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Senior Database Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Guru Schools

Sr. Database Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$113K - $154K/yr

Overview: Title: Sr.Database Engineer Employment Type: C2C Location: Irvine, CA- ONSITE Client is looking for a Sr. Database Engineer to be a technical authority and lead designer of our high ...

Crunchyroll, LLC

Senior Database Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

$124K - $169K/yr

As a Senior Database Engineer for the Data Engineering team, you will maintain and enhance the reliability of our data infrastructure. Your work will directly impact the availability and performance ...

Crunchyroll, LLC

Senior Database Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$114K - $155K/yr

As a Senior Database Engineer for the Data Engineering team, you will maintain and enhance the reliability of our data infrastructure. Your work will directly impact the availability and performance ...

Kros-Wise

Senior Database Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$140K - $190K/hr

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Senior Database Engineer to support the design, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of database systems for a high-visibility Department of ...

Kros-Wise

Senior Database Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$140K - $190K/yr

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Senior Database Engineer to support the design, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of database systems for a high-visibility Department of ...

Kros-Wise

Senior Database Engineer

San Diego, CA

$107K - $146K/yr

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Senior Database Engineer to support the design, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of database systems for a high-visibility Department of ...

BetterHelp

Senior Database Engineer

San Jose, CA

$124K - $168K/yr

As a Senior Database Engineer at BetterHelp, you'll join a diverse team of licensed clinicians, engineers, product pros, creatives, marketers, and business leaders who share a passion for expanding ...

BetterHelp

Senior Database Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$124K - $168K/yr

As a Senior Database Engineer at BetterHelp, you'll join a diverse team of licensed clinicians, engineers, product pros, creatives, marketers, and business leaders who share a passion for expanding ...

Pennymac

Senior Database Developer

Westlake Village, CA · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

A Typical Day The Senior Database Developer will be responsible for design, development, testing, and implementation of a set enterprise level data warehouse systems and solutions. As the Database ...

SpaceX

Sr. Database Reliability Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$155K - $205K/yr

Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. SR. DATABASE RELIABILITY ENGINEER SpaceX is looking for an ...

SpaceX

Sr. Database Reliability Engineer

Hawthorne, CA

$155K - $205K/yr

Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. SR. DATABASE RELIABILITY ENGINEER SpaceX is looking for an ...

JBA International

Database Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

The Database Engineer, Senior will work closely with the engineering team members to design, develop and enhance Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL database solutions. Duties & Responsibilities:

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All JobsSenior Database Engineer JobsSenior Database Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Database Engineer information

See California salary details

$79.9K

$124.7K

$172.7K

How much do senior database engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior database engineer in California is $124,674.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,600.00 and $142,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Senior Database Engineers face when managing large-scale databases, and how are they typically addressed?

Senior Database Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring database performance under heavy loads, maintaining data integrity during migrations, and optimizing queries for efficiency. Addressing these issues usually involves proactive monitoring, implementing indexing strategies, and collaborating closely with development teams to design scalable database schemas. Regularly updating skills to keep up with new database technologies and security best practices is also essential for tackling these challenges effectively.

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

AspectSenior Database EngineerDatabase Administrator
Primary FocusDesigning, developing, and optimizing database systemsMaintaining, backing up, and securing databases
Skills & CertificationsSQL, database architecture, performance tuning, certifications like Oracle or Microsoft SQL ServerDatabase management, backup/recovery, security, certifications like Oracle DBA or Microsoft Certified Database Administrator
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, data engineering projects, system designOperational teams, system maintenance, troubleshooting
Industry UsageUsed across tech, finance, healthcare for database developmentCommon in enterprise IT, government, and large organizations for database upkeep

While both roles work closely with databases, a Senior Database Engineer primarily focuses on designing and optimizing database systems, whereas a Database Administrator handles daily maintenance, security, and backups. The roles complement each other but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Database Engineer, and why are they important?

A Senior Database Engineer needs advanced knowledge of database architecture, SQL, performance tuning, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise in tools like Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, database clustering, and relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate are typical requirements. Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills help them excel in managing complex data environments and collaborating with development teams. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring robust, scalable, and secure data solutions that meet organizational needs.

What is a Senior Database Engineer?

A Senior Database Engineer is an experienced IT professional responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and optimizing database systems within an organization. They ensure databases are secure, reliable, and perform efficiently to meet business needs. Senior Database Engineers often lead projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with developers and system administrators to support data-driven applications. Their expertise is crucial for data integrity, scalability, and disaster recovery planning.
What are the most commonly searched types of Database Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Database Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Database Engineer jobs in California? For Senior Database Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Database Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Database Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Database Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Database Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Database Engineer jobs in CA? For Senior Database Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Senior Database Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Database Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 77% In-person, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,674 per year, or $59.9 per hour.

Sr. Database Engineer

Guru Schools

Irvine, CA • On-site

$113K - $154K/yr

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Overview:
Title: Sr.Database Engineer
Employment Type: C2C
Location: Irvine, CA- ONSITE
Client is looking for a Sr. Database Engineer to be a technical authority and lead designer of our high-performance data environments. You are a "builder" who views databases as code-equally skilled at deep SQL performance tuning as you are at building automated deployment pipelines for global-scale clusters.
You thrive on the challenge of high-stakes, large-scale data systems. As a key client-facing expert, you will guide our clients away from legacy "babysitting" models toward modern, self-healing, cloud-native database architectures on AWS.
What You'll Do
  • Architect Scalable Data Systems: Design and oversee the implementation of enterprise-scale relational (RDS, Aurora) and NoSQL (DynamoDB, DocumentDB) database architectures.
  • Engineer Database Automation: Develop "Database-as-Code" using Terraform or CloudFormation to automate provisioning, scaling, and recovery processes across multi-region environments.
  • Optimize for Performance: Act as the final authority on complex performance tuning, including query optimization, indexing strategies, and hardware-level bottleneck analysis.
  • Modernize for AI: Design and implement specialized data storage solutions, such as vector databases (Amazon OpenSearch, pgvector), to support Generative AI and RAG-based applications.
  • Set the Standards: Define and enforce best practices for data modeling, security (encryption at rest/transit), and high-availability/disaster recovery (RPO/RTO) across the practice.
  • Lead & Mentor: Act as a technical mentor for junior engineers, leading deep-dive design reviews and fostering a culture of operational excellence.

What You Bring (Requirements)
  • Professional Experience: 8-12+ years in database administration or engineering, with at least 4+ years in a Senior Engineering role focusing on cloud environments.
  • AWS Database Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of the AWS database ecosystem (Aurora, RDS, DynamoDB, Redshift).
  • Coding & Scripting: Proven mastery of Python and Advanced SQL for automation and sophisticated data manipulation.
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Deep experience with Terraform or AWS CDK to manage database infrastructure.
  • Data Modeling: Expert-level understanding of both relational and non-relational data modeling techniques.
  • Client-Facing Excellence: Exceptional skills in leading technical workshops and translating ambiguous business needs into high-performance technical designs.
  • Startup Mentality: A "builder" mindset with a focus on impact, ownership, and the agility to solve "unsolvable" technical challenges.

Bonus Points (Nice-to-Haves)
  • Certifications: AWS Certified Database - Specialty or AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional.
  • AI/ML Fluency: Experience with vector databases and preparing data pipelines for LLM integration.
  • Consulting Background: Experience in a Professional Services or global consulting environment.

Skills:
Engineering Data Management,Cloud Development

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