Job Descriptions/ Data Engineer

Data Engineer Job Description: Duties, Skills, Education & Salary

Data Engineers build systems that collect, manage, and convert raw data into usable information for analysts and decision-makers. They design pipelines, optimize data flows, and ensure data integrity and security across platforms.

Use our expert-written data engineer job description template to attract top talent. It includes essential duties, skills, average salary, and more.

May 20, 2025

Blog alt

Data Engineer Job Description Template

Job Title: Data Engineer

Location: [Insert Location]

Job Type: [Full-time/Part-time/Contract]

Reports To: Data Engineering Manager / Head of Data & Analytics

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Data Engineer to join our growing data team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing and maintaining data pipelines, integrating data from various sources, and building infrastructure that enables data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Data Engineer Responsibilities and Duties

  • Design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines and ETL processes
  • Integrate data from internal and external sources into data warehouses and lakes
  • Collaborate with data analysts, data scientists, and software engineers to support data initiatives
  • Monitor data integrity and resolve data quality issues
  • Optimize database performance and query execution
  • Implement data security and compliance best practices
  • Create and maintain documentation related to data architecture and workflows
  • Use cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) for storage and processing

Data Engineer Qualifications and Skills

  • Strong programming skills in SQL, Python, or Scala
  • Proficiency with ETL tools and data pipeline frameworks (e.g., Apache Airflow, dbt)
  • Experience with data warehousing platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery)
  • Familiarity with distributed systems and big data tools (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka)
  • Understanding of data modeling, normalization, and schema design
  • Strong problem-solving and debugging skills
  • Excellent communication and collaboration abilities
  • Experience with CI/CD and version control systems is a plus

Education and Experience Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field
  • 2–5 years of experience as a Data Engineer or similar role
  • Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP) preferred
  • Background in data governance, quality, and compliance is a plus

Interested candidates are invited to send their resume and a brief cover letter highlighting their experience building data pipelines, managing large-scale data environments, and collaborating with analytics teams. Please apply at [email protected] or contact us at +1 999999999 for more information.

Data Engineer Average Salary

In the United States, Data Engineers earn an average salary between $125,953 and $199,097 per year, depending on experience, industry, and location. Senior-level engineers or those with cloud and big data expertise often earn significantly more.

Hire the Right Data Engineer Today

With a well-defined job description, you can attract highly qualified data engineers who will power your business intelligence efforts and improve decision-making through clean, actionable data.

To make the hiring process faster, use Skima AI. Simply type in what you're looking for like “data engineer with Snowflake and AWS experience in New York”—and let Skima scan millions of profiles and rank the best fits.

Skima AI is trusted by tech-forward teams across the U.S. Start your free trial today.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a data engineer?

A data engineer is a technical professional responsible for building systems that gather, process, and store data for use by analysts and business leaders.

2. What does a data engineer do?

Data engineers design and manage data pipelines, ensure data quality, and support analytical platforms by integrating data from various sources.

3. What are the responsibilities of a data engineer?

Core duties include building ETL processes, managing databases, optimizing queries, implementing data governance, and collaborating with data teams.

4. How to hire a data engineer?

Look for candidates with experience in cloud platforms, big data tools, and pipeline automation. Use a detailed job description and platforms like Skima AI to filter top candidates efficiently.