AI Jobs in Data & Analytics Platforms UK
Databricks, Snowflake, Palantir & dbt Labs
Data and analytics platform companies build the infrastructure that powers AI at scale. Databricks, Snowflake, Palantir, dbt Labs, and Fivetran all have UK teams — and with AI increasingly dependent on high-quality data infrastructure, demand for data and ML engineers in this space is growing rapidly.
What AI Looks Like in Data & Analytics Platforms
Data and analytics platform companies sit at the foundation of the AI stack — without reliable, scalable data infrastructure, ML models can't be built or deployed at scale. Databricks UK, which created both MLflow (experiment tracking) and Delta Lake (open table format), is arguably the most influential data infrastructure company in the ML space. The UK engineering team in London works on problems that directly affect how ML teams worldwide train, track, and deploy models.
The modern data stack has also created a new class of roles: the analytics engineer. As dbt became the standard for data transformation, companies started hiring people who combine data engineering skills (SQL, Python, pipeline thinking) with analytical skills (data modelling, business understanding). Analytics engineering is one of the fastest-growing data specialisms in the UK, and dbt Labs itself hires analytics engineers and developer advocates from London.
Palantir represents a distinct and important part of this landscape. Palantir's UK operations are substantial — contracts with NHS, MOD, and UK government agencies make it one of the more politically significant data platform companies operating in the UK. Palantir's Forward Deployed Engineer role is unlike any other in the market: a combination of heavy engineering, data analysis, and direct client deployment work that demands both technical depth and commercial agility.
Top UK Data & Analytics Platform Employers
Databricks UK
Data & AI platform
London — MLflow, Delta Lake, and Mosaic AI engineering. One of the most active ML/data hirers in London.
Snowflake UK
Data cloud
Snowpark ML, data engineering, and Snowflake AI features. London commercial and engineering presence.
Palantir UK
Data AI platform
Government, defence, and NHS data platforms. Forward Deployed Engineer roles require UK clearance.
dbt Labs UK
Analytics engineering
Creator of dbt. Developer advocacy, analytics engineering, and product engineering roles in London.
Fivetran UK
Data movement
ELT connectors and data pipeline automation. Engineering roles working on data integration at scale.
Amplitude UK
Product analytics
Product analytics and behavioural data platform. ML engineering for product intelligence features.
Key AI Roles in Data & Analytics Platforms
Data Engineer
Building ingestion pipelines, data lakes, and warehouse infrastructure using Spark, Kafka, and dbt. The most in-demand role across the sector.
Analytics Engineer
Transforming raw data into clean, well-modelled datasets using dbt. Sits between data engineering and analysis. Fastest-growing data role.
ML Engineer (Platform)
Building ML infrastructure on top of data platforms — feature stores, training pipelines, and MLflow-based model lifecycle management.
Data Scientist
Building analytical models and ML features within data platform products. Statistical analysis, A/B testing, and product insights.
Forward Deployed Engineer (Palantir)
Unique Palantir role combining engineering, data analysis, and client deployment. Requires strong Python, SQL, and commercial aptitude.
AI Salary Ranges in UK Data & Analytics (2026)
Databricks and Snowflake pay competitively with Big Tech. Palantir FDE roles are well-compensated with equity. Analytics engineering salaries have risen rapidly as dbt adoption has grown.
| Role | London | Rest of UK / Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Data Engineer (mid) | £55,000 – £85,000 | £45,000 – £70,000 |
| Analytics Engineer (mid) | £55,000 – £82,000 | £45,000 – £68,000 |
| ML Engineer / Data Platform (mid) | £65,000 – £100,000 | £55,000 – £85,000 |
| Senior Data / ML Engineer | £95,000 – £150,000 | £78,000 – £125,000 |
| Palantir FDE (mid) | £75,000 – £120,000 | £65,000 – £100,000 |
Databricks and Snowflake offer RSU/option grants at all levels. Palantir FDE roles include meaningful equity. dbt Labs is pre-IPO with option grants.
In-Demand Skills
SQL (advanced)
Foundation for all data and analytics roles. Window functions, CTEs, and query optimisation are expected at mid level.
dbt (data build tool)
De facto standard for data transformation. dbt Core and dbt Cloud experience is increasingly required for analytics engineering roles.
Apache Spark / PySpark
Distributed data processing — core at Databricks. Spark SQL, DataFrames, and streaming applications.
Python
Data engineering (Airflow, Prefect), ML pipelines (MLflow), and data quality testing (Great Expectations).
Apache Kafka
Real-time data streaming and event processing pipelines. High demand at companies building streaming analytics products.
Delta Lake / Iceberg
Open table formats for data lakes. Delta Lake is Databricks' primary product — deep familiarity expected for Databricks roles.
Data modelling (Kimball / dimensional)
Dimensional data modelling and star schema design for analytics engineering and data warehouse roles.
MLflow / experiment tracking
Model lifecycle management for ML platform roles. MLflow (created by Databricks) is the market standard.
Career Entry Routes
From data analytics or BI
Data analysts and BI developers who develop Python and dbt skills are the primary pipeline into analytics engineering roles. The transition from SQL-heavy BI to dbt-based analytics engineering is natural and well-supported by free resources (dbt Learn, dbt Labs documentation). Building a portfolio project using dbt demonstrates the transition.
From software engineering into data engineering
Software engineers who develop data pipeline knowledge (Airflow, Kafka, Spark) move into data engineering roles. The reverse transition (data engineer to software engineering) is less common. Strong Python and comfort with distributed systems are the primary skills to develop.
Databricks and Snowflake partner ecosystem
Databricks and Snowflake both have large partner ecosystems of consulting firms and implementation partners (Slalom, Avanade, Accenture data teams). Working as a data engineer at a partner firm and developing hands-on platform experience is a well-established route into direct employment at these companies.
Palantir Bootcamp / internship pipeline
Palantir runs a structured summer internship programme (Palantir Launch) that is the primary pipeline into Forward Deployed Engineer roles. The programme is highly competitive. Academic backgrounds in STEM from top UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh) are common among successful candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sub-Sector Quick Facts
London (all major players)
dbt, Spark, Kafka, MLflow
Common; many roles fully remote
Fast — analytics engineering growing rapidly