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Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer - Data

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be ... As a Software Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing applications that ...

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$240K - $280K/yr

This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be ... As a Data Engineer / AI Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing the ...

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

$134K - $161K/yr

This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be ... As a Data Engineer / AI Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing the ...

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be ... As a Data Engineer / AI Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing the ...

Software Engineer - Data

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be ... As a Software Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing applications that ...

Software Engineer - Data

Palo Alto, CA

$134K - $161K/yr

This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be ... As a Software Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing applications that ...

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

They are seeking a Data Engineer to develop systems and processes for data acquisition, preparation, and quality evaluation to support model training. The role involves collaborating with various ...

... data acquisition programming techniques and controls. Ensures software standards are met. This is a software engineer that works in the database space. Required skills: * Oracle PL/SQL * Prior work ...

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Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer information

See salary details

$30K

$69.4K

$118K

How much do entry level data acquisition engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level data acquisition engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer do?

An Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer is responsible for setting up, monitoring, and maintaining systems that collect and process data from various sources, such as sensors or equipment. They assist in configuring hardware and software, ensuring accurate data collection, and troubleshooting any technical issues. These engineers often work under supervision and are involved in tasks like data validation, report generation, and supporting senior engineers in larger projects. Their work is essential for ensuring high-quality data is available for analysis and decision-making.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical or computer engineering, data analysis, and basic programming, typically supported by a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with data acquisition systems such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, or Python, as well as experience with sensors and data loggers, is commonly required. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in collaborating with teams and troubleshooting systems. These skills are crucial for accurately capturing and interpreting data, ensuring system reliability, and supporting engineering project goals.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level data acquisition engineers when working on cross-functional teams?

Entry level data acquisition engineers often face challenges in bridging the gap between technical requirements and the needs of other departments, such as software, hardware, or product teams. Communication can be a hurdle, as you may need to explain complex data processes to colleagues with varying levels of technical understanding. Additionally, managing multiple priorities and adapting to fast-changing project scopes are frequent aspects of the role. However, these challenges also present valuable opportunities to develop problem-solving abilities and collaborative skills early in your career.

What is the difference between Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer vs Data Analyst?

AspectEntry Level Data Acquisition EngineerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; basic knowledge of data collection toolsBachelor's in Statistics, Mathematics, or related field; proficiency in data analysis software
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, lab settings, or technical environments involving data collection hardwareOffice-based, using software to analyze and interpret data
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, manufacturing, research labs focusing on data gatheringBusiness, finance, healthcare, marketing sectors analyzing data for insights

While both roles involve working with data, Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineers focus on collecting and managing raw data through hardware and technical tools, often in field or lab settings. Data Analysts interpret and visualize data to support decision-making in office environments. Understanding these differences helps job seekers target the right roles based on their skills and interests.

More about Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Data Acquisition Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Data Acquisition Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Data Acquisition Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 3% As Needed, 91% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.

Software Engineer - Data

xAI

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE:

At xAI, we are building AI systems that push the frontier of human knowledge and scientific discovery. High-quality data is fundamental to every stage of that mission. Our Data team is responsible for ensuring that the models are trained on the right data, in the right form, at the right quality, across every phase of the training lifecycle. This includes partnering closely with acquisition teams to identify where valuable data can be sourced, determining what data is needed to improve model performance, and building the production pipelines and systems that transform raw inputs into high-quality training data at scale. We work at the intersection of software, data, infrastructure, and machine learning to ensure our models train effectively and reliably.

As a Software Engineer on xAI's Data team, you will be responsible for developing applications that power data acquisition, preparation, training, quality evaluation, and delivery for model training. You will provide the ability to run training in a reliable, scalable and repeatable manner. You will also provide visibility on training status and data lineage. You will work closely with acquisition teams, ML engineers, and data engineers to build a reliable data pipeline to run training at scale. The ideal candidate combines strong software engineering fundamentals and excellent coding practices. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Develop a highly reliable and scalable enterprise data platform to orchestrate data acquisition, preparation, training, quality evaluation, and delivery for model training
  • Create new features such as data lineage, visibility, and monitoring for end-to-end training that improve the quality of the data and model performance
  • Collaborate with peers on architecture, design, and code reviews
  • Build prototypes to prove out key design concepts and quantify technical constraints
  • Own all aspects of software engineering and product development
  • Deep dive into business problems, find efficient solutions and apply first principles thinking
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, math, physics, or scientific discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree
  • 1+ years of experience in application development, software engineering, data engineering, or data science
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Programming experience in Python, Rust, Java, C#, Scala, Go or similar languages
  • Frontend experience in Angular, React, or similar JavaScript frameworks
  • Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and containerized deployments
  • Experience with Ray, AI training and orchestration
  • Experience with relational and non-relational databases, data lakes e.g. PostgreSQL, Iceberg, Clickhouse, or similar
  • Experience with data exploration tools like Grafana, Superset, or similar
  • Good understanding of version control, testing, continuous integration, build, deployment and monitoring
  • Good understanding of statistics, machine learning algorithms and frameworks
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Annual Salary Range: $150,000k - $250,000k USD

Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at xAI, which also includes equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.