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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
220
Salary range
£30k – £150k
Hiring companies
114
View 220 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

£30k – £150k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 152 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

By seniority
£k base
Entry
30
38
1 job
Junior
35
45
4 jobs
Mid
35
113
57 jobs
Senior
40
100
42 jobs
Lead
40
150
22 jobs
Director
130
130
1 job
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 1 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

SQL
100%
AWS
100%
ETL/ELT
100%
Data Warehousing
100%
Orchestration
100%
Python
100%
Docker
100%
S3
100%
GraphQL
100%
REST
100%
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

220 live roles

See all 220 roles →
Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment logo

Lead Data Engineer (Azure & Databricks)

This role involves leading the design, build, and optimization of a modern Azure Databricks Lakehouse platform. You will provide technical leadership, collaborate with engineers and stakeholders, and ensure the platform is scalable, secure, and reliable. Key responsibilities include developing and deploying the Lakehouse, managing Databricks administration, and implementing CI/CD pipelines and monitoring systems.

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment Manchester, United Kingdom £80,000 – £85,000 pa
Remote Permanent
Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment logo

Senior Data Engineer

As a Senior Data Engineer, you will work within a high-calibre team to build and evolve core ETL pipelines, focusing on reliable and scalable data assets. You will use AWS, Snowflake, Python, and SQL to create data ingestion and modelling processes, and orchestrate data workflows with tools like Airflow or Dagster.

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment Birmingham, United Kingdom £80,000 – £100,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Fabric Data Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and maintaining scalable data pipelines within Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse environments. You will develop and optimize data ingestion and transformation workflows, create Python and PySpark processes, and support Power BI reporting and semantic models. As a senior member of the BI and data team, you will guide development standards, mentor developers, and ensure data solutions are scalable and aligned with enterprise data governance practices.

Tenth Revolution Group Reading, United Kingdom £60,000 – £70,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Lead Data Engineer

The Data Platform That Decides EverythingSome companies say they’re “data-driven.”This one actually is.Every pricing decision. Every risk calculation. Every customer insight. Every machine learning model — all powered by a data platform that sits right at the heart of the...

Edison Hill Search Lime Street, City And County Of the City Of London, United Kingdom £90,000 – £100,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

GenAI Data Engineer

This role involves designing and implementing large-scale data pipelines using PySpark, SQL, and Python, with a focus on integrating GenAI and LLM models. You will work with distributed systems, optimize data warehousing, and handle both structured and unstructured data, contributing to a team that values advanced data engineering and machine learning capabilities.

Vallum Associates London, United Kingdom £500 – £525 pd
Hybrid Contract

Contract Snowflake Data Engineer

Snowflake Data Engineer - 6 Months - Outside IR35A leading tech company requires a data engineer for an initial 6-month contract. The position is hybrid, outside IR35, and will likely extend long-term due to the amount of work they have...

Cathcart Technology Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom £500 – £550 pd

Lead Data Engineer

The Lead Data Engineer will provide technical leadership in Azure cloud and Databricks, overseeing the design and implementation of scalable data solutions. Key responsibilities include interpreting user stories, leading data modelling, and ensuring data quality and performance. The role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams and a focus on DevOps practices and security.

Canada Life London, United Kingdom £70,000 – £110,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves managing and monitoring the ETL pipeline for financial reporting, driving the migration to a cloud-native data platform, and collaborating with IT and business stakeholders to fix data issues and gather requirements. The position offers the opportunity to shape the cloud architecture and improve the efficiency of the finance function.

Eden James Consulting Ltd London, United Kingdom £50,000 – £70,000 pa
On-site Permanent
See all 220 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
64 open

Manchester

Location
20 open

Birmingham

Location
13 open

Leeds

Location
9 open

Bristol

Location
5 open

Cardiff

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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