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.
$150K - $210K *
Engage with customers to design tailored solutions utilizing Zoo's APIs, driving adoption and ensuring successful integration, while supporting sales with technical expertise and customer demonstratio...
Reposted 1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Help us shape innovative solutions by applying your software expertise and problem-solving skills. Your role is crucial in developing high-quality applications in a collaborative, agile environment, a...
4 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Shape innovative AI/ML initiatives to enhance student engagement and retention. Lead cross-functional teams to develop predictive models and data pipelines, driving measurable outcomes for thousands o...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Technical Program Manager, Services Operations
$132K - $182K *
Drive program execution across high-priority workstreams in Customer Outcomes, managing threat intelligence partnerships and AI model initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure tim...
3 weeks ago
Data Analyst (Databricks) REMOTE
$80K - $95K *
Join a team that's dedicated to transforming healthcare data into actionable insights. This role involves analyzing complex datasets, collaborating with stakeholders, and delivering data-driven recomm...
2 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Lead the charge in solving critical engineering challenges, driving technical direction, and fostering team growth. Collaborate across departments to enhance systems, ensuring reliability and innovati...
2 days ago
Principal Software Engineer - IBM z/OS Connectivity
$150K - $180K *
Elevate your career by leading the development of innovative software solutions that enhance integration with IBM z/OS environments, addressing complex challenges in enterprise automation systems with...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Systems Specialist, FP&A
$116K - $157K *
Grow your career with our FP&A Systems team, designing innovative EPM solutions and enhancing financial planning processes. Collaborate with various stakeholders to optimize efficiency and ensure data...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Principal Engineer, Technology Transformation & AI Enablement
$144K - $288K *
Transform enterprise technology by leading modernization initiatives, enhancing engineering practices, and enabling responsible AI adoption across diverse platforms. Collaborate with stakeholders to d...
3 days ago
$135K - $160K *
Champion innovative solutions by advising top financial institutions on identity verification and fraud prevention. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure seamless client experiences and drive produ...
5 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, AI Platform
$187K - $220K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of AI in IT Operations. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll design and build innovative platform capabilities, driving impactful solutions and collaborating dir...
2 weeks ago
Platform Engineer - FedD180/FedD181
$123K - $166K *
Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing cloud platform reliability and security. As a Platform Engineer, you'll leverage your expertise in Kubernetes and CI/CD to build and maintain robust infrastru...
1 week ago
Staff DevOps Engineer, Developer Experience (DevEx)
$145K - $175K *
Join our team to drive the technical direction of our Internal Developer Platform, enhancing workflows and tooling for engineering teams. You'll lead multi-quarter strategies, ensuring reliable delive...
3 weeks ago
Senior Systems Engineer (Antarctic Support Contract)
$92K - $166K *
Transform critical systems for the US Antarctic Program by designing, deploying, and maintaining Linux-based infrastructure. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and lead operations in a unique, mi...
1 week ago
$77K - $92K *
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative healthcare analytics applications, ensuring high-quality solutions that drive performance and value for clients in a dynamic, fast-paced e...
3 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Elevate client success by managing complex projects, ensuring timely delivery, and maintaining budget integrity. Collaborate with diverse teams to drive engagement and optimize project outcomes from i...
2 weeks ago
Principal Data Scientist, Marketing Measurement
$182K - $252K *
Drive impactful marketing measurement by leveraging causal inference to optimize budget allocation across channels. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data-driven decisions enhance grow...
2 weeks ago
$159K - $235K *
Innovate detection capabilities by developing robust solutions to enhance security across corporate and marketplace environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to revolutionize threat detect...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Product Designer, Developer Foundations
$180K - $212K *
Lead the design of a comprehensive Developer Portal, enhancing the developer experience through intuitive interfaces and impactful improvements. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive user-c...
6 days ago
$80K - $95K *
Optimize support processes and lead technical resolutions, mentoring junior team members while collaborating with engineering. Elevate customer experiences by addressing complex issues and enhancing t...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Logistics Process Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Drive logistics innovation by optimizing end-to-end processes for large-scale data centers. Leverage engineering expertise to enhance efficiency, safety, and scalability in warehouse operations and ma...
5 days ago
$135K - $160K *
Lead cross-functional programs to enhance a high-performance cloud platform. Drive strategic initiatives, mentor teams, and improve engineering productivity while collaborating closely with software e...
1 week ago
Senior ServiceNow Developer/Architect
$125K - $150K *
Champion enterprise solutions by leading the design and optimization of ServiceNow platforms. Drive architecture, governance, and delivery across multiple domains, ensuring scalability and performance...
6 days ago
Senior Manager, Risk Intelligence & Decision Support
$124K - $207K *
Join a team that's transforming risk data into actionable insights. Lead analytics and decision support initiatives, manage delivery roadmaps, and enhance team capabilities to drive effective risk man...
2 days ago
$90K - $189K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Scrum Master, facilitating Agile execution, coaching teams, and removing obstacles to ensure high-quality software delivery while aligning business needs with technical...
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.