How are the Data Engineering oppourtunities in EU market with 6-7 yoe?

[u/Likewise231]

Senior analytics engineer - spent last 5 years in FAANG mostly doing BI/DE work across small and large teams, and since last year i'm mostly doing fullstack for small internal multiservices app (data/stream intensive). WLB is ok but no career progression in current role.

Using AI tools extensively - both for internal purposes as well as for minor system integrations here and there, as well as maintaining knowledge repos enabling better collaboration using AI. Got cloud certifications, but no tool-specific certifications. Spent 2 years doing internships/ or unrelated corporate jobs before that.

I assume no career growth in my current role, but WLB is good and now I mostly work on software stuff (though i am still much much stronger in DE part), the only concerning thing is stagnation and comfort zone. Been contemplating a lot between:

- Rest & vest? ( I am fine with that)

- Sr. DE in scale-ups/startups?

- Attempt downgrading to some AI-company for a mid-DE role?

- Try to pivot internally to PMT / TPM job families? (Exciting, but concerned about the skill gap)

- Try to pivot internally into higher scope but more stress role? (No excited about that)

- Try to pivot into a more AI-parallel role? (Exciting, but I assume knowledge gap)

I want to get a better understanding of the market conditions? How realistic/unrealistic are these assuming some time to prepare? How hard is it to get interviews these days? How code-intensive vs design/architectural vs behavioral are they?

[u/Illustrious_Web_2774]

My personal take has always been to go with the trend. AI is hot right now, so roll with it.

I bet you got into DE because it was hot 5-10 years back. No reason not to do the same now.

There's a lot of transferrable skill going from DE to some role in AI, or even be DE for data intensive AI solutions.

[u/Admirable_Bed7398 → u/Illustrious_Web_2774]

What exactly you mean when you say go for AI roles?

[u/Illustrious_Web_2774 → u/Admirable_Bed7398]

Whatever roles that touch AI (more the better), and your skills are transferrable. Why keep finding a box to fit it? Back in the day we had data alchemist, now you can be AI whisperer, AI data guru, whatever float your boat.

[u/popopopopopopopopoop → u/Admirable_Bed7398]

It's funny because I'd argue data/analytics engineering are already "AI" roles since you need some clean, often modelled data to feed it to LLMs. Llm ops/engineering is basically adding vector databases, prompt versioning and evals on top of them.

[u/sable_bending_enjoye → u/Illustrious_Web_2774]

The market's weird right now, but with 6-7 years and FAANG on your resume you'll get calls. Interviews have shifted more design-heavy and behavioral at that level, maybe 30% coding if you're lucky.

Pivoting internally to something AI-adjacent while you still have that WLB cushion seems like the smoothest move, you can close the knowledge gap without the pressure of a new company's interview gauntlet.

[u/squareturd]

Agree with following the trend. But I'm approaching 60 and I'm tired of trend chasing. Gonna try to hang on for a little longer then sit back and wait for Medicare to kick in.

But. You're approach is correct for younger folks.

[u/Ok_Relative_2291 → u/squareturd]

You are not wrong the second you think you know enough new bullshit tools come out and past experience is no good compared to someone with 1 year experience in <new platform> which is the same shit disguised with a new gui

[u/squareturd → u/Ok_Relative_2291]

Agree 100%

But ive reached the point where I can't listen to newish managers that think whatever the current whizbang tool is the greatest thing ever. It's just the newest thing.

Plus, I'm tired of learning new things. I used to be excited about stretching my knowledge. Now I just want to sit in a chair and watch birds.

[u/Ok_Relative_2291 → u/squareturd]

I’m 50 and feel the same way

I take my time now in interviews to see if it’s a decent setup or junk and whether they are open to input.

[u/squareturd → u/Ok_Relative_2291]

Hang in there bud. Keep focusing on the health insurance. That's my motivation.

[u/Odd-String29 → u/Ok_Relative_2291]

Past experience is always good, there is almost always some kind of overlap. Having experience with various tools and platforms also shows you are flexible and can roll with the flow.

[u/GachaJay]

If work life balance feels good?? Don’t fuck with it. Just keep going.

[u/Budget-Minimum6040]

EU market

You are talking about 27 different countries.

[u/Likewise231 → u/Budget-Minimum6040]

I'm flexible

[u/daMarek]

6🤷‍♂️7

[u/liveticker1]

no DE positions

[u/sib_n]

Looking at it now, it seems the market is fairly active for senior DE. I think it benefits from some AI effect as companies realized they can't have productive AI without good DE. I hope it will trickle down to juniors eventually.
I would look for something that is half your existing experience to attract recruiters, and half AI, since this is the trend currently.
On our side of the hiring, we have ditched our take home DE coding exercise due to AI. Instead, we do a live exercise with a DE problem and dig into DE questions and concepts. But I can't say for EU in general.
My little worry in your case is that coming from a FAANG, it may be hard to find a better salary in EU outside of FAANG. Otherwise, WLB should be good in general if you are in a European social country.