Data Engineer Contract Jobs in Manchester
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432 Contract jobs sorted by:
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432 Contract jobs
Sr Staff Software Engineer / Full Stack Software Architecture & Design, Python,...
Posted Today by K Anand Corporation
Position : Sr Staff Software Engineer / Full Stack Software Architecture & Design, Python, React, Microservices,...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Outside
- Work type Remote
- Location Remote
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Data Centre and Field Engineering Manager
Posted 1 day ago by Direct Agency
The RoleWe are recruiting a Data Centre & Field Engineering Manager for a national network operator, leading the tea...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Not specified
- Work type Not specified
- Location Rochdale, Greater Manchester
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GCP Data Engineer-
Posted 1 day ago by Gazelle Global Consulting Ltd
We're looking for an experienced GCP Data Engineer to join a major cloud data engineering programme in London on a 1-yea...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Not specified
- Work type Hybrid
- Location London; City of London; East London; Central London; South East London; West London; Canary Wharf; South West London; North London; Greenwich; Stratford
Remote Associate Data Engineer/Analyst
Posted 1 day ago by Software Guidance & Assistance
Top Experience NeededPosit/RSSISTransition existing SSIS ETL Pipelines from SSIS to Posit and RResponsibilitiesWorks acr...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Outside
- Work type Remote
- Location Remote or Jacksonville, Florida
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Senior Test Engineer - Informatica, AWS, SQL, Data, Oracle, SC Cleared, Hybrid
Posted 1 day ago by Bangura Solutions
Senior Test Engineer - Informatica, AWS, SQL, Data, Oracle, SC Cleared, HybridWe are seeking an experienced SC cleared S...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Not specified
- Work type Hybrid
- Location London
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About Our Data Engineer Contract Roles in Manchester
What does a data engineer contractor do?
As a contract Data Engineer, you are hired to build and maintain the pipelines, platforms, and infrastructure that move, transform, and store data within an organisation. The work involves designing and implementing data ingestion pipelines from a range of source systems, transforming raw data into clean, structured formats suitable for analysis and reporting, building and maintaining data warehouse and data lake infrastructure, and ensuring that data flows reliably and at the required latency for the business. Data Engineers are in high demand across virtually every sector where data is used at scale, from financial services and retail to healthcare, logistics, and technology companies.
What sets strong Data Engineer contractors apart is are well-defined and platform-specific. Proficiency in SQL and Python is universal, as these are the primary tools for data transformation and pipeline scripting across most modern data engineering stacks. Experience with orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow or Azure Data Factory for scheduling and managing pipelines is widely expected. Cloud platform knowledge, particularly in the Azure, AWS, or GCP data ecosystems, is a near-universal requirement as most modern data platforms are cloud-hosted. Experience with transformation frameworks such as dbt, columnar storage and processing platforms such as Databricks or Snowflake, and streaming data technologies such as Kafka or Azure Event Hubs is increasingly expected at mid to senior levels. Strong software engineering practices including version control, testing, and CI/CD are assumed across all Data Engineer contract roles.
What is the market like for data engineer contractors?
The Data Engineer contract market is among the most consistently in-demand and well-paying specialisms in the UK data and technology contracting market. Demand is driven by the ongoing migration of data infrastructure to the cloud, the growth in data volumes requiring engineering at scale, and the expansion of AI and machine learning use cases that depend on high-quality data pipelines. The Azure data engineering ecosystem, in particular the combination of Data Factory, Databricks, and Synapse, dominates the UK enterprise market and generates the highest volume of contract demand. Rates have remained strong and above most other data disciplines, reflecting the combination of cloud platform knowledge, software engineering rigour, and data domain expertise required.
What is the contracting market like in Manchester?
Manchester has established itself as the strongest contractor hub outside London, supported by a diverse economy spanning financial services, technology, media, and the public sector. MediaCityUK at Salford Quays anchors a cluster of digital, creative, and broadcasting employers, while Spinningfields and the wider city centre house the financial and professional services concentration. Several major insurers and banks run significant operations from Manchester, and the technology sector has matured considerably, with both established firms and scale-ups competing for software engineering, cloud, and data contractors. The rate gap with London has narrowed over the past few years as employer competition for experienced contractors in the city has intensified, and for many disciplines Manchester now offers comparable depth of opportunity at a materially lower cost base.
How much do data engineer contractors usually earn in Manchester?
Contract rates for data engineer roles in Manchester typically range from £500 to £900 per day, depending on the scope of the role, required expertise, and the delivery expectations of the engagement.
How many data engineer vacancies in Manchester are there on Quality Contracts?
Over the past twelve months, we have tracked over 700 data engineer contract roles across the site, with Manchester accounting for a significant portion. Data reviewed up to August 2026.