Future Tech Jobs Future Tech Jobs

Senior Data Engineer Jobs

Experienced professionals who design, build, and maintain the data infrastructure that powers modern businesses. A critical role in ensuring data is accessible, reliable, and scalable.

Open roles
40
Salary range
£40k – £130k
Hiring companies
28
View 40 live roles → Get an alert

Senior Data Engineers are the backbone of data infrastructure in organisations. They design, build, and maintain the systems that enable data to be collected, processed, and stored efficiently. These professionals work closely with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to ensure that data is accessible and reliable. They are responsible for creating robust data pipelines, optimising data warehousing solutions, and implementing DataOps practices to streamline data operations. Whether in scaleups, research-heavy startups, or the larger consultancies, Senior Data Engineers play a crucial role in driving data-driven decision-making.

What the role does

Inside the role of a Senior Data Engineer

A typical week for a Senior Data Engineer is a mix of hands-on technical work and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

  1. 01
    Design and implement data pipelines for ETL/ELT processes.
  2. 02
    Optimise data warehousing solutions for performance and scalability.
  3. 03
    Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to understand data requirements.
  4. 04
    Monitor and maintain data infrastructure to ensure reliability and security.
  5. 05
    Document and communicate data architecture and processes.
  6. 06
    Stay updated with the latest data engineering tools and technologies.
Salary on the board

£40k – £130k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 68 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

By seniority
£k base
Senior
40
110
67 jobs
Lead
90
130
1 job
Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 53 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

Python
72%
SQL
64%
Data Modelling
42%
AWS
40%
CI/CD
25%
Azure
25%
Databricks
23%
Data Pipelines
23%
Data Engineering
21%
Terraform
19%
Airflow
19%
ETL
19%
Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for senior 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 the design and implementation of data pipelines and basic data warehousing solutions.

  2. Level 2

    Data Engineer

    2–5 yrs

    Takes ownership of specific data pipelines and contributes to the overall data infrastructure design.

  3. Level 3

    Senior Data Engineer

    5–8 yrs

    Leads the design and implementation of complex data infrastructure, ensuring scalability and reliability.

  4. Level 4

    Principal Data Engineer

    8+ yrs

    Strategic leader in data infrastructure, driving innovation and best practices across the organisation.

Pathway

How to become a Senior Data Engineer

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

  1. 1

    Learn the Fundamentals

    Start with a strong foundation in data engineering principles, including ETL/ELT processes, data warehousing, and SQL.

  2. 2

    Gain Practical Experience

    Work on real-world projects to build and maintain data pipelines, and collaborate with data scientists and analysts.

  3. 3

    Specialise in Advanced Topics

    Deepen your expertise in areas like big data processing, DataOps, and cloud data infrastructure.

  4. 4

    Lead Projects and Teams

    Take on leadership roles, managing data engineering projects and mentoring junior team members.

  5. 5

    Drive Strategic Initiatives

    Influence the organisation's data strategy, driving innovation and best practices in data infrastructure.

  6. 6

    Become a Thought Leader

    Contribute to the broader data engineering community through speaking engagements, writing, and open-source contributions.

Live jobs

40 live roles

See all 40 roles →
MBDA logo

Senior Data Engineer

Design and build enterprise-scale data and BI solutions by integrating data from diverse sources such as simulators, test systems, and production machinery. Develop governed, value-generating data assets with a focus on data governance, security, and compliance in a defence context. Work across technical and business domains to deliver scalable ETL/ELT pipelines, data platforms, and Power BI analytics in hybrid environments.

MBDA Tyldesley, Manchester, M29 7JT, United Kingdom £55,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent Clearance Required
HAYS Specialist Recruitment logo

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and maintaining data pipelines and models on a Snowflake-based platform, transforming raw operational data into reliable, analytics-ready assets. The engineer will implement ELT/ETL processes using dbt, Python, and orchestration tools, while ensuring data quality, governance, and performance optimisation. Collaboration with analytics and business teams is key to enabling reporting, insights, and future AI/ML initiatives.

HAYS Specialist Recruitment Abingdon, OX14 5BH, United Kingdom £65,000 – £75,000 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

Design and build robust data pipelines and governed data products to support analytics and AI initiatives. Own the end-to-end lifecycle of data solutions, ensuring quality, compliance, and performance. Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into reliable datasets and models within a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Microlise Langley Mill, Derbyshire, NG16 4BS, United Kingdom £55,000 pa
Hybrid Contract

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves leading the design and implementation of scalable data architectures and pipelines using Azure-based tools. You will provide technical leadership, support the transition to modern cloud pipelines, and mentor junior data engineers.

Queen Square Recruitment Warwick, Warwickshire, United Kingdom £450 pd
Contract

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves partnering with engineers and stakeholders to design and develop data pipelines, migrate data to new platforms, and implement data quality checks. You'll work on large-scale financial projects and contribute to shaping the data architecture in a collaborative environment.

Fraser & Co. Talent Partners Limited London, United Kingdom £60,000 – £80,000 pa
Remote Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves designing and implementing a modern data estate using Azure Databricks and PowerBI, focusing on data security, governance, and self-service reporting. You will lead the data platform architecture, implement secure data pipelines, and coach junior team members.

Hays Technology Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, United Kingdom £55,000 – £63,249 pa
Hybrid Permanent

Senior Data Engineer

The role involves designing, building, and delivering end-to-end data solutions using Microsoft Fabric and Azure, with a focus on data ingestion, transformation, and consumption. You will work on modernizing legacy data sources and optimizing data pipelines, leveraging technologies like OneLake, Dataflows, Synapse, and SQL.

James Andrews Recruitment Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8EY, United Kingdom £400 – £500 pd
Contract

Senior Data Engineer

This role involves building and maintaining the data infrastructure for an AI-first education technology platform. Responsibilities include owning the ELT pipeline, developing custom Airbyte connectors, designing dbt models, and ensuring data quality and reliability. The team is mission-driven and remote-first, with a focus on high-quality engineering.

Opus Recruitment Solutions London, United Kingdom £60,000 – £70,000 pa
Remote Permanent Flexible
See all 40 roles →
Top hirers

Companies hiring senior 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
12 open

Leeds

Location
3 open

Birmingham

Location
1 open

Manchester

Location
1 open

Bristol

Location
1 open

Cambridge

Location
1 open
FAQs

Common questions

  • Key skills include expertise in ETL/ELT processes, data warehousing, SQL, and cloud data infrastructure. Strong problem-solving abilities and collaboration skills are also essential.

  • Common tools include Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, AWS Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Snowflake. Familiarity with programming languages like Python and SQL is also important.

  • The typical progression is from Junior Data Engineer to Data Engineer, then Senior Data Engineer, and finally Principal Data Engineer. Each step involves increasing responsibility and leadership.

  • For specific salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page.

Hiring senior 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.