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Freelance Data Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Data Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$112K - $135K/yr

Mentor and train junior data engineers through code reviews, technical coaching, and knowledge ... Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan ...

Lead Data Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$112K - $135K/yr

Mentor and train junior data engineers through code reviews, technical coaching, and knowledge ... Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan ...

You'll be among the first we reach out to when new freelance opportunities go live. Key ... Designing ETL pipelines and data architecture * Implementing test automation frameworks * Securing ...

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Freelance Data Engineer information

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$44.5K

$129.7K

$177.5K

How much do freelance data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance data engineer in the United States is $129,716.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,500.00 and $137,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Freelance Data Engineer job?

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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Freelance Data Engineer position, and why are they important?

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 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 cities are hiring for Freelance Data Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Data Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Data Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Data Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Data Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Data Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Data Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Freelance Data Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 60% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 38% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,716 per year, or $62.4 per hour.

$88K - $103K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Publicis Media is a social marketing and dynamic content center of excellence, specializing in connecting brands to consumers in real-time, social environments.

Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and maintain scalable ETL and ELT pipelines based on business requirements, user stories, and architectural standards.
  • Assemble, transform, and manage large, complex datasets using cloud-native technologies (AWS, Databricks, Amazon Redshift) and SQL-based processing.
  • Design and maintain relational data models to support analytics, reporting, and downstream consumption.
  • Lead performance, reliability, and scalability efforts across the data platform, including monitoring, tuning, and optimization of pipelines and workloads.
  • Develop and maintain Databricks solutions leveraging Spark, Delta Tables, and managed workflows (jobs, orchestration).
  • Implement data governance and access controls using Unity Catalog and platform best practices.
  • Use Git-based version control to manage code, support peer collaboration, and enable CI/CD workflows.
  • Lead and support data platform migrations into Databricks, including legacy warehouse modernization and pipeline refactoring.
  • Mentor and train junior data engineers through code reviews, technical coaching, and knowledge sharing.
  • Create clear, accurate, and maintainable technical documentation.
  • Participate in on-call rotation and provide escalation support for production issues as needed.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
  •  4+ years of experience in data engineering or a related role.
  • Strong hands-on experience with ETL/ELT frameworks and cloud data platforms (e.g., Databricks, AWS Glue, Amazon Redshift).
  • Strong experience with relational databases and advanced SQL, including schema design, joins, window functions, performance tuning, and query optimization-particularly in Amazon Redshift or comparable cloud data warehouses.
  • Proficiency in Python for data processing, automation, and pipeline development.
  • Deep hands-on experience with Databricks, including Spark optimization, Delta Tables, and Unity Catalog.
  • Experience migrating data pipelines and workloads into Databricks from legacy or cloud data warehouse platforms (plus).
  • Databricks certifications (e.g., Data Engineer Associate or Professional) a plus.
  • Proficiency with Git and version control best practices in a collaborative development environment.
  • Proven ability to mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices across the team.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong customer service mindset with the ability to translate business needs into reliable, scalable data solutions.
  • Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Digital media or ad tech experience, especially in data-centric roles, is a plus
Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto "Viva La Difference" means we're better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent. 

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive.  Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K,  as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com.  All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 

Compensation Range: $88,000- $103,000 This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 6/1/2026.

#LI-JK2

 Compensation Range: USD $88,540.00 - USD $127,155.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 6/21/2026.Employment Type: FULL_TIME