Builds distributed data processing systems for very large datasets.
Entry
Senior
Coding
Very High
Key skills
Career overview
The Big Data Engineer builds distributed processing systems for very large datasets: Spark, Hadoop, Kafka, data lakes and lakehouses. They handle scale, partitioning, performance and cost. The role leads to Senior Data Engineer, Data Architect or Data Platform Engineer positions.
Main responsibilities
- Build big data processing platforms
- Build reliable data ingestion pipelines
- Model and maintain the data warehouse
- Guarantee data quality, freshness and lineage
- Describe infrastructure as code and version it
- Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines
- Monitor platform health, alerts and dashboards
- Track and optimise cloud spending
- Keep technical documentation up to date
- Mentor junior team members and review their work
Technical skills
Technologies
Education level
Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.
High School / Bac
Less common
Bac+2 (2-year degree)
Less common
Bac+3 (Bachelor)
Less common
Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)
Common entry point
Experience & coding level
Experience level
Coding level
Useful certifications
Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.
- Databricks Certified Data Engineer
- Cloudera Certified Data Engineer
- Google Professional Data Engineer
Where can this career take you?
Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.
Direct progression
Possible branches
Where can you go next?
Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.
Where can you go from here?
A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.
Soft skills
- Problem solving
- Analytical thinking
- Big-picture thinking
- Autonomy
- Clear communication
- Sense of ownership
Related resources
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Big Data EngineerSenior Data Engineer
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