Agency Partners

Market insights for hiring Data Science Engineers in United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Apr 12, 2025

Agency Partners scans all software engineering jobs in Europe in real time. We monitor 50.000+ jobs each week to gather insights about the job market and indentify top companies. Top companies work with us to find their world-class development partners to drive their innovation projects.

Key Insights from this report

  • The Data Science Engineers job market in the United Kingdom currently features a total of 320 open positions, albeit with recruitment challenges evidenced by a notable trend of job closures in recent weeks.
  • London dominates as the leading city for Data Science Developer opportunities, accounting for 71% of job openings, followed by Leeds at 17% and Cambridge contributing 4%.
  • The current talent pool for Data Science Engineers is relatively tight, creating a competitive landscape for hiring managers in the United Kingdom, with a median time to hire of 34 days.
  • The market shows a preference for mid-senior level roles, which constitute 56% of job postings, reflecting a strong demand for experienced candidates in the Data Science sector.
  • Top companies actively hiring for Data Science Engineers in the UK include Understanding Recruitment, Harnham, and Canonical, each integrating Data Science within their broader technological frameworks.
Number of roles opened and closed for Data Science Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for Data Science Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

In the last 12 weeks, the Data Science Engineer job market in the United Kingdom has shown a fluctuating trend, with a total of 320 open positions reported at the peak in week 5. Comparatively, this figure remained considerably lower than overall tech job openings in Europe, which peaked at 2260 positions in week 6. Notably, while 10% of newly posted jobs typically remained filled, a concerning trend of job closures, particularly in weeks 3 and 4, highlights recruitment challenges within this sector. For hiring managers and CTOs, understanding these dynamics is essential for optimizing recruitment strategies aimed at the burgeoning Data Science job market in the United Kingdom.

Who else is hiring for Data Science Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Understanding Recruitment logo Understanding Recruitment United Kingdom Staffing And Recruiting 2007 6
Roku logo Roku United States of America Software Development 2002 6
Meta logo Meta United States of America Software Development null 5
Harnham logo Harnham United Kingdom Staffing And Recruiting 2006 3
Vitol logo Vitol Netherlands Oil And Gas 1966 2
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 2
Indotronix Avani UK logo Indotronix Avani UK null null null 2
Starling Bank logo Starling Bank United Kingdom Banking 2014 2
Ravelin Technology logo Ravelin Technology United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2014 2
Deliveroo logo Deliveroo United Kingdom Internet 2013 2

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Talent pool vs job openings for Data Science Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Data Science Engineers in United Kingdom

The current job market for Data Science Engineers in the United Kingdom exhibits a competitive landscape, with a robust number of job openings compared to the available talent pool. For instance, while the UK has a significant number of Data Science job opportunities, the ratio of talent pool to job openings indicates a tighter market, suggesting challenges in recruiting qualified candidates. In contrast, countries like Germany, France, and Netherlands present a comparatively larger available talent pool relative to their job openings, indicating easier hiring conditions. As hiring managers, especially CTOs and Engineering Managers, navigate this competitive environment, understanding these metrics will be essential for formulating effective recruitment strategies in the UK tech sector.

Seniority distribution of Data Science Engineer job openings in United Kingdom

Seniority Distribution of Data Science Engineering Jobs in United Kingdom

In the UK, the Data Science job market displays a clear distribution in seniority levels among available positions. Mid-Senior level roles lead the way, comprising 56% of job postings, followed by Entry level positions at 24%, and Associate roles accounting for 8%. This hierarchy highlights the current demand and skill expectations within the Data Science sector in the United Kingdom.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's job market for engineering roles, the predominant employment type is full-time positions, accounting for 92% of job listings. Contract roles follow at 8%, while internships represent a smaller segment at just 1%. This distribution highlights the strong preference for stable, long-term employment among candidates in the tech sector.

Time to Hire Distribution for Data Science in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Data Science Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Data Science positions in the United Kingdom reveals critical insights into the market dynamics. Notably, the most significant portion of hires occurs within the 30 to 35 days range, accounting for 186 and 120 positions respectively. However, a considerable number of opportunities extend past 30 days, with 64 and 65 roles taking 20 and 25 days, respectively. As we analyze these hiring trends, it is evident that hiring managers need to be prepared for timelines exceeding a month, especially for Senior Data Science Developers. Therefore, understanding these timelines is crucial for CTOs and Engineering Managers looking to optimize their recruitment strategies in the competitive Data Science job market in the United Kingdom.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Data Science Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Data Science Engineers

In the Data Science Engineers job market in the United Kingdom, London leads with a significant 71% of job openings, showcasing its dominance as a tech hub. Following London, Leeds accounts for 17% of the available positions, while Cambridge contributes 4%. This data underscores the concentration of Data Science Developer opportunities in major cities, highlighting the importance of regional focus for effective recruitment strategies.

Most sought after technologies in United Kingdom for Data Science

Key technologies for Data Science Engineers

The current landscape of the Data Science job market in the United Kingdom is heavily characterized by the adoption of several key technologies. Python leads the way with a significant presence, recorded at a frequency of 13,712, highlighting its central role in data manipulation and analysis. Following closely, SQL is utilized by 4,796 professionals, asserting its importance in database management and querying. Additionally, Machine Learning frameworks, reflected in their 4,835 occurrences, are crucial for developing predictive models. The growing emphasis on AI technologies, evidenced by a frequency of 2,779, further underlines the innovation driving the Data Science sector. A chart accompanying this analysis provides a visual representation of these technologies and their frequencies, offering valuable insights for hiring managers navigating the Data Science job market.

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