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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Senior or Staff Site Reliability Engineer - 26248
$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...
Reposted 1 month ago
$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...
1 week ago
Senior Product Manager, Data Catalog & AI Readiness
$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...
2 days ago
$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...
2 weeks ago
$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...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Data Scientist I, Growth & Engagement
$159K - $188K *
Unlock potential by leveraging data to drive product decisions and enhance user engagement. Collaborate across teams to design experiments, develop predictive models, and influence product strategies...
3 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, Core Pricing
$166K - $230K *
Champion seamless loan management and customer relations as you lead initiatives that optimize collections and enhance user experience. Contribute to automation and process improvements to empower our...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Backend Engineer/Staff Engineer
$165K - $210K *
Drive the technical vision for complex systems, leading cross-team initiatives and enhancing engineering standards. Own reliability and scalability of core infrastructure while mentoring engineers and...
3 days ago
Senior/Staff Software Engineer (Platform and Execution Model)
$180K - $240K *
Transform the future of distributed systems by designing and building robust platform components. Collaborate with teams to ensure reliability and scalability in mission-critical environments, driving...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer II - Agentic SDLC
$170K - $185K *
Champion innovative software solutions by leading complex projects, mentoring engineers, and driving technical excellence across teams. Collaborate on strategic initiatives to enhance reliability and...
2 days ago
$160K - $175K *
Join a team that's redefining data solutions through innovative full-stack engineering. Collaborate on cutting-edge projects involving AI, big data, and efficient APIs, while fostering career growth i...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $200K *
Join a dynamic team to build scalable web applications and APIs, leveraging modern technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create innovative solutions that enhance business workflows...
1 week ago
$119K - $179K *
Support the integration and harmonization of clinical data by designing FHIR-compliant models and pipelines, ensuring data accuracy and usability for patient care and research initiatives across the o...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Development Engineer
$101K - $203K *
Drive operational excellence by providing technical support and enhancing application performance. Collaborate across teams to ensure reliability, implement SRE practices, and contribute to continuous...
2 days ago
Senior Software Development Engineer
$92K - $185K *
Unlock your potential by leading the design and development of innovative cloud-native applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive technical direction and enhance member experiences...
1 week ago
Principal Software Engineer, Agentic Data Platform
$255K - $290K *
Drive the technical vision for a complex database platform, ensuring scalability and performance. Lead architecture decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate across teams to enhance data infrastruc...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Marketing & Privacy Engineering)
$153K - $213K *
Elevate your career by building robust data systems that enhance marketing effectiveness. Collaborate across teams to create reliable measurement architectures that drive consumer growth and ensure da...
2 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Lead the design and development of our enterprise data platform, driving initiatives for data ingestion, storage, and transformation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data governance...
Reposted 3 days ago
Sr Software Engineer (Backend)
$140K - $165K *
Join a dynamic team as you lead the design and development of complex software systems. Drive technical direction, mentor peers, and ensure high-quality, scalable solutions that align with business go...
1 week ago
Senior Machine Learning Engineer, ML Infrastructure- Online
$210K - $273K *
Drive the evolution of a robust online ML inference platform, enhancing model deployment, performance, and safety in high-traffic environments by collaborating with cross-functional teams and spearhea...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Software Engineer 4 - AI Native
$88K - $180K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI-native software development. Drive engineering excellence by orchestrating autonomous agents and maintaining high-quality standards in a FedRAMP-authorized e...
4 weeks ago
Lead Software Platform Engineer, MLOps
$200K - $270K *
Join a team pioneering AI/ML platform engineering, enhancing scalable infrastructure to empower scientific innovation. Shape the future of distributed systems and MLOps, collaborating across teams to...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Data Scientist, Growth Data
$110K - $130K *
Transform marketing strategies by leveraging data insights, building algorithms, and optimizing campaigns. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance performance and drive growth through innov...
2 weeks ago
Senior Staff Forward Deployed Engineer
$152K - $205K *
Lead the charge in architecting AI-driven solutions for enterprise clients, transforming complex data governance challenges into actionable insights. Collaborate with stakeholders to shape product evo...
2 weeks ago
Senior Financial Analyst (Clinical Solutions)
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's dedicated to financial excellence, supporting project teams in clinical trials. You'll analyze budgets, manage general ledger functions, and ensure accurate financial reporting whil...
1 week ago
What does a Senior Data Engineer do?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.