Data Engineer
Build the data pipelines and infrastructure that fuel data science and AI.
About the Career
Companies cannot do AI without clean, accessible data. Data Engineers are critical.
Salary in Canada
- Entry level: $90,000
- Senior level: $170,000+
Slightly less heavily marketed than Data Science, but often higher demand.
Job Outlook
Very High Growth demand. Companies cannot do AI without clean, accessible data. Data Engineers are critical.
How to Get There
- 4-yr CS or Software Engineering degree
- Time to career: 4-5 years post-Grade 12
Key Skills
- Data Pipeline Design
- SQL & Python
- Cloud Data Platforms
- ETL/ELT Processes
- Data Warehousing
Typical Employers
- Tech companies
- Banks & insurers
- E-commerce & retail
- Healthcare & pharma
- Consulting firms
High School Roadmap
- Learn basic SQL.
- Learn Python and data manipulation.
- Build projects that scrape data from the web and store it in a database.
- Apply to CS programs. Gain familiarity with cloud concepts.
Top Universities for This Path
- University of Waterloo – Waterloo, ON
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
- McGill University – Montreal, QC
- Simon Fraser University – Burnaby, BC
Insider Tips
- SQL and Python are the absolute core of this profession.
- Focuses more on software engineering and systems than statistical modeling.
- Data engineers often transition into data science or machine learning engineering as they gain experience.