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Freelance Data Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Solomon Page

Lead Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

We are seeking a hands-on Lead Data Engineer to join the Data & AI Supply Chain organization and ... freelancers - which sets us apart in the industries we serve. About Solomon Page Founded in 1990 ...

Solomon Page

Manager Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90/hr

We're looking for a Manager, Data Engineering with deep Big Data expertise to design, develop, and ... freelancers - which sets us apart in the industries we serve. About Solomon Page Founded in 1990 ...

1000heads

Freelance Insights Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$300 - $400/day

From designing mouth-watering data visualizations, keeping our clients up-to-date with the latest ... engineering social listening exercises into cultural trends, our actionable insights are at the ...

1000heads

Freelance Insights Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$300 - $400/day

From designing mouth-watering data visualizations, keeping our clients up-to-date with the latest ... engineering social listening exercises into cultural trends, our actionable insights are at the ...

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All JobsData Engineer JobsFreelance Data Engineer JobsFreelance Data Engineer Jobs in California

Freelance Data Engineer information

See California salary details

$43.9K

$128K

$175.2K

How much do freelance data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance data engineer in California is $128,018.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,000.00 and $135,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance data engineer?

A Freelance Data Engineer is a self-employed professional who designs, builds, and maintains data systems for clients on a project basis. They work with databases, ETL pipelines, cloud platforms, and big data technologies to ensure efficient data storage and processing. Unlike full-time employees, freelancers have the flexibility to choose projects, set their own schedules, and work remotely. They may collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and engineers to ensure seamless data flow. Freelance Data Engineers need strong technical skills in SQL, Python, Spark, and cloud services like AWS, GCP, or Azure.

What types of projects and clients can a freelance data engineer expect to work with?

Freelance Data Engineers often work on diverse projects ranging from building custom data pipelines and automating workflows to migrating databases or developing data integration solutions for businesses of all sizes. Clients can include startups looking to build new data infrastructure, e-commerce companies seeking analytics solutions, or established enterprises aiming to modernize their data systems. Most projects require close collaboration with data scientists, analysts, or software engineering teams, and the scope can vary from short-term assignments to ongoing support. Freelancing provides flexibility to choose projects that match your expertise and interests, as well as opportunities to gain experience across multiple industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance data engineer?

To thrive as a Freelance Data Engineer, you need strong programming skills (in languages like Python or Scala), in-depth knowledge of data modeling and ETL processes, and a solid background in databases and cloud platforms. Familiarity with tools such as Apache Spark, Hadoop, SQL, AWS, or Google Cloud, as well as relevant certifications like AWS Certified Data Analytics, is highly beneficial. Strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills help you collaborate with clients and adapt to changing project requirements. These abilities are crucial for efficiently delivering tailored data solutions and building a reputable freelance business.

What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Data Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Data Engineer jobs in California?

For Freelance Data Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Data Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Data Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Freelance Data Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Freelance Data Engineer job openings:

Freelance Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Data Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 6% Temporary, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 66% In-person, and 34% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,018 per year, or $61.5 per hour.

Lead Data Engineer

Solomon Page

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

We are seeking a hands-on Lead Data Engineer to join the Data & AI Supply Chain organization and drive the design, development, and delivery of enterprise-scale data products on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This role will support Supply Chain initiatives across Sourcing, Transportation, and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) by building scalable cloud-native data solutions that enable advanced analytics and AI-driven decision-making. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in modern data engineering, cloud-native architectures, ETL/ELT development, and enterprise data modeling while collaborating with cross-functional business and technology teams.
  • Rate Range: $5065/hr on W2 (DOE)

Responsibilities:
  • Design, develop, and implement scalable data pipelines and enterprise data products on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  • Build and optimize cloud-native data solutions using Dataproc, BigQuery, SQL, and dbt.
  • Design scalable data models supporting analytical and operational reporting requirements.
  • Develop robust ETL/ELT pipelines to ingest, transform, and publish data from enterprise systems.
  • Collaborate with Product Managers, Business Analysts, Solution Architects, Data Architects, and business stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
  • Lead technical design discussions and perform code reviews to ensure engineering quality and best practices.
  • Optimize cloud-based data processing for performance, scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
  • Implement monitoring, testing, and operational best practices for production workloads.
  • Build reusable frameworks, engineering standards, and technical documentation.
  • Support production issue resolution and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and estimation.
  • Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices.

Required Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of experience in Data Engineering with demonstrated technical leadership.
  • Strong hands-on experience building enterprise data platforms on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  • Expert-level experience with Dataproc, BigQuery, SQL, and dbt.
  • Strong understanding of modern ETL/ELT architecture and large-scale data processing.
  • Experience designing dimensional, normalized, and analytical data warehouse models.
  • Experience building scalable cloud-native data pipelines.
  • Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and software engineering best practices.
  • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder collaboration skills.
  • Experience working within Agile development environments.

Required Skills:
  • Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
  • Dataproc
  • BigQuery
  • SQL
  • dbt
  • ETL / ELT
  • Data Modeling
  • Cloud Data Engineering
  • Git
  • CI/CD
  • Agile Methodologies

Technical Skills:
  • Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
  • Dataproc
  • BigQuery
  • SQL
  • dbt
  • Git
  • CI/CD Pipelines
  • Data Warehousing
  • ETL / ELT Development
  • Cloud-native Data Architecture

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with Apache Airflow.
  • Experience integrating Apache Kafka or other streaming technologies.
  • Hands-on experience with PySpark.
  • Strong Python programming skills for data engineering and automation.
  • Experience with data quality, metadata management, and data governance.
  • Retail or Apparel industry experience.
  • Experience supporting Supply Chain, Transportation, Logistics, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), or Distribution Center operations.

If you meet the required qualifications and are interested in this role, please apply today.
The Solomon Page Distinction
Solomon Page offers a comprehensive benefit program for hourly employees. We pride ourselves on offering medical, dental, 401(k), direct deposit and commuter benefits to our employees, including freelancers - which sets us apart in the industries we serve.
About Solomon Page
Founded in 1990, Solomon Page is a specialty niche provider of staffing and executive search solutions across a wide array of functions and industries. The success of Solomon Page reflects an organic growth strategy supported by a highly entrepreneurial culture. Acting as a strategic partner to our clients and candidates, we focus on providing customized solutions and building long-term relationships based on trust, respect, and the consistent delivery of excellent results. For more information and additional opportunities, visit: solomonpage.com and connect with us on Facebook , and LinkedIn .
Opportunity Awaits.
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