability to find and reproduce software bugs before deployment. Founded in 2018, the company is headquartered in Vienna, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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