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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 →
Genomics England logo

Principal Data Engineer (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds and London)

Company DescriptionGenomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world-first national whole genome sequencing service...

Genomics England London, United Kingdom

Principal Data Engineer

Lead the design and implementation of a cloud-based data platform using Data Mesh architecture, defining engineering standards and best practices. Drive innovation in data ingestion, transformation, and governance while mentoring engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Focus on scalability, security, and automation within a modern data stack on Google Cloud.

Reed Technology London, United Kingdom £82,000 – £95,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing, building, and maintaining scalable cloud-based data platforms and products, with a focus on modern engineering practices. The Senior Data Engineer will lead end-to-end delivery of data solutions, optimize ETL/ELT pipelines, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex technical challenges. Emphasis is placed on CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and advancing data engineering standards within a growing team.

Reed Technology London, United Kingdom £55,000 – £65,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and building modern data pipelines to support large-scale migration and regulatory data initiatives within a global banking environment. The engineer will collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement robust data quality checks, validate data processes, and ensure secure access controls. Work includes data migration, transformation, and integration across cloud platforms with a focus on scalability and compliance.

Fraser & Co. Talent Partners Limited Mount Pleasant, Greater London, London, United Kingdom £450 – £550 pd
Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

Junior Data Engineer - Fabric, Azure

This role involves developing and maintaining ETL processes, data pipelines, and dimensional data models within a modern Microsoft cloud environment. The engineer will work on an Azure-based data platform, transforming raw data into business-ready datasets used for Power BI reporting and analytics. Collaboration with stakeholders and adherence to data engineering best practices in a DevOps environment are key aspects of the role.

itecopeople United Kingdom £160 – £164 pd
Hybrid Contract

Contract Data Engineer (microsoft fabric)%

This role involves designing and implementing data engineering solutions using Microsoft Fabric and Azure technologies. The engineer will work on ETL/ELT pipelines, develop with Python, and integrate tools like Azure Data Factory, Databricks, and Power BI. The position operates within CI/CD workflows using Azure DevOps in a fully remote setup.

Exalto Consulting United Kingdom £500 – £510 pd
Remote Contract

Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data EngineerAre you an experienced Lead Data Engineer looking to shape the future of a modern cloud data platform? This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing technology business where you'll provide technical leadership, define engineering best practices,...

Hatched Recruitment Group London, United Kingdom £80,000 – £95,000 pa

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
On-site 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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