ETL Developer
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Job description
ETL Developer
About the Position
Stanowisko: ETL Developer
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Why Join SmartWays?
Collaborate with SmartWays – Spread Your Wings
What You Gain by Working with Us
- Partner relationships
- Knowledge and experience exchange
- Reports needed for business decision-making
- Listening to your needs
20+ people
in the team
6 years
of market experience
3000
satisfied clients
Who is an ETL Developer and What Do They Do?
An ETL Developer is a specialist who designs and maintains data extraction, transformation, and loading processes (Extract, Transform, Load) that transfer information from source systems to data warehouses or data lakes. They ensure that data reaching reports and analytical models is complete, consistent, and available within the required timeframe.
In the Polish market, the demand for ETL Developers is growing along with companies' investments in BI platforms, cloud warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery, Azure Synapse), and migrations from legacy systems. Recruiting ETL Developers has become one of the most frequent inquiries in the data engineering sector – especially in banking, insurance, e-commerce, and telecommunications, where data volumes reach terabytes daily, and data quality directly impacts business decisions.
Key Responsibilities of an ETL Developer
The scope of an ETL Developer's tasks includes the full lifecycle of the data pipeline – from analyzing sources, through implementing transformations, to monitoring production pipelines and optimizing their performance.
- Designing and implementing ETL/ELT processes in tools such as Informatica PowerCenter, Talend, SSIS, dbt, or Apache Airflow
- Integrating data from source systems: relational databases, REST APIs, flat files, Kafka queues, ERP, and CRM systems
- Creating and optimizing SQL queries and stored procedures for large data volumes
- Modeling data warehouses in star and snowflake schemas (dimensional modeling, Data Vault)
- Implementing data quality control mechanisms and validation of load correctness
- Monitoring batch tasks, handling errors, and pipeline restart mechanisms
- Optimizing load performance (partitioning, indexing, incremental processing)
- Documenting data flows and source-to-target mappings
- Collaborating with BI analysts, data engineers, and business teams in defining requirements
- Migrating ETL processes from on-premise systems to cloud solutions
Required Skills and Experience
At the mid-level, an ETL Developer should combine proficiency in SQL with practical knowledge of at least one ETL tool and basic data warehouse modeling. The table below presents the expected competency profile.
| Skill | Required Level | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SQL | Advanced | Complex queries, window functions, execution plan optimization |
| ETL Tools | Advanced | Informatica, Talend, SSIS, dbt, or Airflow – at least one fluently |
| Data Modeling | Intermediate | Star/snowflake schemas, Data Vault, slowly changing dimensions (SCD) |
| Databases | Advanced | Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL |
| Cloud Warehouses | Intermediate | Snowflake, BigQuery, Azure Synapse, Redshift |
| Python/Scripting | Basic/Intermediate | Automation, data processing, API integrations |
| Data Quality | Intermediate | Validation, business rules, data tests |
| Orchestration | Intermediate | Airflow, Control-M, batch task scheduling |
| Version Control | Basic | Git, CI/CD for data pipelines |
| English | Intermediate (B2) | Technical documentation, work in international teams |
Salary and Market Ranges 2026
An ETL Developer at the mid-level earns in Poland 13,000–21,000 PLN gross/month, with B2B contracts often exceeding the upper limit of this range. Salary depends on the combination of tools, industry, and cooperation model.
- Location: Warsaw and Kraków offer 10–20% higher rates than smaller centers, though remote work blurs these differences
- Industry: Banking, insurance, and telco pay the most due to scale and compliance requirements
- Tools: Knowledge of Informatica PowerCenter, Snowflake, or dbt increases salary by 1,500–3,000 PLN
- Experience: Documented cloud migrations and performance optimizations push the candidate to the upper limit
- Cooperation Model: B2B at the senior/mid level achieves 130–180 PLN/h
The standard benefits package includes private healthcare, a sports card, a training budget (Snowflake, Databricks, cloud certificates), equipment subsidies, and a flexible remote or hybrid work model. Larger organizations offer annual bonuses and stock packages.
How Does Cooperation with Smartways.io Look Like When Hiring an ETL Developer
We conduct headhunting for ETL Developers using the direct search method, reaching passive candidates who do not apply through job portals. Cooperation is based on four stages with a clearly defined schedule.
- Requirement Analysis and Profile (2–3 days): We determine the ETL stack, warehouse size, cooperation model, and must-have competencies with the hiring manager
- Direct Search and Initial Contact (5–8 days): We identify and engage candidates matching the technical profile
- Technical and Soft Skills Verification (5–7 days): SQL screening, experience with ETL tools, and team fit
- Shortlist Presentation (up to 14 days): We provide 3–5 verified profiles with recommendations and financial expectations
The entire process from brief to shortlist presentation usually takes 3–4 weeks. We provide support during the offer negotiation stage and a guarantee for the hired candidate, reducing the risk of unsuccessful recruitment.
FAQ – Common Questions About the ETL Developer Position
How Long Does the Recruitment of an ETL Developer by Smartways.io Take?
The standard process from brief to shortlist presentation of 3–5 candidates takes 3–4 weeks. For a narrow stack (e.g., Informatica + Snowflake), the time may extend by a week due to a smaller pool of specialists.
How Does an ETL Developer Differ from a Data Engineer?
An ETL Developer focuses on data integration and transformation processes between systems and the warehouse, while a Data Engineer deals with broader data architecture, including infrastructure, streaming, and big data platforms. The roles often overlap – if you need a broader profile, consider recruiting a data engineer.
What ETL Tools Are Most Commonly Required in 2026?
The most sought-after competencies are in dbt, Apache Airflow, and cloud warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery). Among classic solutions, Informatica PowerCenter and SSIS still dominate, especially in banking and the enterprise sector.
Can an ETL Developer Work Fully Remotely?
Yes, most offers for ETL Developers allow for remote or hybrid work. The exception is projects in the financial sector with on-premise system access requirements, where a hybrid model may apply.
How Much Does Headhunting an ETL Developer Cost?
The billing model is established individually based on a success fee calculated from the candidate's annual salary. Payment is made upon successful hiring, and the project is covered by a replacement guarantee.
When Is It Worth Hiring an ETL Developer Instead of a Tech Lead?
An ETL Developer is suitable for building and maintaining data pipelines, while if you need someone managing the entire data team and architecture, consider recruiting a tech lead with data experience.
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Stanowisko: ETL Developer
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SmartWays Sp. z o.o. - 2026 - wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone.
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About the Company SmartWays Recruitment offers bespoke and scalable recruitment solutions tailored to the evolving needs of businesses across various industries. The company focuses on recruitment within EMEA markets but delivers projects globally. Their services include direct search, contracting, body leasing, executive search, recruitment process outsourcing, and HR on-demand services. Products, Services & Tech Stack Core Solutions: Direct Search Contracting Body Leasing Executive Search Recruitment Process Outsourcing HR on-demand Project Scope & Target Clients Client Base: IT Finance Sales Purchasing Other industries Engineering Scale: Projects for large corporations, small businesses, and start-ups.