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Senior Database Engineer Jobs in State College, PA

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Senior Database Engineer information

See State College, PA salary details

$79.2K

$123.5K

$171.2K

How much do senior database engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior database engineer in State College, PA is $123,549.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,700.00 and $140,800.00 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 cities near State College, PA are hiring for Senior Database Engineer jobs?

Cities near State College, PA with the most Senior Database Engineer job openings:

Senior Database Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Database Engineer job openings in State College, PA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,549 per year, or $59.4 per hour.

Senior Database Administrator / DBA SME

State College, PA • On-site

DPG Solutions LLC
See more jobs at DPG Solutions LLCexternal

$220K - $360K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

US Citizenship is required
An active TS/SCI with FS Polygraph is required
DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification is required, such as CompTIA Security+
Senior Database Administrator / DBA SME
DPG is seeking a Senior Database Administrator / DBA SME to support a mission critical customer in a classified environment. This role is best suited for someone who has spent real time supporting operational mission systems, understands the realities of secure infrastructure, and can operate independently as a senior technical resource.
The ideal candidate is not just a database administrator who performs routine maintenance. We are looking for a hands on DBA with strong experience supporting relational database management systems, Linux based environments, database security, automation, troubleshooting, replication, backup and recovery, performance tuning, and operational sustainment. This person will help support, modernize, and improve database services that directly impact mission operations.
Job Description
DPG is hiring a Senior Database Administrator to support mission critical systems in a classified environment. You will work directly with systems engineers, software engineers, security personnel, and mission stakeholders to administer, sustain, troubleshoot, and improve database environments that support operational mission platforms.
This role requires a strong understanding of database administration, backend system integration, Linux command line operations, security compliance, automation, backup and recovery, performance optimization, and database reliability. The selected candidate will support databases that are tightly integrated with applications, infrastructure, storage, networking, and mission services.
What You Will Do
• Administer, sustain, troubleshoot, and improve relational database management systems in a classified mission environment.
• Support database design, configuration, maintenance, performance tuning, patching, backup, recovery, replication, and disaster recovery activities.
• Work with systems engineers, software engineers, DevOps teams, data teams, and security personnel to implement reliable backend database solutions.
• Support database environments that interact with Linux systems, applications, storage, virtualization, network services, and mission platforms.
• Identify and understand customer needs, then translate those needs into secure, reliable, and maintainable database solutions.
• Apply a strong understanding of database principles, theories, and concepts to develop practical design and sustainment solutions.
• Troubleshoot database issues related to performance, availability, replication, disaster recovery, backups, restores, user access, audit logging, and application integration.
• Support database security controls, auditing, compliance requirements, access management, encryption, patching, and system hardening.
• Automate routine database administration tasks where practical to improve consistency, reduce manual effort, and strengthen operational reliability.
• Support integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment activities across production and non production environments.
• Provide operational support for mission platforms, including planned maintenance, incident response, break fix support, and occasional after hours support.
• Document database configurations, procedures, troubleshooting steps, operational processes, and system changes.
• Collaborate with technical teams and mission stakeholders to resolve issues quickly and communicate technical concepts clearly.
Qualifications You Must Have
• 8 or more years of experience in database administration, database engineering, backend data support, or closely related technical work.
• Experience administering relational database management systems in secure, classified, or mission critical environments.
• Experience with relational database management systems such as Oracle, Oracle Exadata, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or similar enterprise database platforms.
• Experience with Oracle Intelligent Advisor is strongly preferred where applicable to the customer environment.
• Experience working with systems engineers and software engineers to implement, modify, troubleshoot, and sustain backend databases.
• Experience using the Linux command line to perform database administration, troubleshooting, scripting, and operational support activities.
• Experience troubleshooting database issues related to disaster recovery, replication, backups, restores, performance, availability, and application connectivity.
• Experience troubleshooting database performance issues, including query performance, indexing, capacity, and resource utilization.
• Experience supporting database security controls, audit requirements, compliance requirements, user access, logging, encryption, and system hardening.
• Experience automating routine database administration tasks using scripting, job scheduling, or automation tools.
• Strong understanding of database principles, relational database design, SQL, indexing, query performance, data integrity, and operational sustainment.
• Strong analytical, research, troubleshooting, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly with engineers, security personnel, leadership, and mission stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize issues, and resolve problems in high visibility environments.
• Ability to support occasional after hours maintenance or operational support when required.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must have an active TS/SCI clearance with FS Polygraph.
• Must have an active DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification, such as CompTIA Security+.
Qualifications We Prefer
• Experience virtualizing or containerizing databases.
• Existing Security+ certification.
• Experience with AWS.
• Experience with NoSQL database products such as MongoDB and DynamoDB.
• Experience with spatial databases.
• Coding experience with SQL, Python, or Java is helpful.
Desired Skills
• Experience supporting Oracle Exadata in classified or enterprise environments.
• Experience with Oracle Intelligent Advisor.
• Experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL, MongoDB, DynamoDB, or other database technologies.
• Experience with database backup and recovery tools, replication technologies, clustering, high availability, and disaster recovery planning.
• Experience with database monitoring, performance tuning, query optimization, indexing strategies, and capacity planning.
• Experience supporting databases that are tightly coupled to mission applications, DevSecOps pipelines, or operational platforms.
• Experience with scripting or programming languages such as SQL, Python, Java, Bash, Perl, PowerShell, or PL/SQL.
• Experience with automation and configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Chef, or similar frameworks.
• Experience with AWS, cloud adjacent, or hybrid infrastructure environments.
• Experience with VMware environments, including ESXi and vCenter.
• Experience with Git, Artifactory, Bitbucket, CI/CD tools, Jira, or similar developer and DevOps tools.
• Experience with Kubernetes, Rancher, containerized applications, or modern platform technologies.
• Experience working within Agile or Scrum based delivery environments.
• Experience supporting systems where uptime, security, auditability, and operational reliability are critical.
• Ability to coordinate technical issues across internal teams, external organizations, vendors, and customer stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and troubleshoot problems efficiently.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly and professionally.
Overview of Benefits
• Company funded 401k Profit Sharing Plan with 25% of base pay deposited every pay period and vested day one of employment.
• All health care benefits and premiums paid by the company, with company HSA contribution.
• Annual Performance bonus.
• 250 hours of PTO with up to 40 hours available to be carried over.
• Biannual company sponsored events for employees and their families.
• Education benefits, including certification reimbursement and tuition reimbursement.

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