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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$103K - $138K *

Unlock potential by designing and automating secure, scalable AWS cloud platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance infrastructure reliability and streamline software delivery throug...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$174K - $209K *

Drive innovation by enhancing backend systems and APIs for billing and usage calculations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve reliability and efficiency, ensuring seamless customer exp...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $320K *

Drive innovation by architecting high-performance backend systems for a cutting-edge data platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experience and optimize data workflows, ensu...

Vancouver, BCRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $160K *

Transform our cloud-native database platform by architecting scalable, distributed systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance infrastructure management and improve data metrics, ensur...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $150K *

Lead the charge in enhancing infrastructure reliability and automation for large-scale game development projects, collaborating with teams to implement cloud solutions and streamline CI/CD processes...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$168K - $322K *

Elevate your career by leading critical AI inference programs, driving execution across software and hardware teams. Own the full program lifecycle, ensuring timely delivery while fostering collaborat...

Santa Clara, CARemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$202K - $253K *

Elevate your leadership as you drive engineering excellence, overseeing multiple squads from prototype to production. Shape the roadmap, empower teams, and ensure quality delivery while staying techni...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$162K - $290K *

Elevate your career by shaping the technical direction of our Developer Experience team. Collaborate on cutting-edge AI coding tools and scalable infrastructures that enhance productivity across the e...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Unlock operational excellence by driving cross-functional programs that enhance cloud operations. Collaborate with teams to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and ensure alignment with business...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$212K - $339K *

Shape the future of AI infrastructure by architecting secure, scalable platforms for LLM training and production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex challenges and drive innovati...

RemoteRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$115K - $194K *

Lead the technical strategy for strategic partnerships, transforming partner needs into integrations and influencing product design. Collaborate with R&D to evaluate AI models and enhance GitLab's off...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Join a team that's dedicated to delivering innovative technical solutions, guiding customers through complex digital transformations, and enhancing software capabilities within a collaborative environ...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$105K - $165K *

Innovate by leading the development of cutting-edge harness engineering solutions. Create controls that enhance the AI coding process, ensuring quality and efficiency in production through hands-on de...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by designing and implementing hybrid networks across AWS, OCI, and on-premises environments, ensuring secure connectivity and compliance while troubleshooting complex issues in a f...

Baltimore, MDRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Grow your career with a dynamic role focused on coding, cloud resources, and database support. Lead automation projects, solve unique challenges daily, and collaborate with teams to deliver practical...

CanadaRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$209K - $273K *

Grow your career with a technical leadership role tackling complex challenges while mentoring others and collaborating on impactful projects across multiple engineering teams, elevating standards and...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$126K - $210K *

Unlock potential by leading a dynamic engineering team to enhance specialty prescription processes. Drive strategic direction, foster collaboration, and ensure delivery excellence while managing multi...

Columbus, GARemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $225K *

Lead the charge in driving business growth for critical infrastructure in the NY/NJ region. Collaborate with local leaders to enhance market share, develop strategic alliances, and implement customer...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$200K - $275K *

Partner with us to drive technical solutions for enterprise clients, showcasing product value through demos and proof-of-concept activities. Collaborate with sales and technical teams to enhance custo...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Drive innovation in audience measurement across media platforms. Lead product strategy, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and enhance data capabilities to deliver actionable insights for stakeh...

Florida, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$172K - $260K *

Join a dynamic team to lead the development of AI retrieval systems and agent infrastructure, driving innovation and quality in AI applications while collaborating across functions to enhance performa...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$230K - $275K *

Lead the charge in vulnerability research and exploitation techniques, transforming real-world threats into automated solutions. Collaborate with teams to enhance security measures and validate defens...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$91K - $175K *

Join a team that solves complex data challenges, developing insights from multiple sources to support business decisions. You'll mentor peers and lead the implementation of advanced reporting solution...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$110K - $130K *

Advance software development by leading projects, mentoring engineers, and architecting solutions. Collaborate across teams to enhance performance and functionality while staying updated on technology...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in growth marketing by developing integrated playbooks that drive multi-channel engagement, optimize customer journeys, and innovate programs while collaborating closely with Sales and...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

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.