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Staff Database Engineer

Santa Clara, California, United States

Actively hiring, first seen by us 2 days ago
Pay
$146,200–255,900/year · BaseAnnual period assumed. Location-specific pay. Plus equity — pay source
Formal experience on a DevOps(Kubernetes and CICD pipeline) or Performance or support team supporting a Web-Based application is desired. For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $146,200 - $255,900, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location. Additional Information
Read the full posting
Work setting
On-site — work setting source
Work setup in the employer’s posting: On-site
From the employer’s posting
Employment
Full-time — employment source
Employment type in the employer’s posting: Full-time
From the employer’s posting

What you’ll work on

Full posting
  • Own complex incident root-cause analysis across multi-tenant PostgreSQL/MariaDB fleets

  • Troubleshoot production database and ServiceNow instance performance issues

  • Develop observability and automation to prevent recurrence of critical issues

  • Influence infrastructure decisions for the multi-tenant cloud platform

  • Mentor and collaborate with engineers across operations, support, and development

From the employer’s posting
Own complex incident RCA across multi-tenant PostgreSQL/MariaDB fleets at scale
Become an SME in production database troubleshooting, ServiceNow instance performance issues and Linux performance analysis on prem and on Hyperscaler
Develop observability and automation to prevent recurrence of critical issues
Influence infrastructure decisions that shape our multi-tenant cloud platform
Mentor and collaborate with engineers across operations, support, and development

What you’ll bring

All qualifications

Core experience

  • Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving.
  • 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work experience.
  • 5+ years of experience supporting or testing large scale web-based distributed applications
  • 5+ years of experience on multiple relational databases (especially on Postgres database)
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience working on a SaaS, PaaS, or Cloud Infrastructure product/solution

Preferred experience

  • Experience with ServiceNow platform, scripting, tuning, and troubleshooting is highly preferred.
  • Good understanding of schemas, table spaces, indexing, and database performance optimization
  • Familiarity or knowledge of CentOS/RedHat operating system
Qualification wording
Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry.
5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work experience.
5+ years of experience supporting or testing large scale web-based distributed applications
5+ years of experience on multiple relational databases (especially on Postgres database)
5+ years of hands-on experience working on a SaaS, PaaS, or Cloud Infrastructure product/solution
Experience with ServiceNow platform, scripting, tuning, and troubleshooting is highly preferred.
Good understanding of schemas, table spaces, indexing, and database performance optimization
Familiarity or knowledge of CentOS/RedHat operating system
Education & alternatives
- Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry. - 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work experience. - 5+ years of experience supporting or testing large scale web-based distributed applications
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Posting record

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Actively hiringFirst seen by us 2 days ago, still listed, and not a repost of an earlier posting.

Status in our records
Live
First seen by us
Nov 2, 20262 days ago
Recorded sightings
4
Last seen by us
Nov 5, 2026

These dates show when we found the posting. Check the employer’s website to confirm it is still accepting applications.

How this job compares

Pay

$127K–$190K is typical

The middle half of what similar US postings state. This one doesn’t list pay.

From 2,133 postings in the last year. Stated ranges, not salaries paid.

Time since we first saw it

Day 2

Early. Similar jobs usually come down between day 6 and day 54.

At ServiceNow, jobs usually come down by about day 13.

From 10,934 similar postings that came down, and 146 of ServiceNow’s. Coming down is not always a hire.

ServiceNow is hiring

36 open jobs

Open jobs by the week we first saw them, last 12 weeks.

  • Data Engineer hiring is picking up
  • Takes jobs down quickly
  • 22% of open jobs were reposted
Hiring record

See how this role fits your experience

Add your resume and we’ll mark which of these tools you already use, and point out anything in the posting that could rule you out.

  • JavaScript
  • Python
  • Kubernetes
  • PostgreSQL
Where the posting names them
- Experience with ServiceNow platform, scripting, tuning, and troubleshooting is highly preferred. - Scripting: basic shell scripting, Python, Javascript, Ansible - Good understanding of schemas, table spaces, indexing, and database performance optimization
- Familiarity or knowledge of CentOS/RedHat operating system - Formal experience on a DevOps(Kubernetes and CICD pipeline) or Performance or support team supporting a Web-Based application is desired. For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $146,200 - $255,900, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.
- Become an SME in production database troubleshooting, ServiceNow instance performance issues and Linux performance analysis on prem and on Hyperscaler - Own complex incident RCA across multi-tenant PostgreSQL/MariaDB fleets at scale - Develop observability and automation to prevent recurrence of critical issues
- 5+ years of experience supporting or testing large scale web-based distributed applications - 5+ years of experience on multiple relational databases (especially on Postgres database) - The database experience should include but not limited to MVCC, transaction management, vacuum mechanics, database and query performance tuning, buffer management, WAL architecture, backup/restore etc.

Your next step

Complete your application on jobs.smartrecruiters.com. The employer’s form will show what is required.

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Already applied? Track this application

Has ServiceNow posted this job before?

Yes. We’ve followed 4 other Staff Database Engineer jobs there since July 2026. 3 came down, usually after about 2 days. One is still up.

  1. TorontoCame down after 1 day, first seen Jul 6
  2. Santa ClaraCame down after 2 days, first seen Jul 6
  3. TorontoCame down after 6 days, first seen Sep 2
  4. TorontoStill up after 26 days, first seen Oct 9
  5. This jobUp 2 days so far, first seen Nov 2

Large employers often post one title for several teams, so these can be separate openings.

About the role

We file this job under Data Engineer, by the work the posting describes.

Data engineers build and run the pipelines that copy data out of apps and outside services into a warehouse or lake, and fix them when a source changes or a load fails.

Expect SQL, Python, a cloud platform, a scheduler such as Airflow, and often tools for large data such as Spark or Kafka.

An analytics engineer works one step later, turning the raw data a data engineer lands into clean tables people can query.

US government figures for database architects

Median yearly pay, May 2025
$139,500
Expected change, 2025 to 2035
9.4% more jobsagainst 3.5% for all jobs

The government has no code for data engineers, so these figures are for the closest group, database architects, which includes data integration and data warehousing specialists.

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) and Employment Projections (2025 to 2035). Occupation code 15-1243.

Job description

View original posting ↗

Job Description

This role includes on-call rotation responsibilities.

Team:

Our SWAT (Software Action Team) ensures the production stability of our customer application(s) and infrastructure services from an operations perspective. Our engineers are responsible for production stability and "champions at all service levels” and act as the last level of support for our customers (internal and external). 
The ideal candidate for this position is a software engineer with a strong background in database technologies, performance analysis, and strong troubleshooting skills. The candidate must have a passion for chasing issues of complex systems running under dynamic, real-world loads. You will work in a fast-paced, innovative environment that allows direct influence on the organization and all our customers. In this role you will support the infrastructure by learning the platform from end to end.

What you get to do in this role:

  • Become an SME in production database troubleshooting, ServiceNow instance performance issues and Linux performance analysis on prem and on Hyperscaler
  • Own complex incident RCA across multi-tenant PostgreSQL/MariaDB fleets at scale
  • Develop observability and automation to prevent recurrence of critical issues
  • Influence infrastructure decisions that shape our multi-tenant cloud platform
  • Mentor and collaborate with engineers across operations, support, and development

Qualifications

To be successful in this role you have:

  • Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry.
  • 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work experience.
  • 5+ years of experience supporting or testing large scale web-based distributed applications
  • 5+ years of experience on multiple relational databases (especially on Postgres database)
  • The database experience should include but not limited to MVCC, transaction management, vacuum mechanics, database and query performance tuning, buffer management, WAL architecture, backup/restore etc.
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience working on a SaaS, PaaS, or Cloud Infrastructure product/solution
  • Unix skills: including development, navigation, file manipulation, permissions, searching/finding files and text contents, and administrative actions
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with an aptitude for learning new technologies
  • And most importantly, eagerness to learn everything about the ServiceNow Platform

Desired Skills:  

  • Experience with ServiceNow platform, scripting, tuning, and troubleshooting is highly preferred.
  • Scripting: basic shell scripting, Python, Javascript, Ansible
  • Good understanding of schemas, table spaces, indexing, and database performance optimization
  • Familiarity or knowledge of CentOS/RedHat operating system
  • Formal experience on a DevOps(Kubernetes and CICD pipeline) or Performance or support team supporting a Web-Based application is desired.

 

 

 

 

 

For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $146,200 - $255,900, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.

Additional Information

Work Personas

We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity,  veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.  

Accommodations

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact globaltalentss@servicenow.com for assistance. 

Export Control Regulations

For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities. 

From Fortune. ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Company Description

It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.

Join us to put AI to work for people.

 

Source details

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Pay
Formal experience on a DevOps(Kubernetes and CICD pipeline) or Performance or support team supporting a Web-Based application is desired. For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $146,200 - $255,900, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location. Additional Information
Location & working pattern

Santa Clara, California, United States

Work Personas We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service. Equal Opportunity Employer
Work authorization

No clear work-authorization passage found. Eligibility is unconfirmed.

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