Explore Senior Data Engineer Jobs

Senior Data Engineers design and operate the systems that help organizations turn raw information into dependable, useful data. They build scalable data platforms, develop resilient pipelines, and enable analytics, machine learning, and business decision-making. Explore vetted Senior Data Engineer opportunities on Ladders, where featured professional roles pay $100,000 or more.

What Senior Data Engineers Do

In a senior data engineering role, you may own data architecture, create batch and streaming pipelines, improve data quality, and make datasets easier for teams to discover and use. You may also guide technical standards, review code, mentor colleagues, and partner with data scientists, analysts, product teams, and business leaders.

Skills and Technologies Employers Seek

Employers commonly look for deep SQL and programming experience, often with Python, Java, or Scala. Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, as well as distributed processing tools, orchestration systems, data warehouses, and lakehouse technologies, can be valuable. Strong data modeling, testing, security, and system design skills help senior engineers build trustworthy platforms at scale.

Senior Data Engineer Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation varies by location, industry, company size, scope, and experience. Senior-level roles often pay six-figure salaries, particularly when they involve platform ownership, cloud architecture, or leadership responsibilities. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, making it easier to explore opportunities aligned with your experience and compensation goals.

Find the Right Senior Data Engineering Role

Compare roles by technology stack, business domain, team structure, and level of ownership. Tailor your resume to show measurable outcomes—such as faster pipeline performance, improved data reliability, lower infrastructure costs, or broader access to trusted data. Browse Senior Data Engineer jobs on Ladders to find a position where you can make a meaningful impact.

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$129K - $166K *

Join a team that's redefining AI solutions on AWS, architecting and deploying innovative systems for scientific research. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to create scalable, secure, and reliable...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$157K - $232K *

Lead the charge in building scalable data infrastructure for analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data architecture, drive AI/ML initiatives, and establish governance across t...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$142K - $218K *

Shape the future of data architecture by building scalable data platforms that drive impactful analytics and AI/ML initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure effective data governa...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$124K - $170K *

Lead the charge in innovative software solutions for healthcare, collaborating with diverse teams to enhance patient care and meet customer needs through cutting-edge technology and creative problem-s...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$145K - $160K *

Pioneer data-driven insights by collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance business strategies. Leverage advanced analytics and visualization skills to drive operational improvements and sup...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$170K - $235K *

Join a team that's transforming integrations into a cohesive, high-quality API platform. You will lead backend development and operational reliability, driving collaborations and mentoring initiatives...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$192K - $202K *

Lead the charge in architecting and integrating complex systems for a scalable retail platform. Drive multi-quarter projects, collaborate across teams, and mentor junior engineers while ensuring high...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate data engineering capabilities by designing robust ETL/ELT workflows, ensuring data quality, and implementing scalable solutions on AWS and Kubernetes. Collaborate with teams to optimize perfor...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$128K - $170K *

Advance your career by designing and delivering scalable software solutions. Collaborate with teams to address challenges while enhancing product quality and performance in the healthcare supply chain...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $185K *

Shape the future of data engineering by leading the architecture and evolution of a robust enterprise data platform, ensuring reliability and integration across analytics, reporting, and AI capabiliti...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$155K - $175K *

Unlock potential by leading the architecture and deployment of AI and workflow platforms, driving innovation across client engagements while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance operat...

Chicago, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$140K - $190K *

Drive innovation in healthcare analytics as a Senior Lead Software Engineer, leading product development, designing ETL processes, and mentoring a collaborative team to enhance patient outcomes throug...

Chicago, ILRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI integration in product development. Lead the creation of an AI-native PDLC framework, enhancing workflows through innovative AI solutions while collaboratin...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$173K - $255K *

Champion the future of data infrastructure by leading a team to deliver scalable, reliable solutions for data access and processing, ensuring high availability and supporting critical business operati...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$152K - $250K *

Join as a Senior Security Engineer to lead our data security infrastructure, ensuring sensitive data is classified and protected across the organization. Collaborate with teams to build innovative sol...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$149K - $198K *

Advance data infrastructure by designing and implementing robust systems for data processing, discovery, and lineage, empowering engineering teams to leverage expansive data for machine learning and a...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$180K - $240K *

Elevate your career by designing and building robust distributed systems. Lead architectural decisions, ensure reliability, and mentor engineers while tackling complex challenges in regulated environm...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$91K - $163K *

Drive innovation by leveraging machine learning and LLMs to transform healthcare analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze data, develop models, and deliver actionable insights tha...

Eden Prairie, MNRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$164K - $197K *

Design and develop innovative database systems for a versatile data platform, enabling seamless SIEM and AI agent interaction while ensuring reliability and scalability within a pragmatic, collaborati...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$163K - $224K *

Advance innovative backend systems for a cutting-edge experimentation platform, driving impactful decisions through large-scale data solutions in a collaborative team environment, while designing and...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Deliver innovative solutions by managing AWS infrastructure, ensuring stability, and automating processes. Collaborate with developers to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining high uptime a...

Calgary, ABRemote

Reposted 1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$100K - $120K *

Help us modernize our data platform by designing and building robust data models and analytics solutions. Collaborate with analysts and stakeholders to transform complex data into actionable insights...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Lead the development of a data catalog for AI consumption, ensuring quality and accessibility. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to onboard domains, manage readiness assessments, and drive align...

Utah, USRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing core systems that empower users to engage with diverse news perspectives. Collaborate closely with a small, agile team to design, build, and enhance backend services, ens...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $180K *

Engineers a scalable data platform architecture aligning with business goals. Drive high-impact decisions, mentor team members, and ensure data quality while collaborating across functions to enhance...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Senior Data Engineer do?question toggle

    A Senior Data Engineer designs, builds, and maintains data platforms and pipelines. The role often includes setting technical standards, improving data quality and reliability, mentoring engineers, and collaborating with analytics, machine learning, and business teams.

  • What skills are needed for Senior Data Engineer jobs?question toggle

    Common requirements include advanced SQL, programming in languages such as Python, Java, or Scala, data modeling, distributed data processing, cloud infrastructure, and pipeline orchestration. Employers may also value experience with data warehouses, streaming systems, security, and technical leadership.

  • How much do Senior Data Engineers earn?question toggle

    Pay depends on location, industry, employer, experience, and role scope. Many senior positions offer six-figure compensation. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.

  • What qualifications are typically required for a Senior Data Engineer role?question toggle

    Employers often seek several years of hands-on data engineering experience and a track record of delivering production data systems. A degree in computer science or a related field may be preferred, though equivalent practical experience is often considered.

  • How can I find a Senior Data Engineer job on Ladders?question toggle

    Browse Senior Data Engineer listings on Ladders and compare opportunities by employer, location, technology stack, and responsibilities. Highlight relevant systems work and measurable results in your resume when applying.