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.
Staff Software Engineer- AI Platform
$150K - $180K *
Develop and manage scalable AI infrastructure solutions, ensuring secure access to foundation models. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance platform capabilities and drive AI adoption whi...
2 days ago
$190K - $225K *
Optimize system performance by building scalable, robust services. Collaborate across teams to design public APIs, ensuring high-quality integration for retailers. Mentor others and evolve solutions t...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$184K - $356K *
Join a dynamic team to develop cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, collaborating with research and product teams to transform innovative ideas into production-ready services that enhance AI tooling...
5 days ago
$125K - $150K *
Lead the evolution of cloud and DevOps solutions, driving automation and best practices while enhancing software delivery efficiency and reliability for impactful global initiatives...
1 month ago
Lead Software Development Engineer in Test
$165K - $185K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of test automation, driving quality and performance through innovative strategies and frameworks. Collaborate within an agile team to enhance product scalability a...
Reposted 4 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, Platform & Developer Experience
$135K - $160K *
Shape the future of engineering productivity by architecting tools and patterns that eliminate friction in development workflows, enhance performance, and mentor teams to elevate their technical skill...
2 weeks ago
$172K - $215K *
Lead the design and implementation of scalable, real-time data pipelines for AI-driven decision making. Collaborate cross-functionally to build a reliable foundation for data integrity and insights th...
Reposted 1 month ago
$80K - $95K *
Shape the future of data analytics in humanitarian services. Lead advanced data analysis, deliver insights, and develop visualizations to optimize decision-making and foster a data-driven culture acro...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Lead Software Engineer- full stack Java
$120K - $145K *
Lead a dynamic engineering team to design and develop complex enterprise applications, ensuring high-quality delivery and technical excellence while mentoring developers and driving modernization effo...
3 weeks ago
$160K - $200K *
Champion innovation as a Senior Software Engineer, driving full-stack solutions and leveraging AI tools to enhance IT lifecycle management. Collaborate with a dynamic team to deliver impactful softwar...
2 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, AV Analysis Platform
$224K - $356K *
Pioneer the development of advanced evaluation tools for Autonomous Vehicles, enhancing workflows and system performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions that imp...
Yesterday
Senior Software Engineer - DevX
$190K - $267K *
Unlock potential by designing and building innovative developer tools that enhance software development processes. Collaborate across teams to improve reliability, usability, and scalability of servic...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Sr. Architect | Data & Analytics/Databricks/Snowflakes (Remote)
$170K - $200K *
Shape the future of data architecture by leading innovative solutions that empower clients to modernize their data platforms, ensuring they are secure, scalable, and aligned with business goals while...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Machine Learning
$135K - $160K *
Innovate our data platform by designing scalable systems that enhance data accessibility and reliability. As a Senior Data Engineer, you'll drive impactful solutions, ensuring high-quality insights an...
3 weeks ago
$90K - $165K *
Drive the development of a centralized data warehouse for biomedical research, enhancing data integration and functionality. Collaborate with teams to optimize data pipelines and support national rese...
1 week ago
Senior Security Engineer, AI Architecture Patterns
$168K - $270K *
Drive innovation in AI security by developing solutions that integrate security standards into code generation, ensuring compliance and reliability while collaborating with top talent to elevate AI pr...
1 week ago
Senior Red Team Engineer - Frontier AI Security (Remote US)
$120K - $150K *
Lead the charge in advanced security assessments, identifying vulnerabilities and enhancing security posture through hands-on penetration testing and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Mentor...
Reposted 4 days ago
Head of Data Platform Engineering
$250K - $290K *
Join a team that's redefining data platforms, leading architecture and engineering efforts while shaping and scaling a reliable, next-generation data warehouse for analytics and machine learning capab...
Reposted 1 month ago
Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Workload Safety)
$173K - $255K *
Elevate your career by defining and enforcing workload safety standards for a growing EKS fleet. Collaborate across teams to enhance availability and performance while mentoring engineers and driving...
3 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Workload Safety)
$153K - $213K *
Advance your career by defining and enforcing workload safety standards for a growing EKS fleet. Collaborate across teams to enhance Kubernetes operations, ensuring compliance and optimizing performan...
3 days ago
Senior Sales Engineer (Enterprise Accounts)
$186K - $232K *
Drive customer success by integrating innovative technology solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, and establishing strategic partnerships. Collaborate with teams to deliver impactful presentati...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer | Virscidian
$110K - $130K *
Champion the maintenance and support of existing software products while ensuring stability and responsiveness to customer needs. Collaborate across teams to enhance features and contribute to future...
1 week ago
$105K - $145K *
Unlock potential by driving financial planning and analysis for a key business unit. Collaborate across teams to deliver insights, enhance reporting, and support strategic decision-making in a fast-pa...
2 weeks ago
$115K - $143K *
Unlock the potential of data by architecting scalable pipelines and driving analytics initiatives, mentoring engineers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance our data solutions in a...
Reposted 4 days ago
Senior Product Manager (Intuitial)
$158K *
Lead the charge in delivering impactful solutions for Veterans by managing a cross-functional agile team, driving product direction, and fostering collaboration across multiple stakeholders to enhance...
2 days 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.