Hire the Best dbt Engineers

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Kalyanrao K.

Kalaburagi, India

$40/hr
5.0
8 jobs

Data Integration specialist with over 19 years of experience in designing, building, maintaining and supporting Data warehouse and ETL applications. Extensive experience working on Snowflake, dbt, Datastage , Informatica, AWS, Unix/ Python Scripting. Experienced with relational databases - Snowflake, Netezza, DB2, Oracle and SQL server. Proficient in writing SQL queries to perform analysis and ELT loads into tables. Experience working on Bigdata tools โ€“ HDFS, Hive, Sqoop & Kafka. Exposure to Cloud technologies โ€“ ASW and Azure as data sources. Experienced working with diverse clients belonging to - Banking, Manufacturing, Restaurant and Retail domain. Good understanding of end-end architecture of Datawarehouse and applications worked on. Experienced in working on Agile (Scrum) & waterfall methodologies of project execution. Highly motivated, strong analytical skills, quick learner and interested to learn and work on new technologies.

  • dbt
  • Snowflake
  • ETL
  • GitHub
  • SQL
  • Python
  • IBM DataStage
  • Unix Shell
  • Big Data
Raghul S.

Chennai, India

$50/hr
4.8
36 jobs

I help companies turn fragmented data into trusted analytics used by leadership and operations. I specialize in building modern data platforms, from ingestion to analytics, using dbt, SQL, cloud data warehouses, and BI tools. My work focuses on clarity, correctness, and business impact, not just pipelines. What I typically help with: Designing scalable analytics engineering layers (dbt, dimensional modeling) Building and optimizing ELT pipelines into Snowflake / BigQuery / Redshift Creating trusted metrics and dashboards for leadership and operations Improving data quality, testing, and CI/CD for analytics Migrating legacy reporting to modern data stacks I work closely with stakeholders to translate business questions into clean data models and actionable insights. If you need analytics that people actually trust and use, letโ€™s talk.

  • SQL Programming
  • Dashboard
  • Data Visualization
  • Python
  • SQL
  • Data Cleaning
  • Data Analysis
  • ETL Pipeline
  • Digital Marketing
  • Data Extraction
  • API
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Business Intelligence
Naman K.

Nahan, India

$25/hr
5.0
16 jobs

Data Engineer | Data Analyst | Big Data Consultant I specialize in building scalable data solutions that streamline workflows, automate processes, and unlock valuable business insights. With over 4 years of experience, I have helped businesses integrate, transform, and visualize their data for data-driven decision-making. ๐Ÿ”น What I Do: โœ” ETL & Data Pipelines โ€“ Automating data ingestion using Python, Fivetran, Airbyte, and Keboola โœ” Data Transformation โ€“ Structuring and optimizing data with DBT, SQL, and Dataform โœ” Data Warehousing โ€“ Managing large-scale databases in BigQuery, Snowflake, SQL Server, Postgres, and AWS Redshift โœ” Data Visualization โ€“ Creating insightful dashboards in Looker Studio, Power BI, Metabase, and Tableau ๐Ÿ”น Data Sources I Have Worked With: โœ” Marketing Data โ€“ Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, TikTok Ads, Snapchat Ads, Reddit Ads โœ” CRM & Sales โ€“ HubSpot, Salesforce, Go High Level, SPP โœ” E-commerce โ€“ Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon Seller Central โœ” Analytics & Tracking โ€“ Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Adjust โœ” Payments & Invoicing โ€“ Stripe, Xero โœ” Forms & Email Marketing โ€“ Typeform, Klaviyo, Active Campaign ๐Ÿ”น Why Work With Me? โœ” I build automated, scalable, and efficient data solutions that save time and optimize business operations. โœ” My expertise in both data engineering and data analytics allows me to bridge the gap between raw data and actionable insights. โœ” I focus on clean, structured, and well-documented data solutions that are easy to maintain and expand. Iโ€™m here to help you automate, clean, and visualize your data so you can focus on growing your business. Letโ€™s discuss how I can contribute to your success!

  • dbt
  • SQL
  • Snowflake
  • BigQuery
  • Mixpanel
  • Looker Studio
  • Amplitude
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • Web Analytics
Monika D.

Kaunas, Lithuania

$75/hr
5.0
15 jobs

I help companies turn messy data into reliable reporting systems, automated workflows, and clear business insights. If your team is struggling with manual spreadsheets, unclear reports, broken dashboards, disconnected data sources, or data that cannot be trusted, I can help you build a cleaner and more scalable data setup. I work with business, marketing, CRM, revenue, product, and blockchain data. My projects often include data cleaning, SQL/dbt modelling, BigQuery pipelines, data extraction, dashboard development, AI-powered workflows, and data quality checks. What I can help with: - Data audits, cleanup, and data quality checks - BigQuery and dbt data models - Automated ETL / ELT pipelines - CRM, marketing, revenue, and operational reporting - Blockchain data analysis and Dune Analytics dashboards - AI integrations for scoring, enrichment, classification, and workflow automation - Looker Studio, Tableau, Retool, and reporting dashboards - SQL troubleshooting and performance improvements - Replacing manual spreadsheet workflows with automated reporting systems Tools I work with include BigQuery, dbt, SQL, Google Cloud, Python, Retool, Looker Studio, Tableau, Snowflake, AWS S3, Dune Analytics, HubSpot, API, and AI tools. My focus is not just creating reports, but building data systems that your team can trust, maintain, and use every day.

  • dbt
  • Looker Studio
  • Data Visualization
  • Dashboard
  • SQL
  • Infographic
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake
  • Data Processing
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Query Development
  • Data Interpretation
  • Google Analytics
  • Data Analysis
  • ETL
  • Analytics
MD. Shahriar Al Kasib Khan S.

Tangail Sadar, Bangladesh

$40/hr
4.4
81 jobs

I build data pipelines and dashboards that help companies actually use their data. Over the past 5 years, I've helped 70+ clients โ€” from early-stage startups to enterprise teams โ€” set up analytics infrastructure, migrate to modern data stacks, and create dashboards their teams actually use daily. What I do best: BI & Dashboards โ€” Looker, Looker Studio, Tableau, Power BI, Mode. I've built executive dashboards, marketing attribution reports, and customer analytics views for SaaS, e-commerce, and gaming companies. Data Pipelines & ETL โ€” BigQuery, Snowflake, dbt, Airbyte, Fivetran. I design and build pipelines that are reliable, documented, and maintainable โ€” not spaghetti SQL that breaks when you're on vacation. Analytics Engineering โ€” GA4 setup, event tracking, data modeling, KPI frameworks. I help teams go from "we have data somewhere" to "we make decisions with data." Recent wins: Built a GA4 + Looker Studio analytics stack for a German startup (troubleshooting complex attribution issues) Developed dbt models powering customer dashboards in Amazon QuickSight Created AI chatbot POC processing analytical datasets โ€” delivered in weeks, not months I'm responsive, I document my work, and I don't disappear mid-project. Let's talk about what you're trying to build.

  • dbt
  • Machine Learning
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • SQL
  • Python
  • Looker
  • Looker Studio
  • Tableau
  • Business Intelligence
  • Statistics
  • BigQuery
  • Data Analysis
  • MySQL
  • Google Analytics
  • Snowflake
Muhammad T.

Lahore, Pakistan

$50/hr
5.0
22 jobs

We turn fragmented data into your most valuable asset. As the Data Lead at Toolshed and a YC Alum team (Tajir), we specialize in building the high-scale data infrastructure that powers modern enterprises. We do not just move data; we architect the "Single Source of Truth" using the modern data stack: Airbyte, dbt, BigQuery, and Retool. Most companies are drowning in Data Debtโ€”messy pipelines, siloed ERPs, and manual reporting. We provide the engineering rigor and product thinking required to build modular, Domain-Driven Design (DDD) architectures that scale. Whether you are a FinTech startup needing revenue forecasting or a growing E-commerce brand struggling with SKU management, we deliver executive-grade data solutions. ๐Ÿ”น THE TOOLSHED DATA METHODOLOGY - Architecture First: We design modular DDD systems on GCP and AWS that prevent data silos before they start. - Automated ETL/ELT: We build robust pipelines using Airbyte, Fivetran, and custom Python to ensure 100% data integrity. - Actionable Intelligence: We don't just provide "data"; we build the Retool and Bubble interfaces that allow your team to act on it in real-time. ๐Ÿ”น FEATURED SUCCESS: VERGO (FINANCIAL DATA WAREHOUSING) Vergoโ€™s construction clients faced fragmented financial data across diverse ERPs, making forecasting impossible. - Unified Data Warehouse: Designed a modular architecture on GCP, integrating multiple ERP sources into BigQuery. - Advanced ETL: Built seamless pipelines using Airbyte and dbt for data consolidation and complex transformations. - ML-Powered Forecasting: Developed a regression-based ML model to predict monthly revenue accurately. - WIP Metrics: Implemented partitioned tables in BigQuery to provide low-cost, on-demand access to Work-In-Progress metrics. ๐Ÿ”น FEATURED SUCCESS: SULLY.AI (USAGE & BILLING ARCHITECTURE) We replaced manual tracking with a centralized, automated financial ecosystem. - Hybrid Data Pipeline: Built modular pipelines using Airbyte and Fivetran to consolidate HubSpot and Stripe data into BigQuery. - Custom Python Engineering: Developed production-ready scripts for Firestore and GCS sync with automated schema evolution and dynamic flattening. - Granular Analytics: Created real-time visualizations for Agent Usage Metrics (Scribe, Medical Coding, Receptionist) and API performance trends. - Anomaly Detection: Engineered logic to monitor system health and trigger alerts for critical data drops. ๐Ÿ”น FEATURED SUCCESS: BLI (SALESFORCE PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS) We translated raw Salesforce event history into actionable broker performance insights. - Salesforce REST API: Integrated Opportunity and FieldHistory objects to track real-time status updates. - Velocity Logic: Developed complex SOQL queries to calculate "time-in-stage" using calendar-hour logic for every broker. - Advanced Visualization: Deployed Sankey Diagrams to map deal flow and identify drop-off rates between stages. - Drill-Down Logic: Built an interface to move from high-level aggregations directly into specific client details. ๐Ÿ”น FEATURED SUCCESS: HOUSE OF SYLAS (SCALABLE OPERATIONS) - SKU Automation: Developed automated systems to manage unique Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) for a high-growth gemstone business. - Centralized Warehousing: Built a unified data warehouse to consolidate fragmented business information. - Workflow Optimization: Streamlined internal processes to enable faster product updates and improved scalability. ๐Ÿ”น THE TOOLSHED DATA STACK - Data Warehousing: Google BigQuery, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, SQL. - Engineering/ETL: dbt (Data Build Tool), Airbyte, Fivetran, Python. - Frontend & UI: Retool (Official Partner), Bubble.io, React.js. - Cloud & API: GCP, AWS, Salesforce API, GraphQL, REST. "They demonstrated exceptional skills not only as developers but also as true product thinkers... executing with speed and precision." โ€” Rich, CEO of Vergo. If you are ready to turn your data chaos into a competitive advantage, let us connect for a discovery call.

  • dbt
  • PostgreSQL
  • Data Migration
  • SQL Server Integration Services
  • BigQuery
  • Low Code & RAD Software
  • Data Visualization
  • Data Modeling
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • ETL Pipeline
  • Python
  • Oracle PLSQL
  • Data Analysis
  • Jupyter Notebook
  • Analytics Dashboard
  • Oracle Programming
  • Dashboard
  • Oracle Data Integrator

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dbt engineer hiring guide

A dbt engineer brings software engineering best practices to analytics, transforming raw data into reliable, tested data products in cloud warehouses. As analytics engineers, they bridge the gap between data engineering and analytics, using SQL and tools like dbt Core to build modular, documented data models. Whether you're modernizing your data stack, scaling your analytics capabilities, or implementing proper data governance, a skilled professional can accelerate your data transformation initiatives.

What does a dbt engineer do?

A dbt engineer is a data professional who specializes in the "T" in ELT (extract, load, transform) processes, using SQL and software engineering best practices to turn raw data into analytics-ready data models.

Their key responsibilities include:

  • Writing SQL-based SELECT statements to create tables and views

  • Managing complex directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) of interdependent tables

  • Applying software engineering principles like version control (Git), testing, documentation, and CI/CD

  • Using Jinja templating and ref() functions for modular, DRY code

  • Optimizing performance for large datasets through incremental modeling

Common tools and platforms they use include dbt Core, dbt Cloud, SQL, Git, and data warehouses like Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, and Redshift. Many also hold the dbt Analytics Engineering Certification.

How to hire a dbt engineer on Upwork

Finding the right dbt engineer starts with a clear project scope and structured evaluation process. Here's how to hire dbt talent on Upwork.

Step 1: Post a job

A well-crafted job post is your first opportunity to connect with qualified dbt engineers who have the specific skills your project requires.

  • Refer to this data analyst job description for ideas on content and format. 

  • Create a clear, detailed job post that outlines your project goals, required technical skills, and expected deliverables.

  • Describe your specific project context, such as migrating legacy ETL pipelines to a modern ELT architecture.

  • Specify your current data platforms, like Snowflake or BigQuery, to ensure seamless integration.

  • Share your expected budget and timeline.

Use the Job Post Generator, powered by Umaโ„ข, Upwork's Mindful AI, to speed things up. Describe your needs in a few sentences and Uma will craft a dbt engineer job post for your review and customization.

Step 2: Evaluate candidates

Systematic candidate evaluation helps you identify dbt engineers whose technical expertise and project experience align with your data transformation goals.

  • Use Upwork's filters to narrow candidates by expertise level, hourly rate, location, and availability.

  • Review portfolios for relevant dbt Core/Cloud experience, SQL proficiency, and data warehouse familiarity, and look for the dbt Analytics Engineering Certification.

  • Leverage Uma to conduct instant video interviews and provide shortlists with side-by-side comparisons.

Step 3: Interview your top choices

Direct conversations with candidates reveal how they approach complex data challenges and whether their working style complements your team.

  • Schedule and conduct live video interviews within Upwork Messages with call transcripts and summaries available after the calls.

  • Conduct targeted interviews to assess both technical depth and problem-solving approaches. Consider adapting SQL developer interview questions to evaluate their transformation expertise.

  • Ask candidates to walk through a past dbt project or explain how they would approach your specific data transformation needs.

  • Review their GitHub repositories to evaluate code quality, version control habits, and documentation standards.

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

Defining project parameters and payment structures in a firm contract before work begins protects both parties and creates accountability throughout the engagement.

  • Choose between a fixed-price model for defined deliverables or hourly tracking for ongoing optimization.

  • Set clear milestones for larger projects to ensure alignment at each phase of development.

  • Utilize the messaging and contract workroom to enhance communication, while relying on Upwork's identity verification, payment protection, and hourly tracking for security.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.

How much does hiring a dbt engineer cost?

The cost of hiring a dbt engineer on Upwork generally falls in the same range as data analysts, from $20 to $50 per hour. Rates depend on the engineerโ€™s experience level, the project complexity, and the engagement type. For pricing information on related roles, visit Upwork's hourly rates guide.

Consider these typical costs for dbt engineering projects commonly found on Upwork:

dbt project initialization

$500-$1,500 /project

Entry-level to mid-level
  • Initial dbt project setup and configuration
  • Source definitions and staging model creation
  • Simple transformations for 3-5 data sources

Data pipeline transformation

$2,000-$5,000 /project

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Multisource data integration with incremental models
  • Testing framework and documentation
  • Production environment deployment

Data warehouse modeling

$5,000-$12,000 /project

Senior-level or specialist
  • Complete analytics layer buildout
  • Complex DAG management and performance optimization
  • Data quality checks and stakeholder alignment

Ongoing optimization and maintenance

$1,500-$4,000 /month

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Continuous pipeline monitoring and model refactoring
  • Query optimization and new source integration
  • Stakeholder support and troubleshooting

Strategic data architecture

$8,000-$15,000+ /project

Expert or architect-level
  • Enterprise data platform strategy and governance framework
  • Team training and documentation
  • Multiwarehouse orchestration and advanced automation


Project-based pricing often provides better value for defined deliverables, while hourly arrangements work well for ongoing optimization and support. For complex enterprise implementations, expect to work with senior-level talent who bring proven experience with your specific data warehouse platform.

FAQs about dbt engineers

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a dbt engineer worth it?

Hiring a dbt engineer is worth it when you're scaling analytics, modernizing your data stack, or struggling with data quality. Organizations report significant ROI from implementing dbt, including a 70-90% reduction in data pipeline maintenance time. Proper transformation layer architecture eliminates technical debt and enables data teams to move from firefighting to strategic work.

What qualifications should I look for in a dbt engineer?

When hiring a dbt engineer, you should look for strong SQL skills, hands-on dbt Core or dbt Cloud experience, and familiarity with your specific data warehouse platform. Git version control experience is also essential, as dbt projects require proper version management and code collaboration.

The dbt Analytics Engineering Certification is a strong indicator of competency, requiring at least six months of hands-on experience. Additionally, consider their background in data modeling concepts, testing frameworks, and CI/CD workflows for analytics.

Can I hire a dbt engineer within 24 hours on Upwork?

Yes, depending on talent availability and the clarity of your job post, it's entirely possible to receive dbt engineer proposals within 24 hours and make an immediate hire. Clear project descriptions that specify required skills, platforms, and deliverables tend to attract qualified candidates faster.