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W2 Data Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Data Engineer

Fort Wayne, IN ยท On-site

$113K - $135.70K/yr

Potential to lead and oversee contracted or W2 data engineers, providing clear architectural, coding, and documentation standards. * Review work products for quality, performance, and adherence to ...

GCP Data Engineer (W2 Position)

Dearborn, MI ยท On-site

$105.20K - $126.30K/yr

We have a job opportunity of a Role GCP Data Engineer with given on W2 .Please forward related profiles to praveen@megansoft.com or +1(248) 266-0910. Position Title: GCP Data Engineer (W2 Position ...

Lead Data Engineer

Fort Wayne, IN ยท On-site

$101.10K - $133.20K/yr

Potential to lead and oversee contracted or W2 data engineers, providing clear architectural, coding, and documentation standards. * Review work products for quality, performance, and adherence to ...

Data Engineer (W2 Position)

Dearborn, MI ยท On-site

CA$50 - CA$55/hr

Data Engineer (W2 Position) Location: Dearborn, MI - Hybrid (4 days in office) Duration: 12+ Months Experience: 7+ Years JD: Skills Required: System Design, Systems Engineering, Testing, SaaS ...

GCP Data Engineer (W2 Position)

Dearborn, MI ยท On-site

$105.20K - $126.30K/yr

GCP Data Engineer (W2 Position) Location : Dearborn, MI (Hybrid) Duration: 12+ Months Experience: 8+ Years Experience Required: * 8 years of professional experience in Data engineering, data product ...

AWS Data Engineer (W2 Position)

Plano, TX ยท On-site

$55 - $60/hr

AWS Data Engineer (W2 Position) Location : Plano, TX(Hybrid) (MUST BE IN PLANO, TX ONLY) Duration: 12+ Months Experience: 8+ Years Note : Need only GC and USC resumes JD: * Develop scripts and tools ...

... W2 Visa: No Visa Restrictions We are seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Data / Product ... The ideal candidate will collaborate with product managers, business stakeholders, engineering ...

AWS Data Engineer - w2

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$119.10K - $143K/yr

Role: AWS Data Engineer Location- Reston, VA( In Person Interview at Herndon VA ) Duration: Fulltime /Contract Onsite: 5 Days Onsite need only USC and GC Rate: 60/hr on W2 Seeking an AWS Data ...

W2 Role - Data Engineer

Saint Louis, MO ยท On-site

$111.30K - $133.70K/yr

Only W2 Role: Data Engineer Location: Hybrid St. Louis, MO and Mt. Sterling, IL Duration: 12 Months C2H MOI: Video Required * 3 years Data Engineer * 1+ years with Snowflake (Strongly Required 1+ ...

Data Engineer

Charlotte, NC ยท Hybrid

$111.80K - $134.30K/yr

This is a W2 contract opportunity, and the candidates should be willing to work on our W2 ONLY, NO C2C. Data Engineer Location: Charlotte, NC Type: W2 Contract - 12 months Work Schedule: Onsite ...

Data Engineer[Hybrid]- (W2 ROLE)

Orlando, FL ยท On-site

$106.90K - $128.40K/yr

Title: Data Engineer- W2 ROLE Duration: 12-month contract, can extend to 24 months Role Type: Hybrid, 3 days onsite, 2 remote Interview: Video Visa: USC or GC only Location: Orlando, Fl Client:

Data Engineer

Charlotte, NC

$111.80K - $134.30K/yr

Direct Client Data Engineer Charlotte, NC 6-month - W2 contract-to-permanent / FTE role HYBRID in Charlotte 3 days The team is looking for someone who can combine hands-on data engineering depth with ...

Data Engineer

Harrisburg, PA ยท On-site

$113K - $135.70K/yr

W2 Candidates Only Job Summary We are seeking a Data Engineer to build scalable data pipelines, manage ETL processes, and support enterprise analytics platforms. Responsibilities * Develop and ...

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W2 Data Engineer information

See salary details

$44.5K

$129.7K

$177.5K

How much do w2 data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for w2 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a W2 Data Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a W2 Data Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, data modeling, and database management, usually supported by a relevant degree and experience with large-scale data systems. Proficiency in programming languages like Python or Java, SQL, ETL tools, and cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure is typically required, and certifications in these areas are advantageous. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills and qualifications are critical for designing, building, and maintaining robust data pipelines that support business intelligence and decision-making.

What are some common challenges faced by W2 Data Engineers when working with cross-functional teams?

W2 Data Engineers often collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders, which can present challenges such as aligning technical solutions with business requirements and managing differing priorities. Communication is key, as engineers must translate complex data concepts into actionable insights for non-technical team members. Additionally, balancing the need for data quality, security, and timely delivery can be demanding, especially in fast-paced environments. Building strong relationships and maintaining clear documentation can help mitigate these challenges.

What is a W2 Data Engineer?

A W2 Data Engineer is a data engineering professional who is employed directly by a company in the United States and receives a W-2 tax form at the end of the year. This form indicates that the employee's taxes are withheld by the employer, as opposed to independent contractors who typically receive a 1099 form. W2 Data Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining data pipelines, databases, and data processing systems to support analytics and business intelligence. They often work with large data sets, ensuring data quality, integrity, and security. Being a W2 employee usually includes benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans.

What is the difference between W2 Data Engineer vs Data Analyst?

AspectW2 Data EngineerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, Data Science, or related; often certifications in cloud platforms or data toolsBachelor's in Statistics, Business, or related; sometimes certifications in analytics tools
Work EnvironmentTechnical teams, data infrastructure projects, cloud platformsBusiness units, reporting, data visualization tasks
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, finance, healthcare, any data-driven industryMarketing, finance, retail, and other sectors analyzing data

W2 Data Engineers focus on building and maintaining data pipelines and infrastructure, often requiring technical certifications and working within technical teams. Data Analysts interpret data, create reports, and support decision-making, typically with different skill sets. While both roles work with data, their responsibilities and environments differ significantly.

Infographic showing various W2 Data Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 14% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 62% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 35% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,716 per year, or $62.4 per hour.

Lead Data Engineer

Lasting Change, Inc

Fort Wayne, IN โ€ข On-site

$113K - $135.70K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

General Statement of Responsibility
The Lead Data Engineer plays a critical role in designing, building, and stewarding Petra, Lasting Change's enterprise data lakehouse platform built on Microsoft Fabric. This position is responsible for delivering reliable, high-quality, and well-governed data assets that enable analytics, reporting, and data-driven decision-making across the organization.
The Lead Data Engineer partners closely with analysts, leadership, and other stakeholders to translate business needs into scalable data solutions. This role combines hands-on engineering, architectural ownership, and leadership of contracted data engineers, while continuously improving development velocity through disciplined architecture and intentional use of AI-assisted development.
Requirements
Major Responsibilities / Activities
Data Analysis & Reporting
  • Own and manage Petra, the organization's Microsoft Fabric-based data lakehouse.
  • Design, build, and maintain robust ETL/ELT pipelines that curate high-quality, trusted datasets.
  • Implement and enforce Medallion Architecture standards (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
  • Ensure data reliability, performance, scalability, and governance across the platform.
  • Integrate data from multiple internal and external systems using Azure-native services.

Analytics & Reporting Enablement
  • Partner with analysts and stakeholders to deliver robust data products that serve business needs.
  • Develop analytical and dimensional data models optimized for reporting and self-service analytics.
  • Build and maintain Power BI semantic models, reports, and dashboards as needed.
  • Ensure datasets are well-documented, discoverable, and reliable for downstream use.

AI-Accelerated Development
  • Design and curate an AI-assisted engineering workflow that provides system context to:
  • Generate the majority of transformation and pipeline code upfront
  • Assist with documentation, testing, and pull requests
  • Increase overall development velocity and consistency
  • Continuously refine AI usage patterns while maintaining quality, security, and governance standards.

Leadership & System Ownership
  • Potential to lead and oversee contracted or W2 data engineers, providing clear architectural, coding, and documentation standards.
  • Review work products for quality, performance, and adherence to established patterns.
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation covering data logic, ETL processes, and system architecture.
  • Demonstrate strong ownership of the data platform, treating it as a long-term system of record.

Collaboration & Communication
  • Gather and refine requirements for assigned data initiatives.
  • Communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Translate business needs into scalable, maintainable data solutions.

Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
  • Use of Fingers
  • Feeling
  • Speaking
  • Hearing
  • Repetitive Motions
  • Capable of making sound decisions by using reasonable and logical judgments.
  • Demonstrated competence in understanding, interpreting, and communicating procedures, policies, information, ideas, and instructions.

Travel
Travel may be required occasionally to subsidiary sites and training opportunities.
Required Experience
  • 7-10+ years of professional experience in data engineering, ETL orchestration, and multi-system data integration.
  • Strong experience with Azure data platforms, with a preference for Microsoft Fabric; experience with Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure Data Factory acceptable.
  • Deep understanding of data lakes, data warehouses, and lakehouse architectures.
  • Demonstrated expertise in Medallion Architecture design and implementation.
  • High proficiency in Python, PySpark, Spark SQL, Delta Lake, and T-SQL.
  • Strong data modeling and dimensional modeling experience to support analytics and reporting.
  • Experience collaborating with stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver data solutions.
  • Demonstrated use of AI tools to enhance development, code quality, documentation, and delivery velocity.
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to advancing the organization's mission.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience building and maintaining Power BI reports and semantic models.
  • Microsoft or other cloud platform certifications.
  • Experience leading or mentoring other data engineers, particularly contractors.
  • Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.