Data Engineer jobs in the IT industry

Why choose Younity as your recruitment partner for data engineer roles?

We know how important data has become for New Zealand organisations, both in the public and private sectors. We understand the nuances of different data roles and the skillsets required for engineer-based roles.

Our team works closely with employers to determine the specifics of their infrastructure and systems, outlining a job description and criteria to ensure the best possible fit.

If you’re a job seeker, our team can help you from CV improvement to settling into the new role.

What does a data engineer do in IT?

A data engineer compiles and transforms data into a useful format for analysis. They are software engineers who design, build and integrate data from a variety of sources utilising data lakes or repositories.

They write complex queries, making data clean and accessible with the goal of optimising performance and integration of big data ecosystems. Key tools include SQL, Scala, Spark, Kafka, Hadoop, Python, Java etc.

New Zealand, like the rest of the world, is so reliant on data today that slowdowns or failures can stop the country in its tracks. Accessing data quickly and securely is one of the most important demands from an IT function, so data engineers play a pivotal role in ensuring this.

The data engineer  will also be involved in the provision of raw data for data scientists to analyse. Developing processes and platforms to make this process easier is a key aspect of this role.

You’ll also find yourself involved in cloud infrastructure like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud for decentralised storage and processing needs. Along with data management, you’ll help secure data to mitigate the risk of leaks or mishandling.

Data, especially old migrated data, is often full of outdated information or inaccuracies. Data cleaning is part of the data engineer role in many organisations, helping to oversee the cleanup efficiently and securely.

What’s it like to work in this discipline?

Data engineers have a foot in both the infrastructure and data camps. While they deal with data, their role focuses more on how it’s stored, secured, moved, and used, rather than analysing it and making recommendations.

Like many roles within the data space, it’s a fairly niche discipline, meaning that those with good experience and skills can demand excellent pay and opportunities for growth.

It’s no secret that this is a high-stakes and sometimes challenging field, but that comes with the territory. If you love a challenge and even enjoy cleaning up existing messes with data, then an engineer role could be a great fit. After all, your skills will be crucial for the organisation’s smooth operation.

Each day can involve both proactive and reactive tasks, and what you end up doing will depend greatly on the business you work in, the current risks and any ongoing projects.

What qualifications or experience does this role benefit from?

Data engineers need excellent ICT skills and in almost all cases, a formal qualification like a computer science or information systems degree.

Beyond the tertiary level, you’ll likely have certifications on specific platforms and infrastructure such as AWS Certification. It is worthwhile to learn the main platforms like AWS, Google Cloud and Azure, as this can broaden your options when looking for a new role.

Preparing a CV or Cover letter for a data engineer role

With such a technical role, focus less on all and any job experiences, and tailor your CV and cover letter to the specifics of your data engineer background. This should include both technical capabilities and real world experience – think of the type of tasks that’s being asked in the job ad and draw upon your own experience to find times where you’ve done something similar.

It’s likely the hiring manager will have some working knowledge of the technical stuff, or they may have a technical expert in the meeting to ask those curly questions. Do some preparation by thinking about:

• Challenges
• Experiences
• Learnings
• Certifications
• Preferred platforms
• Common mistakes in data management or handling
• Any industry changes or technological developments that show you’ve got your finger on the pulse.

Check out our helpful Jobseeker Resources section for cover letter and CV templates, as well as career advice for IT professionals.

Browse other job types in this specialty area

• Data Scientists
• Database Administrators
• Customer Insights Scientists
• BI & Reporting Developers
• Big Data & Data Warehouse Specialists