Future Tech Jobs Future Tech Jobs

Data Engineer Jobs

The backbone of modern data infrastructure. Building, maintaining, and optimising the pipelines that power data-driven decisions.

Open roles
193
Salary range
£30k – £130k
Hiring companies
106
View 193 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

A typical day for 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 – £130k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 138 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

By seniority
£k base
Entry
30
38
1 job
Junior
35
41
2 jobs
Mid
35
113
57 jobs
Senior
40
100
40 jobs
Lead
40
110
12 jobs
Director
130
130
1 job
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 193 live listings 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

193 live roles

See all 193 roles →

Senior Data Engineer

As a Senior Data Engineer within the Data Engineering team, you will play a key role in building, enhancing, and maintaining our enterprise data platform on Snowflake. You will develop and optimise scalable data pipelines and models that bring data...

Gigaclear Shippon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom £40,000 – £60,000 pa
On-site Permanent

Data Engineer

Data Engineer for a major offshore wind project in The United KingdomResponsibilitiesDesign and implement scalable ingestion pipelines from multiple source systems including and internal business data sources.* Ensure reliable, automated, and monitored data flows into the Bronze layer of the...

Taylor Hopkinson Limited London, City And County Of the City Of London, United Kingdom £40,000 – £70,000 pa
On-site Permanent

Data Engineer

Our people are what make our family great. As a proud family-run business, we see childcare as a profession, not just a job. We’re passionate about helping our teams grow and be the best they can be!Kids Planets is a...

Kids Planet Day Nurseries Broomedge, Cheshire, United Kingdom £40,000 – £60,000 pa
On-site Permanent

Data Engineer (Snowflake/ AWS)

Your new companyA leading British retailer is undertaking a major data platform migration from AWS Redshift to Snowflake within a buying and merchandising application. The role focuses on delivering scalable, event‑driven data ingestion pipelines on AWS (SNS, S3, etc.) and...

Hays Technology London, United Kingdom £475 – £650 pd
Remote Permanent

Data Engineer

IMSERV is one of the UK’s leading data collection and energy metering experts, delivering award winning services to more customers in more places, meeting industry targets and becoming a benchmark for excellence. We offer a range of specialist metering technology...

IMSERV EUROPE LIMITED Great Linford, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom £55,000 – £60,000 pa
On-site Permanent

Data Engineer

We’re currently partnering with a forward-thinking, technology-driven organisation that has recently secured significant investment and is now looking to expand its data capability with the addition of a talented Data Engineer / Data Scientist.This is an excellent opportunity for either...

hireful Devon, United Kingdom £50,000 – £55,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

AWS Data Engineer

Location: Leicestershire, hybridSalary: circa £70,000 - £80,000Summary:We are looking for a hands-on Data Engineer to lead the build of a modern AWS-based data platform, taking ownership from core infrastructure through to curated, business-ready datasets.Key Responsibilities:Design, build, and operate a scalable...

Bis Henderson Leicestershire, United Kingdom £70,000 – £80,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Data Engineer

We’re currently partnering with a forward-thinking, technology-driven organisation that has recently secured significant investment and is now looking to expand its data capability with the addition of a talented Data Engineer / Data Scientist.This is an excellent opportunity for either...

hireful Bristol, Bristol (county), United Kingdom £50,000 – £55,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
See all 193 roles →
Top hirers

Companies hiring data engineers

See all companies →
Hiring locations

Where this role is hiring

The locations with the most live listings for this role today.

London

Location
53 open

Manchester

Location
17 open

Birmingham

Location
10 open

Leeds

Location
7 open

Bristol

Location
5 open

Cardiff

Location
4 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.

Hiring data engineers?

Post your role in 90 seconds and reach the specialist audience that already reads this page.

Post a job → See pricing

🍪 Basic, anonymous analytics (aggregate counts only, never shared) are always on. Accept to also enable third-party tools — Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, Mixpanel, Leadfeeder — which help us match you with relevant Data Engineering roles. We never sell your data or use it for cross-site advertising. See our Cookie Policy.