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Data Infrastructure Engineer
Build and operate the data platforms, pipelines, and storage systems that power analytics and ML.
Levels
4
Entry Salary
$75k-$100k
Senior+ Salary
$195k-$270k+
Total Skills
24
Junior
0-2 years
Mid-Level
2-5 years
Senior
5-8 years
Staff / Principal
8+ years
Career Progression
1
Required Skills
- SQL and relational databases
- Basic ETL concepts
- Data formats (JSON, Parquet, Avro)
- Cloud storage services (S3, GCS)
- Basic Python for data scripting
- Version control for data pipelines
Tools to Master
- PostgreSQL / MySQL
- Apache Airflow (basic)
- AWS S3 / GCS
- Python (pandas)
- dbt (basic)
- Docker
Responsibilities
- Maintain existing data pipelines
- Monitor data pipeline health and freshness
- Write SQL queries for data validation
- Support data analysts with infrastructure questions
- Document data sources and pipeline configurations
Recommended Certifications
- AWS Data Analytics Specialty
- Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer
- Databricks Fundamentals
2
3
4
Expert / Distinguished
Beyond the ladder: open-source maintainer, conference speaker, industry thought leader. The path continues as far as you take it.
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