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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

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and owning end-to-end data pipelines for real-time and batch analytics. You will work on high-volume, low-latency data use cases, focusing on reliability and scalability. The position offers the chance to influence data engineering practices, collaborate with analytics and product teams, and contribute to a growing, modern data platform.

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom £90,000 – £100,000 pa
Remote Permanent
Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment logo

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and maintaining end-to-end ELT and ETL pipelines within a large-scale AWS environment, building well-structured data models, and improving data quality and governance. You will lead architectural decisions, support transformation projects, and mentor a junior engineer in a digital-focused financial services organization.

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment London, United Kingdom £80,000 – £90,000 pa
Permanent

AWS Data Engineer - Snowflake Cortex

AWS Data Engineer - Snowflake CortexLondon (Hybrid) - £550/day - Outside IR35 | Retail6‑month contract (extendable) working on a cutting‑edge Snowflake Cortex / GenAI data platform for a major retail organisation.What you’ll be doing:Building data pipelines on AWSDeveloping high‑performance Snowflake...

Opus Recruitment Solutions London, United Kingdom
Contract

Senior Data Platform Engineer

We are working with a global healthcare and insurance organisation who are making a real difference to people's lives.We require an experienced Senior Data Platform Engineer to join the AI and Data Platform teams.£100,000 + Bonus + Excellent BenefitsFully remote...

ITSS Recruitment London, United Kingdom £70,000 – £100,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Senior Data Platform Engineer

Your responsibilities:Own and maintain a financial data reporting and visualization platform end-to-endBuild and manage scripts/pipelines to process and visualize dataCollaborate with stakeholders to deliver clear, actionable insightsLearn and take over legacy systems, then modernize them (CI/CD, automation, monitoring)Ensure stability while...

The Recruitment Company Galway, Galway County, Ireland £400 – £450 pd
Just Eat Takeaway.com logo

Principal Engineer, Data Platforms

This role involves defining the long-term technical vision and roadmap for Just Eat Takeaway.com's modern Data Platform, including data warehousing, data lakes, streaming, and governance. You will lead the design and governance of core data infrastructure, act as a hands-on contributor, and mentor senior engineers to raise the technical bar across the organization.

Just Eat Takeaway.com London, United Kingdom £100,000 – £150,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
Experis logo

Senior AWS Data engineer (LDW Data Warehouse Discovery)

Senior AWS Data engineer (LDW Data Warehouse Discovery)Max Supplier Rate: £483Clearance Required: SC ACTIVEDuration: 6 monthsLocation: Telford with 2 days/week in officeIR35 Status: InsideThe role falls within the Data Contract Delivery Area of the clients contract. The group provides a...

Experis Telford, Shropshire, SY2 5TN, United Kingdom £400 – £480 pd

Senior GCP Data Engineer

This role involves leading the design, development, and delivery of cloud-based data platforms within a Data Mesh environment. You will work closely with product managers, architects, and engineers to solve complex technical challenges, build robust ETL/ELT pipelines, and mentor junior colleagues.

VIQU IT Recruitment Manchester, United Kingdom £65,000 – £68,500 pa
Hybrid 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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