Database Engineer Jobs in California
Database Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, financial services, healthcare, and entertainment across a range of experience levels from entry-level associate to principal engineer. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Oracle, Salesforce, and Kaiser Permanente maintain significant engineering footprints. The most in-demand specializations right now are cloud-native database architecture, data warehousing, and distributed systems engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
At Databricks, we are passionate about enabling data teams to solve the world's toughest problems, from making the next mode of transportation a reality to accelerating the development of medical breakthroughs. We do this by building and running the world's best Data Intelligence Platform so our customers can use deep data insights to improve their business. Founded by engineers and customer-obsessed, we leap at every opportunity to tackle technical challenges, from designing next-gen UI/UX for interfacing with data to scaling our services and infrastructure across millions of virtual machines. And we're only getting started. Lakebase enables teams to deliver applications faster with an optimized database developer experience, integration with the lakehouse, and simplified operations. Lakebase provides a managed Postgres transactional layer for application state and workloads that combine operational data, analytics, and AI. We are looking for a Staff Database Engineer to help build the Lakebase product, advising software engineering teams on functional and non-functional feature designs and working with product teams to validate that designs satisfy customer requirements. You will design operational tools to simplify troubleshooting and enterprise extensions for Lakebase to meet customer security and observability requirements. You will assist field engineers with complex and demanding POC’s and advise customers and field engineers on best practices for application and database design to maximize performance.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What We Look For
- A passion for database systems and application performance tuning
- Experience building and operating high-volume OLTP systems including root cause analysis for incidents
- Experience building tools to automate database management, monitoring, and operations
- Experience with query tuning in Postgres (schema design, indexes, hints, vacuum, etc)
- Motivated by delivering customer value and impact
- 5+ years of experience working with Postgres and other database systems
PAY RANGE TRANSPARENCY
Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.
Local Pay Range: $192,000—$260,000 USD
ABOUT DATABRICKS
Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to unify and democratize data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
BENEFITS
At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.
COMPLIANCE
If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.
See All 70 Database Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Database Engineer JobsDatabase Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Database Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Databricks4

- Roblox3

- Anthropic2

- Artech2

- Discord2

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software37
- Consulting & Professional Services5
- Healthcare & Medical Services5
- Electronics & Hardware4
- Science & Research4
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in database engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in SQL and at least one major database platform such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MySQL
- Experience designing and optimizing relational and non-relational database schemas at scale
- Hands-on knowledge of cloud database services on AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Azure
- Familiarity with ETL pipelines, data modeling, and performance tuning methodologies
- Professional certification such as Oracle Database Administrator or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
Database Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a database engineer in California?
California does not require a state-issued license to work as a database engineer, so the path runs through education and credentials. Most California employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related discipline. Earning a widely recognized certification such as Oracle Database Administrator, AWS Certified Database Specialty, or Microsoft's Azure Database Administrator credential strengthens your candidacy considerably with the large technology and healthcare employers that dominate California hiring.
How much do database engineers make in California?
Database engineers in California earn a median of about $113,060 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,410 for the lowest 10% to over $178,310 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire database engineers in California?
Employers hiring database engineers in California right now include Databricks, Roblox, and Anthropic, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of enterprise technology headquarters, major health systems, and financial services firms means consistent demand well beyond a handful of well-known names.
Which California cities have the most database engineer jobs?
San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and San Mateo account for the most database engineer openings in California. The Bay Area's concentration of technology headquarters and cloud infrastructure companies drives the largest share of listings, while Los Angeles generates strong demand through media, entertainment, and fintech employers, and San Diego's growing biotech and defense sectors anchor hiring in the south.
Are there remote database engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 24% of database engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves cloud consoles, query tools, and code repositories rather than physical hardware. Schema design, performance tuning, and data pipeline development are the functions most commonly offered on a fully remote basis.
How can I get hired as a database engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior database administrator or data analyst role, which major California employers use as a pipeline into engineering positions. Large health systems such as Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, along with Bay Area technology companies, regularly bring on associate-level candidates through new-graduate programs. Building a portfolio of schema designs, migration scripts, or query optimization examples on GitHub, and earning an entry-level cloud certification, gives California hiring managers a concrete way to evaluate candidates who lack commercial experience.
Where can I find and apply to database engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to database engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find a role that fits and apply directly.
See All 70 Database Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Database Engineer Jobs