Principal Recruiter
Data, Insight & Analytics
View profileAnalytics engineering bridges the gap between data engineering and data analysis. By transforming raw data into clean, reliable, well-documented datasets, analytics engineers make data more accessible and usable for business intelligence, reporting, and decision-making. It ensures that stakeholders (technical or otherwise) can trust and act upon high-quality, well-structured data.
For more about Analytics Engineering, please review our blogs on this topic:
Part one: Analytics Engineering: Modern Data Teams
Part two: The Rise of Analytics Engineers: The Modern Data Stack
Part three: Key Skills and Tools for Analytics Engineers: Building the Future of Data
Part four: The Power Trio: DBT, Looker, and Snowflake in Analytics Engineering
Part five: Here’s Why Companies Should Hire Analytics Engineers
Why consider a career in Analytics engineering ?
With the increasing demand for data-driven decision-making, analytics engineering has emerged as a crucial role within modern data teams – they’re becoming more and more popular, with many companies adopting new AE teams or individuals.
It offers exciting opportunities to work across both technical and strategic areas, combining engineering practices with analytical insight. For those passionate about data quality, modelling, and enabling data use at scale, it’s a rewarding and fast-evolving career path.
What are typical Analytics engineering job titles?
Analytics Engineering: Career Progression Example
Analytics Engineering Salary Benchmarks
View our Data, Insight and Analytics within Engineering and Development Salary Guide
Analytics Engineering: Is It Right for Me? The Skills It Takes…
Analytics engineers require a blend of engineering acumen, data modelling capability, and strong communication skills. Key skill areas include:
Engineering & Technical Skills: Data Modelling (Star and Snowflake Schemas) | Snowflake | Looker | dbt | Airflow | ELT Pipelines | Fivetran | Advanced SQL | Cloud Data Warehouses including BigQuery, Snowflake, and Redshift | Git and Version Control | CI/CD for Data Workflows | Testing and Documentation of Data Pipelines | Data Lineage and Metadata Management
Analytical & Communication Skills: Translating Business Logic into Data Models | Collaboration with Analysts and Stakeholders | Clear and Concise Documentation, including Data Dictionaries | Strong Data Literacy and Identification of Data Quality Issues | Communicating Insights and Trade-offs to Non-Technical Audiences
Tooling & Platform Knowledge: dbt (Data Build Tool) | Looker, Tableau, and Power BI (for validation and collaboration) | SQL-based Transformation Tools | GitHub and GitLab for Workflow and Collaboration | Cloud Platforms including GCP, AWS, and Azure
What qualifications do you need for a career in Analytics engineering?
Most employers look for a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a technical or analytical subject such as Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, or Statistics. However, due to the emerging nature of the role, individuals with relevant experience in data analysis, data warehousing, or data engineering – especially those who’ve gained hands-on experience with the modern data stack (dbt, Looker, Snowflake) – are also well-placed to move into analytics engineering roles.
This guide maps out the progression of roles in Analytics Engineering, from entry-level positions through to senior leadership, including job descriptions, salary bands, and key skills for the UK market.
Junior Analytics Engineer / Data Engineer (Entry-Level)
Salary: £28k – £38k
What They Do:
Supports the design and maintenance of data pipelines and analytics infrastructure, transforming raw data into usable datasets for analysts and data scientists.
Skills Needed:
Analytics Engineer
Salary: £38k – £50k
What They Do:
Builds robust data models, ensures data quality, and collaborates with analysts and engineers to improve reporting and analytics capabilities.
Skills Needed:
Senior Analytics Engineer
Salary: £50k – £65k
What They Do:
Designs and scales data infrastructure, implements advanced analytics solutions, and mentors junior engineers.
Skills Needed:
Analytics Engineering Lead / Data Engineering Lead
Salary: £65k – £80k
What They Do:
Manages analytics engineering teams, sets best practices, and ensures data systems support business decision-making.
Skills Needed:
Head of Analytics Engineering / Director of Data Engineering
Salary: £80k – £110k
What They Do:
Leads the organisation’s analytics engineering strategy, ensuring scalable, reliable, and secure data systems.
Skills Needed:
Chief Data Officer / VP of Data & Analytics
Salary: £120k – £150k+
What They Do:
Defines the data and analytics vision at the board level, drives digital transformation through data, and ensures analytics are embedded in business operations.
Skills Needed:
We connect ambitious organisations with their greatest assets, equally ambitious talent.
Own strategic modelling across a diversifying product and channel mix.
Manage and mentor a growing team of analysts.
Full details
30th Sep
Lead the evolution of modelling from reactive to strategic and commercially impactful.
Create models to influence marketing investment decisions across a diversifying product suite.
Full details
30th Sep
Data, Insight & Analytics case study
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Acting as an extension of the LabGenius team, we ensured that candidates met both the cultural and technical requirements to succeed. We successfully placed a range of talent, for niche Protein Characterisation, Protein Production, High-throughput screening, Cell Biologists to Assistant Laboratory Managers, Laboratory Technicians and People Managers, as well as IT and Software Engineers, Engineering Managers and Delivery Managers.
GTSW is an incredible resource for expanding knowledge on the wider subject of sustainable technology. It’s helped to expand my network of environmentally focused tech folk. Enabling conversations, collaborations and new friendships. It’s a great community to be a part of.
Nick Lewis
Senior Sustainable Web Developer at Leap and creator of lowwwcarbon.com
Green Tech South West
ADLIB collaborated closely with us, refining the process through an iterative approach, and helped us find six exceptional candidates for our growing tech team.
It’s been like night and day working with ADLIB. Really impressed with how great the candidates have been, and how the team have been so responsive and totally on the ball. What a bunch of great people!
Leveraging our scientific background and deep understanding of the company’s goals, we conducted targeted headhunting efforts to identify top-tier, niche talent. We successfully placed a high-caliber scientific team within the required timeframe, helping Epitopea build a strong foundation for future growth. We continue to support their hiring needs as the company expands.
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As a trusted recruitment partner, ADLIB worked closely with us to successfully hire a VOD Content and Channel Manager. We appreciated ADLIB taking the time to meet with the role holder to help source candidates - with the right transferable skills, and to fully understand the role requirements for this maternity cover position.