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Data Platform Engineer Jobs

Engineers who design, build, and maintain the foundational data infrastructure that powers modern data-driven organisations. A critical role in ensuring data is accessible, reliable, and scalable.

Open roles
4
Salary range
£50k – £85k
Hiring companies
4
View 4 live roles → Get an alert

Data Platform Engineers are the architects and custodians of an organisation's data infrastructure. They design, build, and maintain the systems that enable data to flow seamlessly from source to destination, ensuring that data is accessible, reliable, and scalable. This role is distinct from data science and machine learning engineering, focusing instead on the underlying data pipelines, data warehouses, and data lakes that support data-driven decision-making. Data Platform Engineers work closely with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to ensure that the data infrastructure meets the organisation's needs.

What the role does

Inside the role of a Data Platform Engineer

A typical week for a Data Platform Engineer is a mix of designing and implementing new data pipelines, maintaining and optimising existing infrastructure, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

  1. 01
    Design and implement new data pipelines
  2. 02
    Optimise and maintain existing data infrastructure
  3. 03
    Collaborate with data scientists and analysts
  4. 04
    Monitor and troubleshoot data flow issues
  5. 05
    Document and communicate system changes and improvements
Salary on the board

£50k – £85k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 31 UK listings priced in pounds in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility
78% of listings advertise a salary.
By seniority
£k base
Senior
55
100
12 jobs
Lead
69
85
10 jobs
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

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

Terraform
75%
CI/CD
67%
Python
58%
SQL
58%
AWS
42%
Databricks
33%
PySpark
33%
Data Modelling
33%
IAM
33%
S3
33%
Data Governance
25%
Delta Lake
25%
Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for data platform engineers. Years are guidance — strong people move faster, and many senior folks sidestep into research, product or management.

  1. Level 1

    Junior Data Platform Engineer

    0–2 yrs

    Assists in the design and implementation of data pipelines, with a focus on learning and supporting more senior engineers.

  2. Level 2

    Data Platform Engineer

    2–5 yrs

    Takes ownership of specific data pipelines and infrastructure components, ensuring they are reliable and scalable.

  3. Level 3

    Senior Data Platform Engineer

    5–8 yrs

    Leads the design and implementation of complex data infrastructure projects, mentoring junior engineers and driving best practices.

  4. Level 4

    Principal Data Platform Engineer

    8+ yrs

    Strategises and oversees the entire data infrastructure, influencing organisational data architecture and leading cross-functional initiatives.

Pathway

How to become a Data Platform Engineer

There's no single route, but most people follow some version of these steps.

  1. 1

    Learn the basics

    Start by gaining a solid understanding of data engineering fundamentals, including ETL processes, data warehousing, and SQL.

  2. 2

    Build foundational skills

    Gain hands-on experience with data pipeline tools and technologies, such as Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, and cloud data services.

  3. 3

    Specialise in data infrastructure

    Focus on designing and implementing robust data platforms, including data lakes and data warehouses, to support data-driven applications.

  4. 4

    Lead projects and teams

    Take on leadership roles, managing complex data infrastructure projects and mentoring junior engineers.

  5. 5

    Influence organisational strategy

    Strategise and influence the overall data architecture of the organisation, driving innovation and best practices.

Live jobs

4 live roles

IT Data & Platform Engineer

Design and maintain data pipelines, lakehouses, and data warehouses within Microsoft Fabric using PySpark, Python, T-SQL, and DAX. Employ Infrastructure as Code, Git, and Azure DevOps for scalable, secure data platforms while ensuring data quality and compliance. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance analytics and business intelligence through innovative engineering solutions.

Frontpoint Partners Ltd Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB, United Kingdom £70,000 – £80,000 pa

Senior & mid-level Data Platform Engineers

Design and maintain a scalable, secure data platform on Azure and Snowflake, using Terraform for infrastructure-as-code and Azure DevOps/GitHub Actions for CI/CD. Implement observability, security, and automation practices while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with data science and business teams. Focus on platform engineering rather than data pipeline development.

ITSS Recruitment Manchester, United Kingdom £70,000 – £100,000 pa

DV Cleared Data Engineers Wanted - Mid to Senior AWS Data Platforms

Design and build secure, scalable data platforms and end-to-end pipelines across high-impact client programmes using AWS, Databricks, and Snowflake. Work with lakehouse and medallion architectures, implementing both batch and streaming solutions in regulated environments. Collaborate with data architects and stakeholders to translate business needs into robust technical implementations.

Avanti Recruitment Manchester, United Kingdom £55,000 – £80,000 pa

DV Cleared Data Engineers Wanted - Mid to Senior AWS Data Platforms

Design and build end-to-end data pipelines and platforms within secure, regulated environments using AWS and modern data architectures. Work across ingestion, processing, and consumption layers, contributing to technical design and implementation decisions. Engage directly with clients and architects to deliver scalable, high-impact data solutions on complex programmes.

Avanti Recruitment Bristol, Bristol (county), United Kingdom £55,000 – £80,000 pa
Hiring locations

Where this role is hiring

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

Manchester

Location
2 open

London

Location
1 open

Bristol

Location
1 open
FAQs

Common questions

  • Data Platform Engineers commonly use tools like Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, AWS Redshift, Google BigQuery, and various cloud data services to build and manage data infrastructure.

  • A Data Platform Engineer focuses on building and maintaining the data infrastructure, ensuring data is accessible and reliable. A Data Scientist, on the other hand, uses this data to perform analysis and build models.

  • Key skills include strong programming abilities, knowledge of data storage and retrieval systems, experience with ETL processes, and the ability to design scalable and secure data pipelines.

  • The typical career progression includes moving from Junior to Senior, then to Principal Data Platform Engineer, with increasing responsibilities and leadership roles.

  • Salaries for Data Platform Engineers can vary widely based on experience, location, and industry. For more detailed salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page.

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