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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
187
Salary range
£40k – £100k
Hiring companies
106
View 187 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 438 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 400 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

187 live roles

See all 187 roles →

Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building scalable data pipelines, developing AI and ML solutions, and integrating data from multiple sources. You'll work on large-scale transformation projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure data quality and governance.

Tenth Revolution Group Manchester, United Kingdom £40,000 – £55,000 pa

Data Engineer - - 3+ months - SC Clearance

The role involves assessing and migrating metadata into a modern data catalogue platform as part of a large-scale data transformation. The engineer will design ETL/ELT processes, define transformation rules, and work with architects and stakeholders to ensure high data quality and governance. Focus is on enterprise metadata migration, data integration, and technical documentation within a hybrid working model.

CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 0HB, United Kingdom £400 – £525 pd
Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

Data Engineer (Fabric/Python)

This role involves designing and maintaining a scalable enterprise data platform on Microsoft Fabric, with a focus on building robust data pipelines using Python and Spark. The engineer will lead technical initiatives, set engineering standards, and mentor BI developers to enhance the organisation's data capabilities. It is a platform-focused position emphasizing technical leadership and capability uplift within a 12-month contract.

TXP Croydon, London, United Kingdom £480 – £520 pd
On-site Contract

Data Engineer / Data Architect

Design and optimise database solutions by migrating data from legacy systems, creating conceptual and logical data models, and improving system performance through testing and integration. Collaborate with business teams to define data strategies, security procedures, and future requirements within a long-standing data architecture. Support management information systems and contribute to the evolution of enterprise-wide data frameworks.

Tatton Recruitment Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom £70 ph
Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

Data Engineer & Senior Data Engineer

Design and build modern data pipelines and platforms using PySpark, Python, and SQL within a collaborative data and AI team. Work across batch and real-time integrations, support ML and GenAI workflows, and contribute to cloud-based data solutions on AWS. Operate in agile squads with opportunities to innovate using emerging technologies.

Hays Technology Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0AA, United Kingdom £40,000 – £80,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Part-time

Data Engineer (AWS)

Design and maintain scalable data pipelines for large and complex datasets within a multidisciplinary government team. Work extensively with AWS, Python, and Infrastructure as Code to build containerised data applications and ensure data quality, reproducibility, and workflow orchestration. Support public good initiatives through robust data engineering and MLOps practices.

SmartSourcing Ltd Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB, United Kingdom £49,400 pa
On-site Contract Clearance Required

Data Engineer AWS

This role involves designing, building, and maintaining scalable data pipelines on AWS to process large and complex datasets, including automated web scraping and bulk data acquisition. The Data Engineer will implement data transformation, validation, and quality controls, develop containerised analytics applications, and apply Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to support cloud-based workflows. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the engineer will collaborate with data scientists and analysts to deliver reliable, analysis-ready data solutions for public sector impact.

SmartSourcing Ltd Manchester, United Kingdom £49,400 pa
Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

Data Engineer - Fabric

Data Engineer - £500-£550 per day - Inside IR35 - Primarily remote with occasional travel in the south of England - 6 months initial contract.Our client is looking for an experienced Data Engineer to join their growing data team, helping...

Morson Edge Gloucester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom £500 – £550 pd
See all 187 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
5 open

Leeds

Location
4 open

Southampton

Location
3 open

Milton Keynes

Location
3 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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