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Senior Database Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Sr Database Management Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$84K - $211K/yr

Provide leadership to the Clinical Data Programming department in technical expertise. Provide ... Plan and coordinate database design, development, implementation, maintenance, and user support of ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

The Role We're looking for a product minded Senior Data Engineer to lead the buildout of a new ... Experience with graph databases or network-oriented data problems-e.g., dependency mapping, supply ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL

$109K - $148K/yr

Senior Data Engineer You will be the Financial Engineer that we hire with cloud experience, and our ... and databases in the cloud, and lead the engineering efforts for this new project. As a Data ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL

$109K - $148K/yr

Senior Data Engineer You will be the Financial Engineer that we hire with cloud experience, and our ... and databases in the cloud, and lead the engineering efforts for this new project. As a Data ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$110 - $150/hr

We're looking for a Senior Data Engineer who operates like an owner and thinks like a Systems ... Beyond pure engineering, we expect some experience in database upkeep and maintenance, as well as ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$110K - $150K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Data Engineer who operates like an owner and thinks like a Systems ... Beyond pure engineering, we expect some experience in database upkeep and maintenance, as well as ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Data Engineer who operates like an owner and thinks like a Systems ... Beyond pure engineering, we expect some experience in database upkeep and maintenance, as well as ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$110K - $150K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Data Engineer who operates like an owner and thinks like a Systems ... Beyond pure engineering, we expect some experience in database upkeep and maintenance, as well as ...

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$110 - $150/hr

We're looking for a Senior Data Engineer who operates like an owner and thinks like a Systems ... Beyond pure engineering, we expect some experience in database upkeep and maintenance, as well as ...

Senior Data Engineer, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, IL. Lead a delivery team to develop ... Database storage systems such as cloud, relational, mainframe, data lake, and data warehouse;

Senior Data Engineer

Peoria, IL ยท On-site

$112.71 - $183.14/hr

As a Senior Data Engineer on the Helios Data Engineering team, you will be responsible for ... Experience with relational and/or noSQL databases such as PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, MongoDB, Oracle ...

Senior Data Engineer

Decatur, IL ยท On-site

$111K - $121K/yr

Senior Data Engineer, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, IL. Lead a delivery team to develop ... Database storage systems such as cloud, relational, mainframe, data lake, and data warehouse;

Senior Data Engineer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$109K - $148K/yr

... database, and the only research-driven, evidence-based early intervention system available in ... This is a senior individual contributor role for a deeply experienced Data Engineer who can ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Database Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$78.5K

$122.4K

$169.6K

How much do senior database engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior database engineer in Illinois is $122,415.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,700.00 and $139,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 most commonly searched types of Database Engineer jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Database Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Database Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Database Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Senior Database Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Senior Database Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Database Engineer jobs in IL?

For Senior Database Engineer jobs in IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Senior Database Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,415 per year, or $58.9 per hour.

Senior Data Engineer

UL Standards and Engagement

Evanston, IL โ€ข On-site

$101K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity foraSenior Data EngineeratUL Standards & Engagement.This is a hybrid opportunity based inourRaleigh-Durham, NCor Evanston, ILoffice.

TheSenior Data Engineerwill support a diverse portfolio of standards and data science initiatives to advance the mission of UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) to make the world safer, more secure, and sustainable. The Senior Data Engineer will design, develop, and scale enterprise data infrastructure thatsupportanalytics, machine learning, and emerging AI capabilities. Leveragingexpertisein modern data architecture, cloud technologies, and advanced data engineering practices, the Senior Data Engineer will transform complexstandardscontent and enterprise data into reliable, accessible, and scalable assets. The Senior Data Engineer will serve as a critical bridge between foundational data systems and advanced analytical applications, partnering closely with technical leaders, standards development engineers, and data scientists to shape enterprise data strategy, build infrastructure supporting Generative AI and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions, and enable informed decision-making across the organization.

UL Standards & Engagement:

AtUL Standards & Engagement(ULSE),weexpand the boundaries of safety science tocreate a more secure and sustainable world. Formore thana century, we havecreated new safety standardsand shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries.Weidentifycritical safety and sustainability issues, askingtoughquestions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us.Join us and work with ourStandardsteamswho develop the standardsrequiredto putthat knowledgeinto practice.

Whatyou'lllearnandachieve:

AstheStandards Publications Specialist,youwill play a key role in the rapid growth ofULas you:

  • Design, build, andmaintainscalable data architectures, platforms, and pipelines that supportstandardsdevelopment, research, analytics, reporting, and AI-driven initiatives across the organization.

  • Lead the collection, integration, and management of complex datasets from diverse sources, including APIs, structured XML and HTMLstandardscontent, relational databases, and unstructured information repositories.

  • Develop andoptimizeenterprise ETL/ELT processes to ensure the accuracy, consistency, availability, and performance of data assets used across analytical and operational environments.

  • Architect and implement robust data models, metadata frameworks, and data quality controls that support enterprise reporting, machine learning applications, and large language model initiatives.

  • Design and deploy production-grade RAG infrastructure, including document ingestion, content chunking strategies, metadata enrichment, embedding generation, vector storage, and hybrid retrieval methodologies.

  • Evaluate, implement, andoptimizedatabase technologies and retrieval systems to support high-performance search, semantic context retrieval, and AI-enabled knowledge discovery.

  • Collaborate with business leaders, standards development subject matter experts, and technical teams to translate complex business challenges into scalable data solutions and infrastructure investments.

  • Establishand promote best practices for data governance, security, privacy, and lifecycle management while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, intellectual property protections, and organizational standards.

  • Monitor, troubleshoot, and continuously improve data platform performance, reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency.

  • Contribute to the development and execution of data strategy,identifyingopportunities to expand organizational capabilities through modern data engineering practices and emerging technologies.

  • Mentor andprovidetechnical guidance to data engineers, analysts, and cross-functional team members, fostering adoption of scalable engineering standards and best practices.

  • Prepare andmaintaintechnical documentation, architectural designs, andimplementationroadmaps that support knowledge sharing and long-term sustainability of data platforms.

  • Make notable contributions to shared team goals and independently manage workload effectively, usingappropriate communicationand adherence to deliverable and timeline expectations.

  • Maintaincontinued awareness of industry trends and external context related to the portfolio.

  • Perform other duties as directed.

Whatyou'llexperience working atUL Standards & Engagement:We have pursued our mission of workingfora safer, more secure,and sustainableworldfornearly 130years,embedding conscientious stewardshipintoeverything we do.

  • People:Our people make us special.You'llwork with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network,becauseour approach is collaborative. We collaborateacross disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

  • Interesting work: Every day is different for us here.Weseewhat'son the horizon anduse ourexpertiseto build the foundations of a safer future.You'llhave the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

  • Growandachieve: We learn, work,and grow togetherthroughtargeted development, reward,and recognition programs.

  • Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and fosterpartnershipsthat enable us to pursue abeneficentfuture in which we all can thrive.

  • Total Rewards:All employees at UL Standards & Engagement are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest anadditional4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

Whatmakes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

  • Advanced application of data engineering principles, including data architecture, integration, modeling, governance, and large-scale pipeline development within complex technical environments.

  • Strong technical aptitude in modern cloud-based data platforms, database technologies, distributed processing frameworks, and AI-enabled data infrastructure.

  • Demonstratedexpertisein designing scalable solutions that support advanced analytics, machine learning, large language models, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation applications.

  • Proficiencyin project management with experience developing project timelines, scope, and managing project resources. Ability to apply independent judgement in selecting methods, assessing results, and refining solutions.

  • Strong communicationand engagement skills, withabilityto convey complex information to various stakeholdergroup, including technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Positive and collaborative interpersonal skills, with proven capability in fostering collaboration and partnership across teams to develop solutions with broad impact.

  • Commitment to continuous learning, technical excellence, and the adoption of emerging technologies that strengthen organizational capabilities and business outcomes.

  • Strategic thinker withabilityto innovate and adaptina dynamic industry landscape.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, SoftwareEngineeringor relatedfield. Advanced degree preferred.

  • Minimum5 years of related work experience.

  • Progressively responsible experience designing, developing, and supporting enterprise-scale data platforms, architectures, and pipelines.

  • Experience manipulating large datasets,utilizingdatabases for advanced data management, and integrating third-party data sources.

  • Advancedproficiencyin Python and SQL, with experienceleveragingscripting, automation, and infrastructure configuration tools such as YAML, Bash, or PowerShell.

  • Experience working with relational and non-relational database technologies, including platforms such as SQL Server, Elasticsearch, Neo4j, Azure Cosmos DB, MongoDB, or comparable solutions.

  • Experience designing and implementing AI and RAG data infrastructure, including document processing, embedding generation, vector databases, and retrieval optimization techniques.

  • Working knowledge of structuredstandardscontent formats (e.g., XML, STS/NISO) or legal/regulatory document corpora is preferred.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data,conveneexperts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability,ultimately enhancingsocietal well-being.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

Salary Range:

$89,602.01-$123,202.76

Pay type:

Salary