Data Engineer Resume (+Sample, Templates, and Practical Tips)
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Data Engineer Resume (+Sample, Templates, and Practical Tips)

Data engineering is a field growing rapidly, with the demand for data engineers increasing every day. Gone are the days when one or two people would handle big data jobs. 

Last update:
1/8/2024

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Data Engineer Resume Example

Kevin Malone
Data Engineer
453-778-678
kevinemalone@gmail.com
Phoenix, AZ

Professional Summary

Experienced Data Engineer with an eight-year background in database design and administration. Developed enterprise architecture, modeled and stored data, and designed data collection methods. Skilled at ascertaining valuable business intelligence from complex datasets and highly proficient in Python and C++ programming languages. Quick learner with strong problem-solving skills, strong collaborator, and outstanding oral and written communication skills.

Work experience

Sunesis Technologies
Data Engineer
May 2013-June 2015

  • Used SQL and Spark to build databases and determined weaknesses of new client codes.
  • Conducted complex data analysis and compiled written reports for the senior data engineer.
  • Collaborated with senior-level data scientists to manage and store data protecting it from loss and theft.
  • Designed and managed SQL and NoSQL using DbSchema to assist with data collection processes.

Lafont Consulting
Junior Data Engineer
January 2012-March 2013

  • Assisted with training interns on using MongoDB to manage big data for the company.
  • Collaborated with other IT experts to develop a SQL Server database that improved the overall customer experience.
  • Prepared data for prescriptive and predictive modeling to optimize processes and help the company make informed decisions.
  • Joined the senior data engineers in designing ETL processes to help consolidate data in a single repository.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
The University of Arizona
June 2011

Skills

  • Hadoop
  • Apache Kafka
  • Apache Airflow
  • SQL
  • NoSQL
  • Organization skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Detail-oriented
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Time management

Additional sections

Certifications
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Data Analytics Specialty

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Now, these jobs are more specialized, with each of them requiring you to have specific qualifications in data management to get the position. One of these specializations is data engineering, and for you to get your dream job, you need an impeccable data engineer resume.

In this article, we'll help you write a resume that will get the recruiter's attention. In addition to that, you'll find the following information:

  • Tips on how to structure your work experience and skills.
  • A data engineer resume example to walk you through the writing process.
  • The relevant sections you should have in your resume for data engineering.
data engineer resume

Salary & Employment Rates for Data Engineers

According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, employment of database administrators and architects is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030.

The industries with the highest levels of employment in Data Scientists and Mathematical Science Occupations include:

  • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
  • Management of Companies and Enterprises
  • Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
  • Scientific Research and Development Services
  • Insurance Carriers

The average salary for a data engineer depends on their years of experience, skills and educational qualifications as follows:

  • 0-2 years $107,000
  • 2-4 years $ 113,000
  • 4-6 years $ 116,000

How to Write an Effective Resume for a Data Engineer?

As a data engineer, you need a solid educational background and years of experience to gain the technical skills that you require on the job. If you're a recent graduate, you may not have the experience, but you can use your educational qualifications and skills to get the position you want.

The secret to writing a resume that will get you your next job is ensuring you use what you have to convince the hiring manager you're the best person for the job.

If that's your professional experience, then showcase it and show relevant examples in the workplace that will show your value to the recruiter. If that's your skills and education, present them in the best way to convince the recruiter you're the perfect candidate.

Format of Your Resume

Your resume format should present your best qualifications first. Remember, the hiring manager will only glance at your resume, and you want what they see to keep them reading.

Let's look at some of the formats you can consider:

  • Reverse-chronological resume format - This focuses on your experience and is suitable for candidates who have worked for many years in their field.
  • Functional resume - This is great for recent graduates and candidates changing careers because it focuses on your skills and educational qualifications.
  • Combination/hybrid resume - This format combines the best features of the two previous formats and is also great for candidates with experience and skills.

The structure of your data engineer resume should have the following sections:

  • The header section
  • Resume summary/resume objective
  • Work experience
  • Education section
  • Skill section
  • An additional section (volunteer work, awards/honors, interests, languages, and certifications)

Here is a list of some other resumes you might want to check out:

Start Your Data Engineer Resume with the Header

You'll start your resume with a header that contains the following:

  • Your full name
  • Job title
  • Phone number
  • Professional email address
  • Location
  • A link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio.
Ensure that the contact information you provide here is accurate because if there are any errors, the recruiter might not reach you. It would be a great disservice to yourself if you have all the qualifications but miss out on the position because of this.

Let's check out two example:

CORRECT
Lisa Bost

Data Engineer

242-887-426

lisabost@gmail.com

Indianapolis, IN

linkedin.com/in/lisabost


INCORRECT
Lisa Bost

Data Engineer

242-887-426

lisabost@gmail.com

2216 Henry Street

House number 04

Indianapolis, IN

linkedin.com/in/lisabost


📌When writing your header section, it's always better to keep it short and avoid adding too much personal information.

Photo or no photo?

It's tempting to add a photo to your resume but don't add one. The reason is that doing so increases your chances of unconscious bias and discrimination. However, always add one to your resume if the recruiter asks for it but let it be professional.


data engineer resume

Describe Your Work Experience As A Data Engineer

The experience section is vital for a data engineer. Your potential employer wants to see that you've worked in a similar position and achieved impressive results. Whether it's building a data warehouse capable of storing large quantities of data or building and organizing data pipelines, you should not leave out any relevant experience that could help you beat your competitors.

Here's how you'll list your work experience:

  • Start with the name of your workplace, your job title and the years you've worked at each workplace. Remember that you always start with your most recent job and go back but focus on the relevant experience to the position.
  • Add some of your roles and responsibilities at each workplace. Usually, three to five will work.
  • Quantify your results with facts and figures to show your value to the company.
If you don't have much experience, consider volunteering on projects that will allow you to build your portfolio because this section is important.
📌The job description is the perfect place to check for keywords that you can add to your job duties to optimize them and increase your chances of beating the ATS systems.

CORRECT
Muru Consulting

Data Engineer

January 2016-August 2018

  • Used Apache Airflow to manage and organize complex workflows, increasing the efficiency by 20%.
  • Participated in creating an open-source NoSQL database management system that allowed over 100 employees to use data spread across multiple servers.
  • Created a data lake that allowed multiple employees to store structured and unstructured data quicker, saving time and costs.

💡The example above lists the candidate's duties and quantifies their achievements with figures, making it easier for the recruiter to see what the candidate can do.

INCORRECT
Lafont Engineering

Data Engineer

October 2016-June 2018

  • Build data systems and pipelines.
  • Analyzed and organized raw data.
  • Interpreted trends and patterns.

💡The example above is too vague and general and doesn't show the candidate's results in their workplace.

Boost Data Engineer Resume with Your Education

Your educational background is essential in this field so ensure that it is well-structured in your resume. Most data engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Having a Master's or a Ph.D. is even better and puts you ahead of the other candidates without this qualification.

When listing your educational qualifications, you'll add the name of the school, degree awarded and the year of completion. If you have a stellar GPA, you can also add it. Leaving out your high school diploma is allowed, especially if you have a Master's degree.

Correct example

CORRECT
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering

University of Pennsylvania

December 2015


data engineer resume

Strengthen Your Resume with Your Skills

Nothing says you are good at your data engineering job than your skills. These unique abilities allow you to perform your duties efficiently and effectively and play a significant role in getting you hired for the position. Data engineering is a pretty technical field, and most projects will require you to have specific skills.

While most employers prefer a candidate with technical skills, we cannot ignore the soft skills, which are also essential. This is why your resume should have the right blend of both. The job description may have some of the skills the employer wants, so you should always check it out. However, don't lie because the recruiter may ask you about the skills you have on your resume. Our resume examples also have some excellent tips to help you with the skills section.

Here is a list of skills you should add to your data engineer resume.

Hard skills

  • Data warehousing
  • Machine Learning
  • Java
  • Apache Spark
  • Python
  • Data science
  • Hadoop
  • Apache Kafka

Soft skills

  • Organization skills
  • Time management
  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Decision-making
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Teamwork

Introducing Your Professional Summary

Once you've written the header section, you'll introduce your resume using a resume summary. This section contains a short paragraph that summarizes your top achievements, experience and skills to get the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume. That means it should be catchy and engaging. Otherwise, they'll put it aside, and you'll miss out on an amazing opportunity.

CORRECT
Skilled data engineer with eight years of experience and deep knowledge of ETL tools. Exceptional proficiency in Scala, Python, and Java programming languages for modeling and statistical analysis. Proven ability to meet specific customer requirements by developing, optimizing, and reworking systems, increasing customer retention by 25%.

💡The example above gives a detailed summary of the candidate's expertise and skills and quantifies the results with a figure.

INCORRECT
Software Engineer with a thorough approach to crafting innovative business solutions with web technology. Driven to achieve the best results for customers.

💡The example above fails to summarize the candidate's best qualifications and achievements and vaguely mentions some of the duties at the workplace.

Professional Objective

A resume objective, also known as a professional objective, does the same job as a resume summary. However, instead of summarizing the candidate's experience, it highlights their career goals and allows them to show their excitement for the position. Candidates who are recent graduates or changing careers and don't have much experience or fancy achievements to get the recruiter's attention should use the resume objective.

CORRECT
Recent graduate with experience in Python and SQL programming languages. Expertise in testing, evaluating and solving issues related to the data management system. Specialist in ensuring compliance, performing inspections, and leading teams. Looking for a position at Luxen Consulting for career advancement.

💡The example above describes the candidate's experience and expresses their interest in joining the company.

Include Additional Sections on Your Data Engineer Resume

The right structure of a resume should have an additional section because it's a vital part of your resume. You can check out our resume templates which ensure that you don't miss a single section.

Think about any extra qualifications you don't want the recruiter to miss and add them here. Some of them are additional skills that you prefer to highlight in a separate section instead of the general skills section. Let's look at some of them.

Computing Skills & Certifications

Computer skills are major for data engineers and deserve their section in your resume. Knowledge of programming languages, Microsoft Office and database systems can be highlighted in this section to ensure the recruiter sees them easily.

Certifications go a long way for data engineers because they show that you have additional training. While it's okay to add them to the education section, it's much better to list them here. Here is a list of certifications that help your data engineer resume stand out.

  • Data Engineering with Google Cloud Professional Certificate
  • IBM Data Engineering Fundamentals
  • Data Processing and Analysis

Languages

Every employer loves a multilingual candidate, so you wouldn't want them to miss this qualification in your resume. It would be best if you used the official language reference when listing your languages as follows:

  • Goethe Zertifikat or TestDaF for German
  • SIELE for Spanish
  • DELF for French
  • IELTS or TOEFL for English

Tips & Tricks to Enhance Your Resume

  • Always research the keywords and action verbs that will optimize your resume.
  • Tailor each job title to match the job you're applying to, and avoid using the same title for two or more applications.
  • Match the company's tone and style when writing your resume.
  • Use a simple layout that's easy to read and understand.
  • Summarize your qualifications in one page because some recruiters will ignore your resume if it's longer than that.
  • Check your resume for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes before sending it to the hiring manager.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect Data Engineer Resume

  • The format of your resume should present your top qualifications first.
  • Check the information in your header to ensure it's accurate before sending your resume.
  • Start your resume with a captivating resume summary or objective.
  • Add your work experience and use facts and figures to quantify your achievements.
  • List all your educational qualifications in the education section.
  • An additional section is important because it allows you to highlight your extra qualifications.

data engineer resume

Write a Cover Letter To Complement Your Resume

You need an exceptional resume to get the job you want, but the reality is that it can be a bit limiting. You don't get a chance to inject some personality or detail some of your achievements which is why you need a cover letter. Cover letters allow you to describe your top accomplishments as you showcase your writing skills. If you send your application without one, it will be incomplete unless the recruiter doesn't need it. Check out our cover letter examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies offer the best salaries for data engineers?

According to Glassdoor, these are the salaries offered by these top companies:

  • Cisco Systems $171,000
  • Meta $163,000
  • Amazon $124,000
  • Capital One $117,000
  • IBM $96,000
  • DXC Technology $86,000
  • Cognizant Technology Solutions $81,000

What is the difference between a data engineer and a data scientist?

Data engineers build and maintain data infrastructures while data scientists tackle the data and interpret it.

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