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.
Data Engineer | VA Claims Modernization
$120K - $180K *
Drive the modernization of Veterans Benefits Administration claims processing by designing and optimizing scalable data pipelines and solutions, ensuring efficient data integration and analytics for i...
2 days ago
Senior Scientific Data Engineer (Remote in MA)
$140K - $200K *
Transform complex scientific data into scalable solutions. Lead design and implementation efforts, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive impactful data products...
2 days ago
CCaR - Senior Software Engineer (Remote)
$140K - $160K *
Drive the development of critical enterprise applications for DoD personnel, enhancing program and financial management capabilities. Collaborate within a product team to modernize technology and deli...
2 days ago
$135K - $160K *
Elevate your career by building transformative backend services and distributed systems that empower enterprises to monitor AI effectively. Drive projects from vague concepts to deployed products whil...
3 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Applied AI Engineer, driving AI innovations across product lines. Leverage your expertise in machine learning to transform complex challenges into production-ready solu...
1 week ago
PMRT - Senior Software Engineer (Remote)
$140K - $160K *
Drive the development of critical enterprise applications for defense personnel, utilizing Java, Spring Boot, and Angular. Collaborate in an agile team to enhance program and financial management tool...
2 days ago
$80K - $120K *
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and develop user-centric web applications, integrating AI-driven insights for high-stakes decision-making workflows while ensuring performance and sec...
4 days ago
$120K - $160K *
Join our dynamic team to design and develop cutting-edge AI platforms, enhancing decision-making workflows through innovative web applications and robust backend services. Collaborate across the full...
1 week ago
$120K - $145K *
Join a dynamic team to design and develop a next-gen AI platform, focusing on intelligent agent frameworks and modern web applications. Collaborate across the full stack to enhance decision-making wor...
1 week ago
Staff Data Engineer (Azure Databricks Platform)
$130K - $260K *
Lead the development and maintenance of a robust Azure Databricks platform, ensuring operational excellence, security, and performance while driving strategic enhancements to support healthcare delive...
Reposted 3 days ago
$72K - $160K *
Architect and optimize scalable data pipelines using Azure Databricks for credit card data processing. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data quality and support modernization efforts...
Today
Lead Software Engineer - Remote
$112K - $193K *
Shape the future of healthcare technology by leading software development initiatives, driving AI integration, and enhancing operational efficiency across multiple teams while maintaining hands-on cod...
Yesterday
Senior AI Solution Engineer with Terraform
$130K - $155K *
Join a team that designs and deploys lab environments for Cloud Security Posture Management using advanced OpenStack expertise. Contribute to testing and validating API-based security tools in multi-t...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Manage and optimize cloud infrastructure solutions on Azure, focusing on Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance production services, ensuring high availabil...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $140K *
Grow your career with a fully remote role focused on designing and optimizing secure, scalable cloud-based data solutions across Azure and AWS, supporting critical national defense initiatives through...
2 weeks ago
Senior ML Operations Engineer II - Monetization
$211K - $248K *
Lead the charge in managing the complete ML model lifecycle, ensuring robust deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement. Collaborate with data scientists to enhance model performance and opera...
4 days ago
Senior Software Engineering Architect - Investment Technologies
$150K - $224K *
Help us transform investment technologies by architecting solutions across full stacks in agile teams. Drive innovation and mentor engineers while ensuring compliance in a dynamic, regulated environme...
Reposted 1 month ago
Senior Software Engineer - SS&C EVOLV
$140K - $160K *
Shape the future of software development by designing and implementing scalable applications while integrating advanced AI solutions and enhancing system architectures to meet enterprise needs and ens...
Reposted 1 week ago
$125K - $150K *
Elevate data architecture by leading design and governance for a critical modernization program, ensuring secure, scalable solutions in AWS GovCloud while collaborating with diverse stakeholders to ma...
1 week ago
Senior, ML Engineer - Tracking
$177K - $212K *
Develop and deploy advanced ML models for multi-object tracking, ensuring robust performance in autonomous vehicles. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance tracking algorithms and improve...
2 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Architect robust Kubernetes solutions to enhance cloud infrastructure. Drive multi-cloud initiatives and implement cell-based architecture for scalable, reliable services. Join a team dedicated to bui...
2 weeks ago
$180K - $220K *
Deliver innovative data pipelines for legal records, transforming unstructured data into actionable insights while supporting advanced AI workflows and data quality improvements for robust legal resea...
3 weeks ago
Senior FullStack Engineer - Grafana Cloud Observability| Canada | Remote
$164K - $197K *
Empower developers to enhance observability through robust cloud integrations, utilizing modern technologies in a collaborative remote environment. Contribute to open source tools while delivering imp...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$120K - $150K *
Innovate as you guide Fortune 500 clients in leveraging AI solutions. Collaborate with sales teams, deliver dynamic presentations, and serve as trusted technical advisor to modernize legacy systems an...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Forward Deployed Engineer
$125K - $150K *
Engineer transformative solutions by integrating cutting-edge APIs into enterprise systems. Collaborate closely with clients to deploy production software efficiently while leveraging modern AI tools...
Reposted 4 weeks 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.