Hiring GCP Data Engineers in 2025
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) may be third in market share but it has grown to become a significant player alongside AWS and Azure.
It offers an enterprise-level, scalable and robust platform for organisations dealing with big data, machine learning, or real-time analytics. GCP is typically chosen by users for its open pricing, which enables businesses to gain better visibility and predictability of cloud spend.
When you consider the tech, GCP is greatly respected as a data services leader, especially well-liked among businesses interested in hybrid or multi-cloud strategies due to Anthos and good open-source integrations. While AWS leads the pack at about 29% market share and Azure is at around 22%, GCP is the growth leader in the machine learning and AI area, and companies interested in next-generation data platforms. As of Q1 2025, GCP has about 12% of the global cloud market share, up from about 11% in 2024. Forecasts suggest the growth to about 15% by 2027. The expansion is mainly a result of its AI and machine learning offerings and budget-friendly infrastructure like TPUs. However, the talent pool available is smaller compared to AWS and Azure, so senior GCP Data Engineers are scarce and highly sought after.
With the above in mind and in order to appeal to this smaller talent pool, businesses must know the abilities of these candidates. From our data, we can give the following analysis:
The labour market is competitive so extended recruitment processes or excessive job requirements will cause you to lose good applicants. Our advice would be to consider your requirements before posting job ads and eliminate old requirements. Old job postings get caught in the net when hiring managers feel pressure, and although the situation is completely understandable it also delays and jams the hiring process with the wrong candidates.
Regarding recruitment procedures, most respondents to our annual state of data survey preferred a two-stage process comprising an interview and a technical test (if appropriate). Ideally, the best would be three stages that comprise a screening interview, a technical test (if required), and then in-depth interview with team members so that candidates and potential employers can get to know each other.
While certain applicants will prioritise job security or pay, most GCP engineers are driven by learning and impact. Emphasising opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge projects, rather than humdrum routine tasks, will get you applicants who bring innovation and inquisitiveness to your business.
An experienced recruiter within the GCP space can assist you in reaching out to passive talent, provide salary range guidance, and expedite the hiring process.
Final Thought: GCP Data Engineers are not merely a new hire; they are key to unleashing your data's full potential. As GCP's market share is expected to continue growing and demand for AI continues to rise, recruiting top talent now can provide your company with a competitive edge for years to come.
FAQ 1: Why is demand for GCP skill rising in the UK?
The UK economy is adopting Google Cloud more and more, particularly in industries like fintech, healthtech, and media. Companies want to use GCP's strengths in data analytics, AI, and multi-cloud, but they lack experienced GCP engineers. This shortage is driving up demand and compensation.
FAQ 2: What are the most in-demand GCP job roles in the UK right now?
The top GCP roles UK companies are hiring for in 2025 include:
- GCP Data Engineer (BigQuery, Dataflow, Pub/Sub)
- GCP Cloud Architect
- Google Cloud DevOps Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer with GCP
- GCP Platform Engineer (with Kubernetes, Terraform)
FAQ 3: What are UK employers searching for in terms of GCP skills in 2025?
The most in-demand Google Cloud skills in the UK are:
- BigQuery, Dataflow, and Pub/Sub expertise
- Data pipeline skills in Python, Java, or Scala
- Terraform-based Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- CI/CD tooling and cloud-native architecture
- Vertex AI, TensorFlow, and other GCP machine learning integration experience
FAQ 4: What are UK businesses doing to recruit and hire the top GCP engineers?
UK employers can do the following to hire the top GCP professionals:
- Highlight AI, big data, or multi-cloud innovation initiatives
- Offer flexible work schedules (hybrid or remote)
- Speed up the interview and offer process
- Get affiliated with a specialized cloud recruitment agency
- Hire the services of GCP engineers hiring specialists in the UK
FAQ 5: What is the career prospect for GCP professionals in the UK?
With Google Cloud's market share expected to grow from 12% in 2025 to around 15% by 2027, GCP engineers and architects are positioned for strong career opportunities, competitive salaries, and heightened demand across various industries. There is no better time to upskill or transition into a GCP-specified role.
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