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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
153
Salary range
£40k – £100k
Hiring companies
81
View 153 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 584 UK listings priced in pounds in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
16% of listings advertise a salary — up from 0% the year before.
By seniority
£k base
Entry
28
41
6 jobs
Junior
30
56
19 jobs
Mid
40
85
177 jobs
Senior
50
100
183 jobs
Lead
54
118
65 jobs
Director
95
126
5 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 389 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
68%
SQL
67%
Data Modelling
37%
AWS
32%
Data Pipelines
32%
Azure
31%
ETL
30%
Data Governance
29%
CI/CD
27%
Databricks
21%
Data Warehousing
20%
Power BI
19%
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

153 live roles

See all 153 roles →

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves leading and mentoring a team of Data Engineers while developing and enhancing Azure-based data pipelines, data warehouse solutions, and reporting environments. You will work closely with stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and best practices in a modern data platform.

Tenth Revolution Group Southampton, United Kingdom £75,000 – £90,000 pa

Junior Data Engineer

This role involves building and optimizing data pipelines within a modern AWS-based data platform, working closely with experienced professionals. You will design data ingestion pipelines, maintain data models using dbt, and support the development of AI-driven data products.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment Birmingham, United Kingdom £35,000 – £45,000 pa

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves leading the design and delivery of greenfield data engineering projects, building and maintaining robust data pipelines, and deploying cloud-based data solutions. You will work independently, take ownership of projects, and communicate directly with stakeholders and clients, contributing to the continuous improvement of the data platform.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment London, United Kingdom £60,000 – £75,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves architecting and evolving scalable data infrastructure to support decision-making in a fast-paced, analytics-focused environment at the intersection of sport and technology. You will lead technical design, mentor engineers, and work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver advanced data solutions and maintain data quality and security.

Tenth Revolution Group London, United Kingdom £65,000 – £75,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Quantexa Data Engineer - Manchester

Design and implement data pipelines using Quantexa, Spark, and Databricks, with responsibility for configuring Quantexa components and supporting client projects. Work within a hybrid environment, contributing to technical leadership and client solution delivery using modern data engineering practices and cloud-based technologies.

Noir Manchester, United Kingdom £60,000 – £75,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Quantexa Data Engineer - London

Design and implement data pipelines within Quantexa platforms, configuring core components and supporting client engagements. Lead technical development of data integration projects using Spark, Scala, and Python on Databricks, with responsibilities spanning pipeline robustness and system configuration. Work in a hybrid setup with exposure to DevOps practices, containerisation, and cloud-based data solutions.

Noir London, United Kingdom £60,000 – £80,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior/Lead Data Engineer | London | |

Design and optimize large-scale data pipelines using PySpark and Python in a complex enterprise environment. Focus on modernizing data workloads and integrating AI-assisted development with strong engineering rigor. Work hands-on in a hybrid setup with significant technical ownership.

WeDoTech Bunhill, London, United Kingdom £600 – £900 pd
Contract

Azure Databricks Data Engineer

This role involves designing, developing, and optimizing Azure Databricks solutions using PySpark, Python, and SQL. You will build and maintain enterprise-grade ETL/ELT pipelines, support Lakeflow and Delta Lake implementations, and drive best practices in performance, security, and governance.

Marks Sattin London, United Kingdom £450 – £550
See all 153 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
43 open

Manchester

Location
14 open

Leeds

Location
8 open

Oxford

Location
8 open

Birmingham

Location
7 open

Bristol

Location
5 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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