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Lead Database Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Database Engineer II

San Diego, CA

$112K - $152K/yr

Lead the design, selection, and implementation of modern data platforms and analytics solutions ... database design. * Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent ...

Sr. CMDB Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$112K - $154K/yr

Own and lead the CMDB data model strategy, including CI classes, relationships, hierarchical ... Partner with DevOps and application teams to integrate CI/CD pipelines, application visibility, and ...

Sr. CMDB Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$112K - $154K/yr

Own and lead the CMDB data model strategy, including CI classes, relationships, hierarchical ... Partner with DevOps and application teams to integrate CI/CD pipelines, application visibility, and ...

DBA III

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Database SME mindset -- you've reviewed engineering schema changes, contributed design insight in ... You'll lead the design -- likely AWS DMS feeding a multi‑tenant Aurora PostgreSQL store, but the ...

DBA III

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

Database SME mindset -- you've reviewed engineering schema changes, contributed design insight in ... You'll lead the design -- likely AWS DMS feeding a multi‑tenant Aurora PostgreSQL store, but the ...

New

DBA III

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$92K - $158K/yr

Database SME mindset -- you've reviewed engineering schema changes, contributed design insight in ... You'll lead the design -- likely AWS DMS feeding a multi-tenant Aurora PostgreSQL store, but the ...

Senior Database Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$112K - $152K/yr

Join our mission as our next Senior Database Design Engineer to join our R&D Instrument Platforms ... Lead query optimization and performance tuning, including execution plan analysis, indexing ...

Showing results 21-40

Lead Database Engineer information

See California salary details

$59.7K

$120.5K

$165.3K

How much do lead database engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead database engineer in California is $120,513.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,200.00 and $138,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a lead database engineer?

Lead Database Engineers are senior professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining complex database systems within an organization. They oversee database architecture, ensure data security and integrity, and manage a team of database engineers or administrators. Their role often includes optimizing performance, troubleshooting issues, and collaborating with other IT departments to support business needs. Lead Database Engineers also play a key part in setting best practices and ensuring compliance with data regulations.

How does a lead database engineer typically collaborate with development and operations teams?

A Lead Database Engineer works closely with both development and operations teams to ensure databases are optimally designed, secure, and highly available. They often participate in architecture discussions, provide guidance on best practices for data modeling, and help troubleshoot performance issues during application development. Additionally, they coordinate with DevOps to automate database deployments and backups, ensure compliance with data governance policies, and facilitate smooth rollouts and migrations. This cross-functional collaboration is crucial for maintaining data integrity and supporting the scalability needs of the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lead database engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead Database Engineer, you need deep expertise in database architecture, data modeling, performance tuning, and a strong background in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with major database management systems (such as Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL), cloud platforms, and certifications like Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator are highly valuable. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help drive team success and stakeholder collaboration. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring database reliability, scalability, and alignment with organizational goals.

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

AspectLead Database EngineerDatabase Administrator
CredentialsBS/MS in Computer Science or related field, certifications like Oracle Certified ProfessionalBS in Computer Science, certifications like Microsoft Certified Database Administrator
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and optimizing database systems, often in collaborative teamsMaintaining, backing up, and securing databases, ensuring system stability
Industry UsageUsed in tech, finance, healthcare for database development and architectureCommon across industries for database maintenance and support
Search/Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in database development and architectureFocus on database maintenance and operational support

The Lead Database Engineer primarily focuses on designing and developing database systems, while the Database Administrator manages and maintains existing databases. Both roles require similar credentials and are vital in database management, but they differ in scope and responsibilities within organizations.

What are popular job titles related to Lead Database Engineer jobs in California?

For Lead Database Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lead Database Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Database Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Lead Database Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,513 per year, or $57.9 per hour.

Senior Database Engineer II

Abbott

San Diego, CA

$112K - $152K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Posted 25 days ago


Abbott rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 138 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

170th of 545 rated manufacturers


Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You'll also have access to:

  • Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
  • Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
  • An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
  • Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor's degree.
  • A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
  • A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

The position of Senior Database Engineer II is within our Infectious Disease business unit located at the Towne Centre site in San Diego, California. This position is on site.

We're empowering smarter medical and economic decision-making to help transform the way people manage their health at all stages of life. Every day, more than 10 million tests are run on Abbott's diagnostics instruments, providing lab results for millions of people.

What You'll Work On

  • Build and maintain scalable data pipelines and data integration processes using Azure Data Factory.
  • Serve as the primary technical contact for system integration efforts with internal and external teams.
  • Lead the design, selection, and implementation of modern data platforms and analytics solutions, including Databricks, Azure OneLake, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Snowflake.
  • Design and implement conceptual, logical, and physical data models that support business needs in cloud-based environments.
  • Provide technical leadership and support for System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Integration Testing (UIT) involving enterprise IT systems.
  • Design and support multi-tenant database architectures and database sharding strategies to optimize performance and scalability.
  • Develop and promote data engineering standards, best practices, and governance processes across teams.
  • Conduct code reviews and design reviews to ensure quality, consistency, and adherence to standards.
  • Partner with business and technical stakeholders to deliver reliable, scalable, and cost-effective data solutions.
  • Share expertise and educate teammates on modern data engineering concepts and best practices.
  • Work closely with geographically dispersed teams and cross-functional partners.
  • Collaborate with Verification & Validation (V&V) teams to support testing and quality initiatives.
  • Participate actively in Agile/Scrum ceremonies and team activities.
  • Evaluate current development processes and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and quality.
  • Identify complex business and technical challenges and develop effective solutions.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve data, integration, and system issues in dynamic environments.
  • Recommend multiple solution options and guide teams toward the best approach.
  • Ensure data solutions meet established quality, security, and compliance standards.

Required Qualifications

  • Experience in delivering products for the Medical Device industry.
  • 7+ years of experience in software development involving database design.
  • Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse, Mongo DB, Databricks.
  • Master's degree in computer science or similar degree.
  • Developing using Python and T-SQL.
  • Experience with RDBMS and NoSQL
  • Hands on experience crafting and implementing data pipelines across large scale systems.
  • Experience implementing data pipelines with Azure is a must.
  • Production delivery experience in Cloud based PaaS related technologies (Azure SQL Database. Azure Synapse)
  • Experienced in multiple Cloud PaaS persistence technologies, and in-depth knowledge of cloud based ETL offerings and orchestration technologies.
  • Experience with OLTP and OLAP.
  • Experienced in stream-based and batch processing applying modern technologies
  • Database design skills including normalization/de-normalization and data warehouse design.
  • Experience in Disaster Recovery procedures and geo-redundant strategies.
  • Understanding of Distributed File Systems (Azure Blob Storage, HDFS)
  • Knowledge and understanding of relevant legal and regulatory requirements, such as SOX, PCI, HIPAA, Data Protection
  • Strong Programming Experience - Python / SQL etc.
  • Experience in the healthcare industry,

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: https://abbottbenefits.com/

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at abbott.com, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AbbottCareers.

The base pay for this position is
$100,000.00 - $200,000.00
In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY:
Product Development

DIVISION:
ID Infectious Disease

LOCATION:
United States > San Diego : 4545 Towne Center Court

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT:
Standard

TRAVEL:
Yes, 5 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:
No

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:
Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.

EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf

EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf


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