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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$120K - $145K *

Unlock innovative AI/ML solutions by collaborating with cross-functional teams, conducting research, and deploying production-grade microservices. Drive impactful projects with ownership and contribut...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$171K - $300K *

Champion the evolution of a high-volume data platform, collaborating with engineering and product teams to enhance reliability and efficiency while mentoring senior engineers and driving innovative AI...

San Diego, CARemote

3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Pioneer the migration of legacy data systems to Databricks Lakehouse, optimizing data architecture and ETL processes. Lead cross-functional teams to enhance data accessibility and performance, ensurin...

Reston, VARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$135K - $160K *

Unlock the future of AI as you design and enhance multi-agent orchestration frameworks, implementing state management and human-in-the-loop workflows to empower enterprise-level agent development at s...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$96K - $145K *

Accelerate your career by supporting critical mainframe applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and resolve complex issues, while driving continuous impro...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$250K - $280K *

Empower the development of AI observability capabilities, architecting data models and infrastructure while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user workflows and insights into AI sys...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$168K - $177K *

Empower advertisers by leading high-impact projects that enhance campaign management, optimize platform health, and drive revenue growth through innovative backend services and APIs. Collaborate acros...

CanadaRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$153K - $166K *

Empower the future of education by developing scalable web applications and cloud services. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance digital assessment experiences, ensuring reliability and...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $200K *

Transform data into actionable insights as a Data Engineer for AI & ML. Drive innovative projects, design scalable architectures, and engage with stakeholders to enhance federal mission capabilities w...

Mc Lean, VARemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Champion the development of LLM-powered applications and agentic systems. Drive complex use cases from ambiguous problems to production, ensuring high-quality and scalable AI solutions that address us...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$122K - $171K *

Unlock potential by driving data-driven insights for Customer Success. Collaborate across teams to enhance customer journeys, optimize growth strategies, and shape analytics foundations that support A...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$183K - $206K *

Transform AI observability by developing end-to-end capabilities, architecting data models, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user workflows and insights into agent performance...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping database strategies and standards. In this role, you'll enhance database performance, ensure data integrity, and collaborate with engineering teams to optimize our database...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$135K - $160K *

Drive innovation as you design, build, and optimize ML/AI solutions, ensuring seamless deployment and performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and contribute to a supportive environment, a...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$101K - $206K *

Innovate with a team that's transforming healthcare through AI-driven software. Lead the development of scalable solutions, mentor engineers, and enhance workflows in a dynamic environment that impact...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$162K - $190K *

Lead the charge in developing scalable analytics and KPI frameworks, ensuring trusted metrics drive impactful business decisions. Collaborate cross-functionally to standardize measurement and enhance...

CanadaRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$111K - $150K *

Lead the charge in leveraging AI and data science to drive innovative solutions. Collaborate with diverse teams to implement cutting-edge technologies, enhancing research and development efforts while...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Drive your career with a Senior Site Reliability Engineer role focused on building secure AWS GovCloud foundations for FedRAMP High and IL5, ensuring compliance and operational excellence while mentor...

CanadaRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$138K - $143K *

Empower the organization by designing and maintaining robust enterprise data pipelines. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring data quality and integration through advanced modeling and pip...

New York, NYRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$120K - $145K *

Empower your career by leading a team of data experts in building innovative BI solutions. Drive impactful decisions through data-driven insights, collaborating with stakeholders while fostering a cul...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's dedicated to transforming healthcare data solutions. As a Senior Data Engineer, you'll enhance complex systems, collaborate across departments, and drive analytics to optimize finan...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Shape the future of customer relationships by driving value and retention for large organizations, collaborating closely with sales and product teams to ensure success and growth through data-driven i...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$136K - $227K *

Join a dynamic team to lead enterprise healthcare solutions, driving technology strategy and AI adoption while mentoring junior staff and aligning IT initiatives with business goals for enhanced patie...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$145K - $165K *

Join a dynamic team as a Data Engineer, driving data-driven decisions by designing and implementing innovative data solutions. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance data accessibility and support a...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$125K - $135K *

Innovate and lead as a Senior Software Engineer, driving full-stack solutions and mentoring talent. Collaborate with teams to enhance software processes, ensuring high-quality delivery and technical e...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.