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 *

Lead the charge in AI/ML initiatives that enhance student engagement and retention. Drive cross-functional collaboration to deliver predictive models and measurable outcomes, transforming data into ac...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

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

$140K - $190K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of machine learning, leading high-impact projects that enhance fraud detection capabilities and ensure robust systems. Collaborate cross-functionally to translate...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$140K - $160K *

Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team as a Data Engineer, owning end-to-end data systems and driving platform modernization. You'll improve data reliability and work closely with cross-functio...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $300K *

Transform the future of cloud-native applications by designing and developing scalable web solutions. Leverage your expertise in full stack development and cloud technologies to drive innovation and o...

Boston, MARemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $220K *

Transform LLM inference efficiency by leading the performance measurement, diagnosis, and enhancement efforts to optimize customer experience through cost-effective and speedy solutions in a hands-on...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $135K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of digital services for Veterans. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll design and maintain scalable applications, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and me...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Champion transformative AI solutions within our data platform, leading the engineering of agentic systems while collaborating with cross-functional teams to elevate the Product Lifecycle Management ex...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$84K - $101K *

Bring your expertise to a dynamic team focused on analyzing key performance metrics and operational drivers. Utilize Python and SQL to develop scalable analytical models, delivering insights that supp...

Virginia, USRemote

1 week ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Join our dynamic Delivery team to design and develop robust data pipelines, leveraging cloud technologies and distributed systems while ensuring optimal performance and scalability for our clients' da...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$132K - $181K *

Drive the development of an innovative Excel plugin, integrating AI-driven market intelligence for financial professionals. Collaborate with teams to optimize performance and enhance user experience...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$132K - $181K *

Join a team that's redefining financial technology by integrating AI into Excel. You'll develop a powerful plugin that enhances decision-making for financial professionals, ensuring seamless performan...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$135K - $160K *

Unlock your potential as a Lead Data Software Engineer, driving innovative data solutions and leading cross-functional teams to enhance our data infrastructure and ensure scalability and performance a...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $270K *

Innovate software solutions that enhance the delivery of critical treatments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design scalable applications, mentor junior engineers, and drive product direct...

Boston, MARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$105K - $140K *

Innovate with advanced analytics and AI to transform enterprise data into actionable insights, driving impactful decisions in Clinical Development and Operations. Collaborate with cross-functional tea...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$94K - $176K *

Drive innovation in document processing by leading high-impact projects, shaping architecture, and optimizing performance in a queue-driven pipeline. Collaborate across teams to enhance AI products an...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$140K - $190K *

Lead and design data solutions to drive healthcare insights, working with a team of engineers to build and maintain robust data pipelines, ensuring high reliability and performance for critical busine...

Chicago, ILRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $180K *

Champion data-driven insights and solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to shape analytics practice and drive impactful decision-making across various business domains...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$142K - $184K *

Champion the development and operational deployment of vehicle firmware, leveraging IoT data to enhance fleet safety and efficiency through collaborative efforts with cross-functional teams...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$154K - $260K *

Innovate and drive technical strategy for AI-powered products at scale. Empower teams to build transformative software solutions, oversee complex projects, and deliver exceptional results that reshape...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $130K *

Transform data engineering by architecting scalable pipelines and optimizing healthcare data solutions. Lead teams to enhance data quality and compliance while driving innovation and strategic alignme...

Baltimore, MDRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $200K *

Lead the charge in designing and implementing scalable data solutions, orchestrating pipelines, and supporting advanced analytics in cloud environments. Collaborate with teams to deliver robust data a...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Pioneer the future of AI as a Senior Engineer specializing in semantic web technologies, bridging business and tech to create scalable data solutions that enhance analytics, knowledge management, and...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's transforming cloud infrastructure for institutional investors. You'll deploy and manage AI solutions across various cloud environments, ensuring security and compliance while collab...

Berkeley, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$153K - $213K *

Elevate your career by designing scalable backend systems that enhance customer engagement and streamline growth. Leverage your expertise to shape impactful solutions in a collaborative, remote-first...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Explore the potential of AI in full-stack development while designing and delivering enterprise applications. Collaborate across teams and mentor engineers, ensuring your expertise shapes cutting-edge...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information 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.