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Senior Database Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Staff Database Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$125K - $170K/yr

We are looking for a strong database engineer with deep technical expertise, sharp logical reasoning, and the flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. If you are passionate ...

Senior Cloud Software Engineer - Database

Irvine, CA · On-site

$112K - $152K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Cloud Software Engineer - Database to design and build cloud-native infrastructure storage platforms and optimize database capabilities to enhance system performance and ...

Senior Staff Database Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$165K - $289K/yr

We are looking for a strong database engineer with deep technical expertise, sharp logical reasoning, and the flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. If you are passionate ...

Senior Staff Database Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$165K - $289K/yr

We are looking for a strong database engineer with deep technical expertise, sharp logical reasoning, and the flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. If you are passionate ...

Senior Staff Database Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$165K - $289K/yr

We are looking for a strong database engineer with deep technical expertise, sharp logical reasoning, and the flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. If you are passionate ...

Showing results 41-60

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 Aug 16, 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:

Infographic showing various Senior Database Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,674 per year, or $59.9 per hour.

Database Engineer, Amazon Redshift

Amazon

East Palo Alto, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 15 hours ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,091 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides companies of all sizes with an infrastructure web services platform in the cloud. Amazon Redshift is a rapidly growing, fast, fully managed, petabyte-scale data warehouse service in the cloud. It enables customers to dramatically increase their query performance when analyzing virtually any size data set using the same SQL-based business intelligence tools they use today.

No other data warehouse makes it as easy to gain new insights. With Redshift customers can query petabytes of structured and semi-structured data across their data warehouse and data lake using standard SQL.
Amazon Redshift is the most popular and fastest cloud data warehouse. It is integrated with customers data lake, offers up to 3x faster performance than any other data warehouse, and costs up to 75% less than any other cloud data warehouse.
Joining the Amazon Redshift team gives you the opportunity to:
- Work on a disruptive product that's still in its early stages
- Solve challenging problems that will revolutionize database computing in the cloud
- Build a product that will leverage the scale of resources available in the cloud
- Work for a company that's a recognized leader in the cloud computing space
- Be involved in the fast growing, big data space
We are looking for senior database engineers that are passionate about data warehousing, and love to work with customers to help them with database design, usage patterns and performance.
We expect candidates to be able to:
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of database or data warehouse systems internals including relational database design and distributed databases/MPP architectures
- Lead strategic data architecture & database design discussions with customers
- Drive and oversee workload analysis, performance benchmarking and troubleshooting efforts with customers in their environments
- Clearly communicate deep technical topics to customers
- Influence the engineering team roadmap towards building a product that is scalable, easy to use and build on, and addresses customer needs
- Conduct POC's with customers in competitive situations
- Leverage good coding/scripting skills to automate tasks and improve workload analysis mechanisms
About the team
ABOUT AWS:
Diverse Experiences
Amazon values diverse experiences

Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying.
Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform.

We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating - that's why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there's nothing we can't achieve in the cloud


Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it's in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
Mentorship and Career Growth
We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer

That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.


What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Amazon logo

About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US