Top 7 Data Engineer Staffing Firms in 2025 (and What Makes Them Stand Out)
This guide breaks down why hiring teams should use specialized recruiters for data engineering roles and what they should look for in a recruiting partner. We also cover the top 7 data engineer staffing firms in the U.S. for 2025, including a closer look at how KORE1 helps companies hire smarter and faster.
Hiring data engineers has never been harder. Between increasing demand, AI business strategies, and a shortage of experienced talent out there, it can take months to find the right person for your data team.
Job postings for data engineering roles have risen more than 35% year over year, and the global talent market for data engineering services is expected to hit $106 billion by 2025. That’s a nearly 17% annual increase. The average U.S. data engineer salary is now over $150,000, making it one of the most competitive and expensive roles to fill.
That’s why more companies are turning to data engineer staffing partners. These are firms that specialize in finding, vetting, and delivering qualified and skilled data professionals.
Why Companies Turn to Data Engineer Staffing Partners
Data engineering sits at the heart of today’s most innovative work, everything from predictive analytics to AI to real-time decision-making. But good data engineers are in short supply, and they know it.
Across the U.S., employment for data engineers is projected to grow more than 20% over the next decade, with roughly 284,000 new roles expected to open. That kind of growth has created a serious talent gap and you’re probably feeling it. Globally, analysts estimate nearly 3 million unfilled data related positions in the coming years.
Trying to recruit these data engineers internally often takes months, and the resumes and candidates that come in are usually unqualified. A specialized staffing firm changes that.
“A lot of candidates can talk about data pipelines, but fewer have hands-on experience,” says a Senior Technical Recruiter at KORE1.“That’s where our vetting process really separates the signal from the noise.”
Here’s why data engineering staffing firms make the difference.
- They already know the talent market. Recruiters that have been doing this for decades have relationships with engineers who aren’t actively job hunting, but are open to the right opportunity.
- They understand the tech. The best firms can tell the difference between someone who’s built an ELT pipeline from scratch and someone who’s just maintained one.
- They save time. With access to large talent pools, often pre-vetted, they can present shortlists in days, not weeks.
- They provide flexibility. You might need a full-time hire or short-term project support. Staffing firms can scale your team up or down quickly.
Data Engineer Hiring Trends to Know in 2025
- AI adoption is fueling demand.
As companies get aggressive to adopt generative AI and predictive analytics strategies, the need for clean, reliable data has exploded. Some predict that demand for data engineers could rise by 90% by 2025 as organizations modernize their infrastructure and automate data workflows.
- Hybrid and contract roles are rising in demand.
Many firms are opting for flexible hiring models, combining full-time engineers with contract specialists to move faster and control costs. This model that now makes up nearly 30% of all new data engineering roles in the U.S.
- Nearshore hiring is going mainstream.
Latin America continues to be a hot region for data engineering talent due to the same time zones, lower costs, and high technical quality. Salaries in those regions can be 40–50% lower than U.S. rates, with no drop in capability.
- Engineers want meaning and modern stacks.
Candidates are prioritizing roles that use tools like dbt, Databricks, Snowflake, and Airflow. Outdated environments are a tough sell, and companies that modernize their stacks are seeing 2x faster acceptance rates among top data talent.
How to Choose the Right Data Engineer Staffing Partner
Choosing a staffing firm isn’t just about who can send over the most resumes. You want a partner who actually understands your stack, your challenges, and your definition of success.
“A lot of clients come to us after working with generalist recruiters,” explains a KORE1 Senior Account Manager. “They’re frustrated because the candidates they’ve seen might know SQL, but they don’t understand ETL pipelines, cloud environments, or how to optimize data flows at scale. When you work with specialists, you skip that learning curve.”
Here’s what to look for.
- Specialization: Do they recruit for data roles specifically, or are they generalists?
- Screening process: Are candidates vetted for technical ability or just keyword matched?
- Flexibility: Can the recruiting partner offer direct hire, contract, or contract-to-hire, options?
- Speed: Can they deliver quality candidates in a reasonable amount of time?
- Market knowledge: Do they know the salary ranges, availability, and tech trends in your market?
- Partnership mindset: Do they advise and collaborate? Or just fill seats?
Top 7 Data Engineer Staffing Firms in 2025
Finding the right partner to hire data engineers can make or break your analytics roadmap. These firms have proven track records delivering high quality data talent in the U.S. and beyond.
1. KORE1
Based in Irvine, California, KORE1 leads the U.S. market in data engineer staffing because of one core belief. Recruiting is about relationships, not transactions.
KORE1 data engineer recruiters have decades of experience hiring for complex data and engineering roles. They understand modern data environments, from cloud architecture to pipeline automation, and already maintain an active pipeline of pre-vetted data engineers ready to start.
Why KORE1 stands out
- Deep specialization in data, analytics, and engineering roles.
- Relationship-driven approach. We know many of our candidates personally.
- Flexible models including direct hire, contract, contract-to-hire, and project-based solutions.
- Fast, high-quality results through an existing talent network.
Best for: Companies that want a true recruiting partner who understands data engineering inside and out.
2. TEKsystems
TEKsystems is one of the largest IT staffing and services providers in North America, with more than 100 offices and over 80,000 consultants deployed globally. They support enterprise-scale initiatives across data analytics, cloud modernization, and digital transformation.
Their data engineering recruiting practice focuses on roles tied to large scale data migrations, infrastructure optimization, and analytics architecture for major industries such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
Why they stand out:
- Massive national reach with deep client relationships across the Fortune 500
- Proven expertise in sourcing cloud, DevOps, and data infrastructure engineers
- Offers managed services and full project-based delivery in addition to staffing
Best for: Enterprises building large data teams or hybrid cloud environments.
3. Kforce
Kforce is a long-established technology recruiting firm with a national footprint. They place professionals across data, software, and engineering roles, offering both contract and full-time staffing options.
While Kforce has strong relationships with large enterprises — particularly in finance, telecom, and healthcare — their approach can sometimes lean toward volume-based recruiting rather than niche specialization. For companies with broad data hiring needs, that scale can be an advantage, though smaller organizations may prefer a more consultative partner.
Why they stand out:
- Extensive experience filling mid- to senior-level data roles
- Nationwide coverage and enterprise client relationships
- Solid option for companies needing quick access to a wide candidate pool
Best for: Large or established firms that prioritize reach and speed over tailored recruiting support.
4.Randstad Technologies
Ranstad technologies is part of the global Randstad Group, combines international reach with local market expertise. Their technology division supports clients hiring data engineers, cloud specialists, and analytics professionals across more than 60 countries.
They’re often used by enterprise firms seeking scalable recruiting solutions that balance on-site and remote models.
Why they stand out:
- Global sourcing capability with strong U.S. delivery centers
- Specialized recruiters for data, software, and digital transformation projects
- Offers contract, permanent, and managed service models
Best for: Organizations expanding data teams across multiple U.S. or international locations.
5. DevsData Tech Talent
DevsData is a boutique tech recruitment and consulting firm known for precision sourcing in Big Data, machine learning, and analytics. They operate globally but focus heavily on North America and Europe.
Clients highlight their technical depth. Every recruiter understands coding, cloud architecture, and data systems, allowing them to evaluate candidates on more than keywords.
Why they stand out:
- 5.0 ★ ratings
- Data and AI specialization, including experience with Databricks, Snowflake, and AWS
- Combines recruiting with consulting for companies scaling data teams
Best for: Companies needing senior data engineers or niche AI and analytics roles.
6. Hire With Near (NEAR)
Hire With Near helps U.S. companies build remote or nearshore data engineering teams across Latin America. Their approach blends high quality recruiting with cultural and time-zone alignment.
They maintain a large network of pre-vetted engineers across Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil, many of whom have experience with U.S.-based enterprise data stacks.
Why they stand out:
- 5.0 ★ rating for recruitment and staffing services
- Cost savings of 40–50% versus U.S.-based hiring
- Often fills roles in under 3 weeks
Best for: U.S. firms looking to scale data teams affordably with remote engineers who work U.S. hours.
7. Insight Global
Insight Global is one of the largest staffing firms in the U.S., with a broad client base spanning technology, finance, and healthcare. Their technology division fills data engineering, software, and DevOps roles at scale, often supporting high volume hiring needs for enterprise clients.
While their reach and capacity are impressive, Insight Global’s model tends to favor speed and volume over deep technical vetting. For highly specialized data roles, that can sometimes mean additional layers of screening are required on the client side.
Why they stand out:
- Large national recruiter network and candidate database
- Dedicated teams for technology and data hiring
- Strong infrastructure for enterprise-scale projects
Best for: Organizations that need quick staffing coverage or large-scale recruiting support, but may rely on internal teams for deeper technical evaluation.
How These Firms Compare
| Firm | Focus Area | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| KORE1 | Data, Engineering & Analytics Recruiting | Relationship-driven hiring and proven pipelines nationwide |
| TEKsystems | Enterprise IT & Data Staffing | Large-scale enterprise projects |
| Kforce | Technology & Engineering Staffing | National delivery |
| Randstad Technologies | Global Tech Recruiting | Multi-site, enterprise-level projects |
| DevsData Tech Talent | Big Data / AI Recruiting | Senior and specialized roles |
| Hire With Near (NEAR) | Nearshore Data Staffing | Remote and distributed teams |
| Insight Global | IT & Data Staffing | High-volume hiring, enterprise scale |
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Data Engineers
- Mixing up roles. Data engineers, analysts, and data scientists each bring different strengths. Define the need clearly.
- Over-indexing on tools. Hiring only for software familiarity misses core engineering skills.
- Slow feedback loops. The best engineers have multiple offers — delays can cost you top talent.
- Ignoring culture fit. Technical ability matters, but collaboration and communication matter more in data-driven teams.
Our Takeaway
Building a strong data engineering team is about fit, flexibility, and long term success. A staffing partner should understand your architecture, your timelines, and your goals to help you meet your needs.
That’s why companies across industries choose KORE1. We combine deep domain expertise with a relationship-first recruiting model, helping organizations fill critical data roles faster and smarter.
Ready to scale your data team?
Talk to a KORE1 recruiter today and get access to top data engineers.