Senior Staff Database Engineer (Santa Clara)

Company DescriptionIt 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.Job DescriptionPlease Note: This role includes on-call rotation responsibilities.Team:Our SWAT (Software Action Team) ensures the production stability of customer applications and infrastructure services. Our engineers are the last line of defense — production champions who own stability at every service level and act as the ultimate escalation point for internal and external customers.We are looking for a strong database engineer with deep technical expertise, sharp logical reasoning, and the flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. If you are passionate about chasing down complex issues in large-scale distributed systems under real-world load, this role is for you. 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, and Linux performance analysis — both on-prem and on HyperscalerOwn complex incident root cause analysis across multi-tenant PostgreSQL/MariaDB fleets at scale.Develop observability tooling and automation to prevent recurrence of critical issuesInfluence infrastructure decisions that shape our multi-tenant cloud platformMentor and collaborate with engineers across operations, support, and development.QualificationsTo 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.12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience in database engineering in large-scale, enterprise environments — database-focused background required.Deep PostgreSQL expertise including MVCC, transaction management, vacuum mechanics, WAL architecture, advanced query performance tuning, buffer management, and backup/restoreExperience supporting large-scale, multi-tenant SaaS, PaaS, or cloud infrastructure platformsStrong Unix/Linux skills — file system navigation, permissions, process management, performance diagnostics.Deep understanding of RedHat Linux internals with hands-on expertise diagnosing CPU, memory, and I/O issues at the OS levelExperience with public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).Strong problem-solving ability, logical thinking, and a genuine curiosity to understand complex systems end to end.Desired Skills: Experience with ServiceNow platform, scripting, tuning, and troubleshooting is highly preferred.Scripting proficiency: shell, Python, JavaScript, Ansible.Experience with schemas, replication, indexing, and query optimization techniquesFamiliarity with Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelinesWhat sets the right candidate apart:You are not a generalist. You are a database engineer first — someone who has spent years going deep on database internals in production environments at large organizations. You bring strong logical reasoning, adapt quickly to new problems, and are comfortable owning high-pressure incidents end to end.For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $165,500 - $289,600, 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 InformationWork PersonasWe 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 EmployerServiceNow 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.  AccommodationsWe 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 View email address on apply.placed-app.com for assistance. Export Control RegulationsFor 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.SummaryType: Full-timeFunction: Information TechnologyExperience level: Not ApplicableIndustry: Information Technology And Services