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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
105
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 443 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 397 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 QA Engineer

This role involves ensuring the quality and reliability of data platforms and pipelines within a modern cloud-based Lakehouse environment. The Data QA Engineer will design and execute tests, collaborate with engineering and analytics teams, and help establish robust testing standards. Work focuses on validating data products in Databricks and PySpark ecosystems to support trustworthy business decision-making.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment Sheffield, United Kingdom £50,000 – £60,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Data QA Engineer

A Data QA Engineer is needed to ensure the quality and reliability of data platforms and products within a growing data function. The role involves designing and executing tests for data pipelines, collaborating with engineers and stakeholders, identifying risks, validating solutions, and contributing to quality frameworks—particularly within Databricks and PySpark environments. The focus is on building robust, production-grade data systems as part of a modern cloud-based Lakehouse programme.

Harnham - Data and Analytics Recruitment Birmingham, United Kingdom £50,000 – £60,000 pa
Remote Permanent
Experis logo

Palantir Data Engineer

Data / Palantir Consultant (Foundry & Gotham)SC / DV Clearance Required£40,000-£55,000 DOEConsultant / Senior ConsultantMultiple LocationsJoin a growing Defence & National Security team delivering mission-critical data solutions across government programmes.We're looking for Junior Palantir Foundry and Gotham Consultants to design,...

Experis United Kingdom £40,000 – £54,000 pa

Lead Data Engineer

This role involves leading the design and development of enterprise-scale data pipelines and platforms, solving complex data challenges across legacy and modern systems. The engineer will work hands-on to build production-grade solutions, improve data quality and governance, and provide technical leadership through delivery. Collaboration with both technical and non-technical stakeholders is key to translating real-world problems into effective data solutions.

Guidant Global London, City And County Of the City Of London, United Kingdom £700 – £800 pd
Hybrid Permanent

Principal Data Engineer

Design and build a cloud-native AWS data platform to replace manual, spreadsheet-driven processes with automated, scalable workflows. Lead technical delivery of a greenfield MVP, creating serverless data pipelines and event-driven architectures while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Implement infrastructure as code, CI/CD, and monitoring within a secure enterprise environment.

Brio Digital Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom £625 – £650 pd
Remote Contract Clearance Required

Junior Data Engineer

This role involves building and maintaining ETL/ELT data pipelines using modern cloud technologies, primarily within Azure. The candidate will integrate and transform data from various business systems, implement data quality checks, and collaborate with BI teams to ensure reliable data delivery. It offers hands-on experience with scalable data platforms and structured growth in a cloud-focused environment.

Jackson Hogg Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR4 6ST, United Kingdom £30,000 – £35,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building a greenfield Microsoft Fabric data platform from the ground up, integrating data from manufacturing, finance, HR, logistics, and customer systems. The engineer will establish a secure, scalable data environment using OneLake, Lakehouses, and Power BI semantic models, while enabling AI and analytics initiatives. It's a strategic platform ownership position with direct influence on enterprise data strategy and architecture.

Raynor Foods Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom £75,000 – £85,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Lead Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building scalable data pipelines and AI-ready infrastructure for an AI-driven automation platform. The engineer will develop real-time and batch processing systems, optimise data storage and retrieval for machine learning, and establish data governance. Working closely with AI and product teams, they will shape the data architecture and mentor future team members in a high-growth startup environment.

Hexwired Recruitment Limited London, United Kingdom £80,000 – £115,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent
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
4 open

Leeds

Location
4 open

Milton Keynes

Location
3 open

Southampton

Location
2 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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