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Data Engineer job description

A Data Engineer is a data professional who uses their expertise in data engineering and programming to build systems that collect, manage and convert raw data into usable information for business analysts.

Alexandra Marinaki
Alexandra Marinaki

Alexandra is a psychologist with a MSc in Talent Development and Creativity.

Refreshed on

February 2, 2022

Reviewed by

Eftychia Karavelaki

Senior Recruitment Manager

 

Use this data engineer job description sample to advertise your vacancies and attract the best candidates. Feel free to modify responsibilities and requirements based on your needs. 

What is a data engineer?

Data engineers build and maintain data systems. They construct datasets that are easy to analyze and support company requirements.

What does a data engineer do?

Data engineers implement methods to improve data reliability and quality. They combine raw information from different sources to create consistent and machine-readable formats. They also develop and test architectures that enable data extraction and transformation for predictive or prescriptive modeling. 

Data engineer roles and responsibilities include:

  • Analyzing raw data
  • Developing and maintaining datasets
  • Improving data quality and efficiency

These responsibilities may vary based on each company’s needs. When crafting your own data engineer job description, make sure to tailor them accordingly.

Job brief

We are looking for an experienced data engineer to join our team. You will use various methods to transform raw data into useful data systems. For example, you’ll create algorithms and conduct statistical analysis. Overall, you’ll strive for efficiency by aligning data systems with business goals. 

To succeed in this data engineering position, you should have strong analytical skills and the ability to combine data from different sources. Data engineer skills also include familiarity with several programming languages and knowledge of learning machine methods.

If you are detail-oriented, with excellent organizational skills and experience in this field, we’d like to hear from you. 

Responsibilities

  • Analyze and organize raw data 
  • Build data systems and pipelines
  • Evaluate business needs and objectives
  • Interpret trends and patterns
  • Conduct complex data analysis and report on results 
  • Prepare data for prescriptive and predictive modeling
  • Build algorithms and prototypes
  • Combine raw information from different sources
  • Explore ways to enhance data quality and reliability
  • Identify opportunities for data acquisition
  • Develop analytical tools and programs
  • Collaborate with data scientists and architects on several projects

Requirements and skills

  • Previous experience as a data engineer or in a similar role
  • Technical expertise with data models, data mining, and segmentation techniques
  • Knowledge of programming languages  (e.g. Java and Python)
  • Hands-on experience with SQL database design
  • Great numerical and analytical skills
  • Degree in Computer Science, IT, or similar field; a Master’s is a plus
  • Data engineering certification (e.g IBM Certified Data Engineer) is a plus

Frequently asked questions

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