Data Engineer
Also advertised as: Analytics Engineer, Big Data Engineer, Cloud Data Engineer, data engineer, Data Engineer, data expert
Builds the pipelines that move and prepare data for analysis.
What the job involves
Data engineers design and build the pipelines that collect, clean and store data so that analysts and data scientists can use it. You work with large datasets, write code to automate data flows and maintain the platforms that hold them. Strong software engineering skills applied to data are central to the role.
Typical responsibilities
- Build and maintain data pipelines
- Design data warehouse and lake structures
- Automate data quality checks
- Optimise data storage and processing costs
- Support analysts and data scientists with reliable data
Common employers
- Banks
- Retailers
- Technology companies
- Consultancies
- Telecoms providers
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£32,000 – £40,000 a year
With experience
£50,000 – £80,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours
Working environment
Office or remote
Remote working
remote
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- SQL
- Python
- Data pipeline tools
- Cloud data platforms
- Data modelling
- Version control
Transferable skills you may already have
- Software development experience
- Analytical thinking
- Attention to detail with large datasets
Requirements employers ask for
- SQL
- Python
- Data pipeline tools
- Cloud data platforms
- Data modelling
- Version control
- No formal qualification required; SQL and programming experience expected
- develop data processing applications
- execute analytical mathematical calculations
- handle data samples
- establish data processes
- perform data cleansing
- information categorisation
- build recommender systems
- online analytical processing
- data mining
- collect ICT data
- normalise data
- implement data quality processes
Useful but not essential
- Software development experience
- Analytical thinking
- Attention to detail with large datasets
- AWS Certified Data Analytics
- Databricks Certified Data Engineer
- Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship
- LDAP
- manage data
- define data quality criteria
- MDX
- manage ICT data classification
- business intelligence
- SPARQL
- N1QL
Helpful qualifications
- AWS Certified Data Analytics
- Databricks Certified Data Engineer
- Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Data Analyst (Level 4)
- Software Developer (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Computer science
- Related subject: Maths
- Related subject: Data science
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Data Engineer
next
Data Architect
next
Head of Data Engineering
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- High demand and strong salaries
- Foundational role in every data team
- Skills transfer across industries
What people find hard
- Messy source data can create frustrating debugging work
- Requires keeping up with fast-changing tools
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a data engineer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. preferred
- How much does a data engineer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £32,000 to £40,000 a year, rising towards £80,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Software development experience, Analytical thinking, Attention to detail with large datasets.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
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