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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
167
Salary range
£40k – £100k
Hiring companies
105
View 167 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 443 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 397 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

167 live roles

See all 167 roles →

Junior Data Engineer

This role involves developing and maintaining software applications, processing live sports data, and supporting cloud infrastructure in production environments. You'll work with modern tech stacks including Python, Go, TypeScript, AWS, and SQL, contributing to both operational tasks and long-term projects within a live sports technology setting. The position offers hands-on experience in a hybrid work environment with a focus on technical growth.

Rise Technical Recruitment London, United Kingdom £35,000 – £50,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building scalable ETL/ELT pipelines using Snowflake and AWS, with a focus on streaming data ingestion, automation, and data governance. The engineer will work closely with business stakeholders to translate technical solutions into real-world impact, while mentoring junior team members and driving cloud transformation initiatives.

Ikhoi Recruitment Ec2M1Jj, EC2M 1JJ, United Kingdom £80,000 – £94,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Lead Data Engineer (Kafka/Kinesis)

Lead the design and implementation of a greenfield data platform for an AI-driven property management product, with full technical ownership of data architecture, real-time and batch pipelines, and integration with AI/ML systems. Work closely with engineering and product teams to build scalable data infrastructure using Kafka or Kinesis and modern data stack technologies.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment London, United Kingdom £90,000 – £100,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

AWS Data Engineer

This role involves designing and implementing data solutions on AWS, with a focus on services like S3, Glue, Lambda, and Redshift. The engineer will work with data pipelines, serverless workflows using Step Functions, and cloud infrastructure as code via CloudFormation. Strong scripting and automation skills in Python and shell are required alongside hands-on experience in AWS data services.

Third Nexus Group Limited Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom £350 – £375 pd
Hybrid Contract

Azure Data Engineer

Design and maintain scalable cloud-based data platforms using Azure technologies, building data pipelines and optimising data warehouses to support analytics and reporting. Collaborate with data science, development, and business teams to ensure data is secure, reliable, and accessible. Focus on automation, data acquisition, and performance improvements within a hybrid working model.

Ashdown Group London, United Kingdom £70,000 – £80,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building a modern, scalable data platform on Azure from the ground up, establishing data engineering best practices, and creating secure, governed solutions. The engineer will develop ETL/ELT pipelines using Databricks and Spark, optimise Power BI semantic models, and support analytics and future AI initiatives. It's a high-impact position with full technical ownership in a collaborative engineering environment.

Yolk Recruitment Cardiff, Cymru / Wales, CF10 2AF, United Kingdom £47,675 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

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

Azure Data Engineer

Design and build scalable, secure data platforms on Azure for enterprise clients in a customer-facing role. Develop data pipelines using Azure Data Factory and Databricks, implement data models with Synapse Analytics and Data Lake Storage, and collaborate with engineering teams. Opportunity to mentor junior engineers and grow into technical architecture or leadership roles.

Lynx Recruitment Sw1E5Lb, SW1E 5LB, United Kingdom £60,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
See all 167 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
4 open

Leeds

Location
4 open

Milton Keynes

Location
3 open

Southampton

Location
2 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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