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 →
Amazon logo

Data Engineer - UK, Amazon University Talent Acquisition (AUTA)

As a Data Engineer intern at Amazon, you will design and implement data pipelines, develop and maintain data warehouses, and create reports and dashboards to drive business decisions. You will work closely with Business Analysts and Data Scientists, troubleshooting issues and contributing to architectural plans for future data solutions.

Amazon London, United Kingdom
On-site Permanent

Junior Data Engineer

Junior Data Engineer - Public SectorContract: Initial 7 months (extension possible)Rate: £310 per day, Inside IR35Location: Remote with travel to Waterloo (2-3 days per month)Security Clearance: SC‑eligible (5 years UK residency required)I am working with a key consultancy delivering a...

Hays Technology London, United Kingdom £310 pd
Hybrid Contract Flexible Clearance Required

Senior Data Engineer - London

Senior Data EngineerLondon, Hybrid, 3 days in the office each week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday)£70,000 to 80,000 depending on experienceRef: J13073A growing AI SaaS business, where data sits at the centre of everything they build, is looking for a Senior...

Datatech London, United Kingdom £70,000 – £80,000 pa
Permanent

Data Engineer

South Norfolk and Broadland Councils are looking for a Data Engineer to join our Strategy and Innovation Team.In this role, you'll be key to us being able to use our data to understand and improve our performance and integrate services....

South Norfolk and Broadland Council Whitlingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom £42,287 – £47,191 pa
Hybrid Permanent Flexible Clearance Required

Data Engineer

Data Engineer – Remote (occasional visits to Yorkshire)£55,000 - £60,000 + bonus, 35-hour work week and great benefitsJoining a well-established and highly skilled Data team, an experienced Data Engineer is required to help design and develop modern cloud solutions. To...

Erin Associates Orchard Square, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom £55,000 – £60,000 pa

Contract Snowflake Data Engineer

Snowflake Data Engineer - 6 Months - Outside IR35A leading tech company requires a data engineer for an initial 6-month contract. The position is hybrid, outside IR35, and will likely extend long-term due to the amount of work they have...

Cathcart Technology Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom £500 – £550 pd

BI and Data Engineering Lead

BI and Data Engineering LeadAn exciting opportunity for a BI and Data Engineering Lead to drive modern, automated reporting and help shape a data-driven culture.Key Responsibilities* Build and maintain BI solutions and dashboards* Integrate data from multiple sources (APIs, Excel,...

Technify Talent Limited Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom £40,000 – £50,000 pa

Microsoft Fabric Data Engineer

Microsoft Fabric Data Engineer | Outside IR35 | £450–£550 per day | Hybrid Bristol | 6‑month initial contractWe’re working with a well‑known global organisation that’s investing heavily in its commercial data capabilities. They’re looking for a contract Data Engineer to...

Opus Recruitment Solutions Bristol, Bristol (county), United Kingdom £450 – £550 pd
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.