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Startup Data Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SupportFinity™

Data Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$120 - $170/hr

As a fast-growing startup, we are seeking a skilled Data Engineer to help develop data-driven solutions that have real-world impact. We are looking for a Data Engineer with hands-on experience in ...

Brevian.ai

Data Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Job title Data Engineer Position overview We are looking for an experienced Data Engineer to join ... You get to experience the 0-1 of building a startup, working with talented engineers from ...

Sigma Computing

Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

Data Engineer, Data Platform About the Role We are building out our Data Platform team at Sigma ... Startup experience Qualifications We Want (also, skills you'll learn!) * A drive to continuously ...

TabaPay

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$130K/yr

If you are a data engineer who builds durable data systems with long-term scalability in mind, we ... startup. * BS or advanced degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, or a ...

New

Plug

Sr. Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $148K/yr

Job Title: Sr. Data Engineer Team: Engineering Location: Onsite - Sawtelle (Between Santa Monica ... Head of Engineering About Plug Plug is an automotive fintech startup building the marketplace for ...

Menlo Ventures

Data Engineer I

Laguna Beach, CA · On-site

$85 - $115/hr

YOUR MISSION We are looking for a Data Engineer I who is an exceptional early‑career engineer ... Willing to embrace the pace, ambiguity and challenges of a startup environment PREFERRED ...

New

Plugmotors

Sr. Data Engineer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$180 - $210/hr

Job Title: Sr. Data Engineer Team: Engineering Location: Onsite-Santa Monica, CA Employment Type ... Head of Engineering About Plug Plug is an automotive fintech startup building the marketplace for ...

Plug Technologies Inc

Sr. Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180 - $210/hr

Job Title: Sr. Data Engineer Team: Engineering Location: Onsite-Santa Monica, CA Employment Type ... Head of Engineering About Plug Plug is an automotive fintech startup building the marketplace for ...

Waystation AI

Data Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Data Engineer The owner of the data layer the entire product is built on -- from raw supplier email ... You've done real work at an early‑stage startup (seed or Series A), where there was no playbook ...

Swish Analytics

Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$145K/yr

Company Overview Swish Analytics is a sports analytics, betting and fantasy startup building the ... The Swish Analytics team is seeking Data Engineers based in Europe to have a direct impact on the ...

Swish Analytics

Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$160K/yr

Company Overview Swish Analytics is a sports analytics, betting and fantasy startup building the ... The Swish Analytics team is seeking Data Engineers to have a direct impact on the infrastructure ...

Samara Living Inc.

Data Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$120 - $140/hr

We are growing quickly and are looking to hire a Data Engineer to help scale our data and analytics ... Gain equity ownership in a Series B startup positioned for rapid growth. What We Offer * Salary ...

Rad AI

Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$145K - $200K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Data Engineer to join our engineering team. With our rapid client growth ... Experience working at an early stage startup. * Experience in a HIPAA compliant environment.

Sigma Computing

Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

Data Engineer, Data Platform About the Role We are building out our Data Platform team at Sigma ... Startup experience Qualifications We Want (also, skills you'll learn!) * A drive to continuously ...

Elve Inc

Data Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

$85K - $150K/yr

Who is Elve? Elve, Inc is a deep-tech startup in Davis, CA, specializing in the design and ... The Data Engineer will design and deploy data pipelines and databases, statistical analysis tools ...

Elve Speed Inc.

Data Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

$85 - $115/hr

Who is Elve? Elve, Inc is a deep-tech startup in Davis, CA, specializing in the design and ... The Data Engineer will design and deploy data pipelines and databases, statistical analysis tools ...

Elve Inc

Data Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

$85K - $150K/yr

Who is Elve? Elve, Inc is a deep-tech startup in Davis, CA, specializing in the design and ... The Data Engineer will design and deploy data pipelines and databases, statistical analysis tools ...

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All JobsStartup Data Engineer JobsStartup Data Engineer Jobs in California

Startup Data Engineer information

What is a startup data engineer?

A Startup Data Engineer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining data infrastructure in an early-stage company. They work on developing ETL pipelines, managing databases, and ensuring data is accessible and reliable for analytics and machine learning. Unlike in larger companies, they often operate with limited resources, requiring them to balance scalability, cost-efficiency, and speed. They may also take on DevOps and software engineering tasks to support the startup’s evolving data needs. Adaptability and problem-solving skills are crucial in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a startup data engineer?

To thrive as a Startup Data Engineer, you need strong programming skills (especially in Python or Scala), experience with data modeling, ETL pipelines, and a solid understanding of database management. Proficiency with tools like SQL, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure), and frameworks such as Apache Spark or Airflow is typically expected, while data engineering certifications are a plus. Adaptability, problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical team members are crucial soft skills in this environment. These attributes are essential for efficiently building data infrastructure and collaborating with fast-moving startup teams to enable data-driven decision-making.

What are the typical challenges faced by a startup data engineer, and how is the work environment different from larger companies?

As a Startup Data Engineer, you may encounter unique challenges such as building data systems from scratch, managing ambiguous requirements, and wearing multiple hats due to smaller team sizes. The work environment is often fast-paced and dynamic, with frequent changes in project priorities and high expectations for proactive problem-solving. You’ll likely collaborate closely with engineers, analysts, and founders, gaining hands-on experience with the entire data pipeline and direct influence on core business decisions. This setting offers excellent opportunities for rapid skill growth, creativity, and career advancement, but requires comfort with ambiguity and a strong sense of ownership.

What are the most commonly searched types of Startup Data Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Startup Data Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Startup Data Engineer jobs in California?

For Startup Data Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Startup Data Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Startup Data Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Startup Data Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Startup Data Engineer job openings:

Startup Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Startup Data Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Data Engineer

SupportFinity™

Redwood City, CA • On-site

$120 - $170/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 4 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design and implement data ingestion pipelines into cloud environments.

  • Identify, find, and integrate new datasets from various sources.

  • Analyze time-series and non-relational data to extract insights.

Job description

About Us

GridCARE solves data center developers' most urgent bottleneck - immediate access to power - through a pioneering physics-based generative AI platform that unlocks gigawatts of near-term capacity from today's grid. Partnering with utilities, GridCARE applies a proprietary playbook to create additional network capacity on existing transmission infrastructure without costly upgrades or multi-year delays. Founded at Stanford's Doerr School and backed by leading investors in Energy and AI, GridCARE is working with major technology and data center companies to accelerate interconnection requests for large-load and data center projects.

As a fast-growing startup, we are seeking a skilled Data Engineer to help develop data-driven solutions that have real-world impact.

Job Description

We are looking for a Data Engineer with hands-on experience in data ingestion into cloud environments, finding and retrieving new datasets, and performing analysis on various data types, including time-series and non-relational data. In this role, you'll streamline data processes, ensure data quality and accessibility, and collaborate with UI/UX and AI leads to leverage data for innovative solutions.

This is a unique opportunity to combine deep data engineering and scientific expertise with cutting-edge AI solutions applied to solve the most impactful speed-to-power in the energy industry.

Responsibilities
  • Design and implement data ingestion pipelines into cloud environments, ensuring efficient and scalable data pipelines.
  • Identify, find, and integrate new datasets from various sources, both internal and external.
  • Analyze time-series and non-relational data, extracting valuable insights.
  • Build robust, reusable code to automate data workflows, ensuring reproducibility and scalability.
  • Collaborate with software engineers and domain experts to streamline data processes and improve accuracy.
  • Evaluate data storage and processing resources, including cloud-native solutions.
  • Stay engaged with the latest data engineering and science news, standards, and emerging AI-driven solutions in data management.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
  • Proficiency with cloud data platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) and data warehousing solutions.
  • Strong coding skills in Python, SQL, including experience with data manipulation libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy) and database interaction and version control (git).
  • Ability to write well-documented, tested, and maintainable code.
  • Conduct code reviews and contribute to continuous integration and deployment workflows.
  • Strong understanding of data modeling, ETL processes, and data governance.
  • Knowledge of time-series analysis techniques and non-relational database concepts.
  • Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills in a fast-paced startup environment.
Preferred
  • 2+ years of experience in data engineering, data science, or related areas.
  • Experience integrating and tuning 3rd party AI agents.
  • Able to leverage AI code development tools such as Cursor, Copilot, and Claude Code to accelerate development.
  • Experience working with energy data, including Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), batteries, and control systems.
  • Experience with Kubernetes, Terraform, Helm charts and deploying data applications in the cloud.
  • Familiar with DevOps pipelines, tools, and requirements.
What we offer
  • Competitive salary and equity.
  • Comprehensive benefits package: 401k, healthcare, dental, vision, etc.
  • Hybrid work environment with catered lunches and snacks.
  • The chance to work at the intersection of AI, automation, and data systems alongside experienced engineers and leading researchers.
  • A mission-driven team focused on shaping the future of the energy transition.

Join us in tackling one of the most important infrastructure challenges of our time — enabling the energy foundation for the age of AI.

About the company

GridCARE

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