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Data Engineer Jobs

The backbone of modern data infrastructure. Building, maintaining, and optimising the pipelines that power data-driven decisions.

Open roles
186
Salary range
£40k – £100k
Hiring companies
106
View 186 live roles → Get an alert

Data Engineers are the architects and builders of the data infrastructure that underpins modern businesses. They design, build, and maintain the data pipelines, warehouses, and lakes that enable organisations to store, process, and analyse vast amounts of data. Whether working in scaleups, research-heavy startups, or the larger consultancies, Data Engineers play a crucial role in ensuring that data is accessible, reliable, and secure.

What the role does

Inside the role of a Data Engineer

A typical week for a Data Engineer is a mix of coding, testing, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

  1. 01
    Design and implement data pipelines using tools like Apache Kafka and Apache Spark.
  2. 02
    Optimise data storage and retrieval processes for efficiency and scalability.
  3. 03
    Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to understand their data needs.
  4. 04
    Monitor and maintain data infrastructure to ensure high availability and performance.
  5. 05
    Document and communicate data architecture and processes to stakeholders.
  6. 06
    Troubleshoot and resolve data-related issues as they arise.
Salary on the board

£40k – £100k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 438 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
12% of listings advertise a salary — up from 0% the year before.
By seniority
£k base
Entry
27
36
5 jobs
Junior
30
45
11 jobs
Mid
40
85
172 jobs
Senior
50
100
139 jobs
Lead
40
110
51 jobs
Director
95
126
5 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 400 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
69%
SQL
68%
Data Modelling
37%
Data Pipelines
33%
AWS
32%
Azure
31%
ETL
30%
Data Governance
28%
CI/CD
26%
Databricks
22%
Data Warehousing
20%
Power BI
20%
Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for data engineers. Years are guidance — strong people move faster, and many senior folks sidestep into research, product or management.

  1. Level 1

    Junior Data Engineer

    0–2 yrs

    Assists in building and maintaining data pipelines, with a focus on learning and supporting more senior team members.

  2. Level 2

    Data Engineer

    2–5 yrs

    Takes ownership of specific data pipelines and projects, ensuring they meet performance and reliability standards.

  3. Level 3

    Senior Data Engineer

    5–8 yrs

    Leads the design and implementation of complex data infrastructure, mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

  4. Level 4

    Principal Data Engineer

    8+ yrs

    Strategises and oversees the entire data infrastructure, driving innovation and best practices across the organisation.

Pathway

How to become a Data Engineer

There's no single route, but most people follow some version of these steps.

  1. 1

    Learn the Basics

    Start with foundational skills in SQL, Python, and data storage systems. Gain experience with ETL processes and data warehousing.

  2. 2

    Build Pipelines

    Work on building and maintaining data pipelines using tools like Apache Kafka and Apache Spark. Focus on efficiency and scalability.

  3. 3

    Optimise Infrastructure

    Optimise data storage and retrieval processes to ensure high performance and reliability. Collaborate with data scientists and analysts.

  4. 4

    Lead Projects

    Take ownership of complex data infrastructure projects. Mentor junior engineers and ensure best practices are followed.

  5. 5

    Strategise and Innovate

    Strategise the overall data infrastructure, driving innovation and best practices. Oversee the implementation of new technologies and methodologies.

Live jobs

186 live roles

See all 186 roles →
Spotlight
Lab 1 logo

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and operating scalable batch and streaming data pipelines that transform vast, unstructured exposed data into reliable, queryable intelligence. The Senior Data Engineer will own end-to-end data workflows, ensure data quality and model readiness, and collaborate closely with ML teams on feature engineering. The position is central to enabling analytics and AI capabilities on a platform that detects corporate data exposure across supply chains.

Lab 1 London, Greater London, United Kingdom £85,000 – £125,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
Spotlight
Corndel logo

Coach - Data Engineer Level 5 - Fully Remote

This role involves coaching and mentoring working professionals through a Data Engineering Level 5 programme, helping them develop practical, real-world data engineering skills. The coach supports learners in building robust, secure, and scalable data solutions while connecting technical concepts to workplace application. It combines technical depth with teaching, mentoring, and assessment guidance in a remote-first, people-centred environment.

Corndel London, United Kingdom
Remote Permanent
Experis logo

Data Engineer

Data Engineer (SC Clearance)Location: Telford (2 days/week in the office)Clearance: Active SC ClearanceInside IR35: Umbrella rate £450.00 - £500.00We are working with a client who is hiring a Data Engineer for a contract opportunity starting soon. If you already hold...

Experis United Kingdom £450 – £500 pd

Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building scalable ETL/ELT pipelines in Microsoft Fabric, developing data models, and delivering Power BI reports to support decision-making across various business functions. The Data Engineer will work hands-on to integrate data from multiple sources, ensure data quality, and support analytics use cases like attribution modeling and customer segmentation.

Gleeson Recruitment Group Birmingham, United Kingdom £65,000 – £75,000 pa
On-site Permanent

Data Engineer

Design and build scalable batch and real-time data pipelines within a cloud-native environment, supporting analytics, machine learning, and AI initiatives. Focus on data quality, governance, and secure, compliant infrastructure. Collaborate with architects and data scientists to enhance platform reliability and enable self-service access to trusted data.

Damia Group Gunnersbury, London, W4 4AN, United Kingdom £400 – £500 pd
Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

Data Engineer

Design and build scalable data platforms and pipelines within a secure environment, contributing to strategic data decisions on a high-impact MoD programme. Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to implement robust data engineering standards and integrate modern tools into the data ecosystem. Focus on security, compliance, and performance in a hybrid working setup.

Copello Westbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom £50,000 – £65,000 pa

Data Engineer

As a Data Engineer, you will build and optimize Azure data pipelines, support migrations to Azure Data Lake, and ensure data quality and governance. You will work in an agile environment, collaborating with global teams to drive innovation and technology advancements.

TRIA London, United Kingdom £40,000 – £45,000 pa
Permanent

Data Engineer

The Data Engineer role involves designing, building, and supporting robust data integration and ETL solutions using Talend and Unix. Key responsibilities include creating scalable data pipelines, ensuring high service reliability, collaborating with stakeholders, and mentoring team members in a secure government environment.

CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler Telford, Shropshire, SY2 5TN, United Kingdom £400 – £450 pd
Hybrid Contract Flexible Clearance Required
See all 186 roles →
Top hirers

Companies hiring data engineers

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Hiring locations

Where this role is hiring

The locations with the most live listings for this role today.

London

Location
58 open

Manchester

Location
11 open

Birmingham

Location
5 open

Leeds

Location
4 open

Southampton

Location
3 open

Milton Keynes

Location
3 open
FAQs

Common questions

  • Data Engineers commonly use tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, SQL, Python, and data warehousing solutions such as Amazon Redshift or Google BigQuery.

  • Collaboration with data scientists is crucial. Data Engineers need to understand the data needs of data scientists to build effective data pipelines and infrastructure.

  • Key skills include proficiency in SQL, Python, and data storage systems, as well as a strong understanding of ETL processes, data warehousing, and big data technologies.

  • The typical career progression is from Junior Data Engineer to Data Engineer, then Senior Data Engineer, and finally Principal Data Engineer, with increasing levels of responsibility and leadership.

  • For specific salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page, which is updated with the latest data from live job listings.

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