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

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

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 manage data orchestration with tools like Terraform and Airflow.

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

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and optimizing cloud-based data pipelines and warehouses for a fast-growing financial services company. You will shape data architecture, improve processes, and mentor a junior engineer while working in a collaborative, agile environment with a focus on innovation and governance.

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment Leeds, United Kingdom £75,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer+8 months+Hybrid in Reading+Inside IR35+£80 - £85 ph+SC cleared roleSkills:+MOD+Data Engineer+PythonWe're seeking an adaptable, proactive Senior Data Engineer to build and scale data capabilities within a greenfield environment across critical Defence and Aerospace programmes.⚠️ Essential Requirement: You must...

CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom £85 – £90 ph

Data Analyst / Data Engineer

Location: Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia (Relocation support considered)About the RoleWe are seeking a Data Analyst or Data Engineer to support data-driven decision making across multiple business functions and industries in Australia.You will work with modern analytics tools and contribute...

The Digital Bench Ltd Australia £65,000 – £90,000 pa

Azure Data Engineer - Contracvt - UK

This role involves designing and maintaining scalable data pipelines, developing ETL processes, and working with Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake, and Azure SQL. You will collaborate with stakeholders to integrate data from multiple sources and support data warehouse development, while contributing to CI/CD pipelines and deployment processes.

Infused Solutions United Kingdom
Remote Contract

Azure Data Engineer

Azure Data Engineer | £350- £450 | Outside IR35 | Bristol | Hybrid - 3 days | 6‑Month Initial Term |We’re looking for a hands-on Azure Data Engineer to support a major data platform modernisation programme. You’ll help migrate legacy...

Opus Recruitment Solutions Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom £350 – £450 pd

Senior Data Engineer

Senior Data Engineer – (Tick data, Time-Series; kdb+ / Q )3-6 months initially.London 3 days onsiteAre you a Data Engineer with a background in systematic trading who has worked with granular tick market data? Have you built pipelines to allow...

Tatton Recruitment South Bank, London, SE1 9PZ, United Kingdom

AWS Data Engineer - Telecom

Domain : Telecom Domain experience - MUST HAVERole OverviewWe are seeking an experienced AWS Data Engineer with strong expertise in ETL pipelines, Redshift, Iceberg, Athena, and S3 to support large-scale data processing and analytics initiatives in the telecom domain. The...

Beat My Salary London, United Kingdom
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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