Python gets most of the attention in data engineering, but a steady share of roles still ask for Scala or Java. A keyword search on Data Engineer Jobs for either language returns roles across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Here is what those posts have in common and how to decide whether they fit you.
Data Engineer Jobs search results for scala
Roles that named Scala
On October 31, 2026 a search for scala returned posts including a Big Data Engineer role at Box in Poland with Scala in the title, Senior Data Engineer - Real time analytics at Aircall in France, the United Kingdom and other locations, Senior Backend Data Engineer – Content Intelligence at Spotify, Intermediate Data Engineer at AB InBev in Brazil and Senior Data Engineer at WPP in Denmark.
Several of these mention real time analytics or backend work. Scala often appears where data engineering sits close to streaming systems or service code.
Roles that named Java
A search for java returned a different group. It included Software Engineer, Data Orchestration at Stripe in India, several data and data platform software engineer roles at SpaceX on the Starlink program, GCP Data Engineer roles at Capco in India and a Senior or Staff Software Engineer, Data Platform role at Terminal in Canada.
Many of these titles start with Software Engineer. Java tends to show up in posts where the data team builds platform services and tools, not only pipelines.
What this means for candidates
If you write Python every day, a Scala or Java role is not out of reach, but read the responsibilities closely. A post that asks you to maintain services in Java expects real software engineering depth. A post that lists Scala as one of several languages may accept strong experience in any of them.
If you already know one of these languages, put that work first in your application, with the systems you built and how they ran in production.
Narrowing the search
Combine the keyword with the work model filter on the jobs page to separate remote, hybrid and on-site roles, then open each post on the employer site. The about page explains where listings come from.
Data Engineer Jobs was founded by Gabe Garcia and lists data engineering roles from public employer career systems.