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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
174
Salary range
£30k – £240k
Hiring companies
97
View 174 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 – £240k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 293 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

By seniority
£k base
Entry
30
38
1 job
Junior
30
45
8 jobs
Mid
30
113
113 jobs
Senior
44
240
96 jobs
Lead
40
240
37 jobs
Director
95
130
4 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 220 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

SQL
70%
Python
70%
AWS
34%
Azure
32%
Data Modelling
31%
Data Pipelines
27%
CI/CD
26%
Data Governance
26%
ETL
25%
Databricks
23%
PySpark
19%
Data Warehousing
18%
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

174 live roles

See all 174 roles →

AWS Data Engineer

Data Engineer (AWS)Location: (Hybrid 2-3 days onsite)Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 + Bens, Perks, Healthcare Options, Unlimited Training BudgetSecurity Clearance: Must be eligible for SC Clearance (5+ years UK residency)Sector: Public Sector & Government ClientBuild the Data Infrastructure That Powers the...

83zero Tower Hamlets, London, United Kingdom £60,000 – £70,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required

Data Platform Engineer

This role involves modernising a large-scale data platform by migrating data pipelines, notebooks, and workloads from a legacy Databricks environment to a modern AWS cloud-based architecture. The engineer will design and implement infrastructure using Terraform, automate deployments, and ensure secure onboarding of datasets and users. The position supports a major government transformation programme with a focus on data engineering, cloud migration, and platform automation.

Syntax Consultancy London, United Kingdom £550 – £600 pd
Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

Data Platform Engineer

The role involves building and maintaining an AWS-based data platform using Infrastructure as Code, supporting CI/CD pipelines, and implementing secure, scalable data solutions. The engineer will collaborate with data and AI teams to enhance data ingestion, lakehouse architectures, and governance. Emphasis is placed on monitoring, cost optimisation, and operational reliability within a regulated environment.

Microlise Langley Mill, Derbyshire, NG16 4BS, United Kingdom £45,000 pa
Hybrid Contract

Senior Data Engineer

The role involves designing, building, and delivering end-to-end data solutions using Microsoft Fabric and Azure, with a focus on data ingestion, transformation, and consumption. You will work on modernizing legacy data sources and optimizing data pipelines, leveraging technologies like OneLake, Dataflows, Synapse, and SQL.

James Andrews Recruitment Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8EY, United Kingdom £400 – £500 pd
Contract

Staff Data Engineer

This role involves designing and maintaining scalable, production-grade data pipelines on cloud-native platforms using Azure and Databricks. The engineer will lead technical decisions around data processing and modelling, optimise performance, and establish engineering best practices across the data function. It's a high-impact position at the core of a major data transformation within a leading UK retail brand.

Data Idols London, United Kingdom £85,000 – £95,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building robust data pipelines, data models, and warehouse solutions while collaborating with analytics, product, and platform teams. You will lead complex data engineering projects, mentor other engineers, and drive a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Rebel Recruitment United Kingdom £55,000 – £80,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Data Analyst / Engineer

Design and build data pipelines while developing actionable dashboards using Power BI to turn complex data into strategic insights. Collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation to support data-driven decision-making within the social care sector. Work in a fully remote environment with a focus on SQL, ETL processes, and data modelling.

Berkeley Square IT United Kingdom £50,000 – £60,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Data Analytics Engineer

This role involves developing business-critical reporting and analytics capabilities across multiple operational teams. You will design and maintain Power BI reports, dashboards, and semantic models, build SQL-based data pipelines, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure data accuracy and governance.

Applause IT Recruitment Ltd Birmingham, West Midlands (county), United Kingdom
Hybrid Permanent
See all 174 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
50 open

Manchester

Location
11 open

Birmingham

Location
7 open

Leeds

Location
6 open

Bristol

Location
3 open

Newcastle

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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