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Startup Data Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Perpay Inc.

Data Engineer

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$109K - $131K/yr

Perpay Inc. is a certified B Corp and Philadelphia's most impactful growth-stage startup focused on improving the financial stability of everyday Americans. The Data Engineer will be responsible for ...

Braintrust

Data Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

You have worked at a high-growth startup where the data function was still being built. * You have experience with enterprise and self-serve revenue motions. * You have worked with usage-based ...

Air

Data Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA

$111K - $133K/yr

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced data engineer who shares our passion and obsession ... Experience in or exposure to the nuances of a startup or other entrepreneurial environment

Cross Screen Media

Data Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$113K - $136K/yr

We are looking to hire a Data Engineer with a strong work ethic and a passion for the fast-paced startup life. The ideal candidate doesn\'t just build pipelines -- they think critically about how ...

Cross Screen Media

Data Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$113K - $136K/yr

We are looking to hire a Data Engineer with a strong work ethic and a passion for the fast-paced startup life. The ideal candidate doesn't just build pipelines - they think critically about how data ...

Horizon Surgical Systems, Inc.

Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $148K/yr

Open Position - Data Engineer Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. is ... This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-tech startup that is poised to revolutionize ...

Horizon Surgical Systems, Inc.

Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $148K/yr

Open Position - Data Engineer Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. Horizon Surgical Systems Inc. is ... This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-tech startup that is poised to revolutionize ...

Cross Screen Media

Data Engineer

Austin, TX

$113K - $136K/yr

We are looking to hire a Data Engineer with a strong work ethic and a passion for the fast-paced startup life. The ideal candidate doesn't just build pipelines - they think critically about how data ...

Bella Group

Data Engineer

San Juan, PR · On-site +1

$112K - $134K/yr

This is not a traditional data engineering role. You'll be joining a newly created Strategy ... Enjoy the rare combination of startup-like influence and enterprise-level stability and resources.

Atticus

Lead Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $148K/yr

Qualifications Required: * 4+ years of professional experience in data engineering, ideally at a high-growth startup or fast-moving team within a larger organization * Hands-on experience with the ...

Merican

Data Engineer

$117K - $140K/yr

Data Engineer Location: San Jose California 95002 Duration: 12 Months Job Type: Temporary ... Experience working in startup environments is a plus. Competencies (Attributes Necessary for ...

Wynd Labs

Data Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

Data Engineer $100k - $140k Who We Are ... Wynd Labs is an early-stage startup that is on a mission to make public web data accessible for AI ...

Perpay - Career's Page

Data Engineer

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$115K - $138K/yr

Perpay is a certified B Corp and Philadelphia's most impactful growth-stage startup. We are driven ... Data Engineering, Data Science, and Strategic Analytics. Data Engineering owns the warehouse, the ...

Neighbor

Data Engineer

Lehi, UT · On-site

$107K - $129K/yr

As a Data Engineer , you will be the core engineering resource responsible for building, scaling ... This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, VC-backed tech startup. You will be part of a ...

Neighbor

Data Engineer

Lehi, UT

$107K - $129K/yr

As a Data Engineer , you will be the core engineering resource responsible for building, scaling ... This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, VC-backed tech startup. You will be part of a ...

Neighbor

Data Engineer

Lehi, UT

$107K - $129K/yr

As a Data Engineer , you will be the core engineering resource responsible for building, scaling ... This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, VC-backed tech startup. You will be part of a ...

Stellantis

Data Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$108K - $130K/yr

... Data-as-a-Service Business Unit, which will harness sensor and other data from millions of ... startup. Mobilisights represents this vision and future. We are part of Stellantis - a global ...

Motion Recruitment

Principal Data Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

This is a highly impactful role for an experienced data engineer who wants to own critical data infrastructure at a rapidly growing startup. You'll work on complex healthcare and regulatory datasets ...

Motion Recruitment

Principal Data Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

This is a highly impactful role for an experienced data engineer who wants to own critical data infrastructure at a rapidly growing startup. You'll work on complex healthcare and regulatory datasets ...

xAI

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

The Data Engineer will develop systems and processes for data acquisition, preparation, and quality ... XAI is an artificial intelligence startup that develops AI solutions and tools to enhance reasoning ...

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All JobsStartup Data Engineer Jobs

Startup Data Engineer information

See salary details

$44.5K

$129.7K

$177.5K

How much do startup data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup 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.

Is AI replacing data engineers?

AI is automating certain tasks within data engineering, such as data cleaning and pipeline management, but it does not replace the need for data engineers. Data engineers are essential for designing, building, and maintaining complex data systems, and their skills in programming, database management, and system architecture remain in high demand. AI tools serve as complements that enhance efficiency rather than substitutes for the core responsibilities of data engineers.

What are the typical challenges faced by a Startup Data Engineer, and how is the work environment different from larger companies?

As a Startup Data Engineer, you may encounter unique challenges such as building data systems from scratch, managing ambiguous requirements, and wearing multiple hats due to smaller team sizes. The work environment is often fast-paced and dynamic, with frequent changes in project priorities and high expectations for proactive problem-solving. You’ll likely collaborate closely with engineers, analysts, and founders, gaining hands-on experience with the entire data pipeline and direct influence on core business decisions. This setting offers excellent opportunities for rapid skill growth, creativity, and career advancement, but requires comfort with ambiguity and a strong sense of ownership.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior data engineers, especially those working at large tech companies or in specialized industries, can earn $300,000 or more annually. High salaries often require extensive experience, advanced skills in cloud platforms, data architecture, and programming, as well as a strong track record of managing complex data systems.

Do startups hire data engineers?

Yes, startups often hire data engineers to build and maintain data pipelines, manage large datasets, and support data-driven decision-making. These roles typically require skills in SQL, cloud platforms, and data processing tools like Apache Spark or Hadoop, and they are essential for startups aiming to leverage data for growth and innovation.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A startup data engineer can earn $500,000 annually, especially at senior levels or in high-growth companies, often including bonuses and stock options. Achieving this salary typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in data architecture, and a strong understanding of cloud platforms and big data tools.

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

To thrive as a Startup Data Engineer, you need strong programming skills (especially in Python or Scala), experience with data modeling, ETL pipelines, and a solid understanding of database management. Proficiency with tools like SQL, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure), and frameworks such as Apache Spark or Airflow is typically expected, while data engineering certifications are a plus. Adaptability, problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical team members are crucial soft skills in this environment. These attributes are essential for efficiently building data infrastructure and collaborating with fast-moving startup teams to enable data-driven decision-making.

What is a Startup Data Engineer job?

A Startup Data Engineer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining data infrastructure in an early-stage company. They work on developing ETL pipelines, managing databases, and ensuring data is accessible and reliable for analytics and machine learning. Unlike in larger companies, they often operate with limited resources, requiring them to balance scalability, cost-efficiency, and speed. They may also take on DevOps and software engineering tasks to support the startup’s evolving data needs. Adaptability and problem-solving skills are crucial in this role.

More about Startup Data Engineer jobs
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Startup Data Engineer jobs near you
Data Engineer

Data Engineer

Perpay Inc.

Philadelphia, PA • On-site

$109K - $131K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Perpay Inc. is a certified B Corp and Philadelphia’s most impactful growth-stage startup focused on improving the financial stability of everyday Americans. The Data Engineer will be responsible for owning the data warehouse, orchestration layer, and pipelines, ensuring reliable data movement and supporting various business functions.
Responsibilities:
• Own the warehouse, the orchestration layer, and the pipelines that move data from our operational systems to everyone who depends on it.
• Partner directly with Engineering, Risk, Commerce, Accounting, and Compliance, owning both the platform infrastructure and the business problems it's built to solve.
• Write code that someone else has to maintain, document the parts we wish someone had documented for us, and argue about the right design in review rather than discover the wrong one in production.
• Get oriented in the warehouse, walk through our most-used pipelines with the rest of the team, and read enough of the codebase to start asking useful questions.
• Ship your first commit to production; it could be a bug fix, a documentation update, or a small improvement to something nobody's loved in a while.
• Get fluent in our Airflow setup, our Redshift conventions, and our governance tooling in DataHub.
• Complete your first end-to-end pipeline or pipeline change in collaboration with a downstream team (Risk, Marketing, Finance, or similar).
• Start reviewing PRs from other data engineers on the team, bringing pragmatic and constructive feedback to challenging problems.
• Be the technical lead on your first meaningful project, guiding it from design through implementation, testing, and rollout.
• Participate in architecture discussions for upcoming work and contribute opinions on where the platform should be going.
• Own a meaningful slice of our infrastructure roadmap as our product offering scales and the modeling, reporting, and service load grow with it.
Qualifications:
Required:
• At least two years of production data engineering experience in a comparable environment.
• Comfort moving across SQL, Python, orchestration, and infrastructure-as-code without needing one of them to be your specialty.
• Experience with data quality, pipeline reliability, or stakeholder communication.
• Ability to lead design decisions on a data pipeline or platform, including alternatives considered and trade-offs made.
Company:
About Us: We believe everyone deserves a chance to improve their financial future. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Philadelphia, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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