Indian firms prioritise hands-on data engineers

Ziff Davis job postings and new hiring commentary from Citrin Cooperman point to the same labor-market pattern in India: employers are paying for people who can build and run data systems, not just talk about artificial intelligence. Recent listings tied to Ziff Davis’s TDS Gift Cards unit seek junior data engineers in India with SQL, Python, ETL, AWS and Snowflake-related skills, while Citrin Cooperman says it has expanded its India workforce from about 300 people in late 2024 to more than 1,000. Quess Corp reports cited by business publications put the talent gap in AI, data and analytics roles in the high-30s to low-40s percentage range. ### Which skills are employers actually asking for? A Ziff Davis-linked posting for an Associate Data Engineer in India lists Snowflake, SQL, AWS, Matillion, Kubernetes, cron, Unix and APIs among the hard skills, and says the role will help build and maintain ETL and ELT pipelines. The posting says candidates should have a strong understanding of SQL, basic knowledge of Python or another scripting language, and exposure to modern data platforms. (jobgether.com) The same posting says the role is aimed at fresh graduates or candidates with 0-1 years of experience, including internships, certifications or academic projects. That mix matters because it shows employers are screening for operational skills early in a career path, not reserving hands-on tooling only for senior hires. ### Why are firms still hiring in India while AI dominates the conversation? (jobgether.com) Vishal Agarwal, executive managing director of Citrin Cooperman India, said in a May 22 article that the firm increased its India headcount from 300 to more than 1,000 in under two years and is still hiring. He said the old offshore model centered on basic data entry and compliance is “dead” and that work is now being completed end-to-end in India without U.S. intervention. (jobgether.com) ETGCCWorld reported on May 18 that Citrin Cooperman opened a 70,000-square-foot office in Hyderabad with more than 500 seats and room to grow. Agarwal told the publication that India is emerging as “a critical growth and innovation engine for the firm,” with the center taking on more client-facing and end-to-end work. (thefinancestory.com) ### How large is the skills shortage employers are hiring against? Quess Corp data cited by ET Edge Insights said India’s IT market is shifting toward digital engineering and AI execution, with 1.8 million roles in demand and advanced capabilities driving 52% of hiring. The same report said the skills gap in AI, data and analytics roles runs as high as 43%, while platform engineering gaps are around 38%. (gcc.economictimes.indiatimes.com) Business Standard reported last month that nearly 60% of new GCC roles were linked to AI, data and platform skillsets, and that AI/data analytics gaps were running at 38%-42%. It also said employers were offering 1.5x to 2.5x salary premiums in some cases to attract specialized talent. ### What does that mean for entry-level and mid-career candidates? (etedge-insights.com) The clearest signal from the postings and reports is that employers are rewarding tool fluency over broad “AI” branding. SQL, Python, ETL or ELT pipelines, cloud infrastructure, orchestration tools and warehouse platforms appear repeatedly in job descriptions and sector reports. Quess Corp’s hiring data, as reported by ET Edge Insights, said 65% of demand is coming from professionals with four to 10 years of experience. (business-standard.com) But the Ziff Davis-linked junior posting shows companies are also trying to build that pipeline earlier, with roles that ask for practical exposure to data workflows rather than long resumes. (jobgether.com) ### Where can readers see the next signs of this hiring pattern? Citrin Cooperman’s India careers page currently lists openings tied to Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, and ETGCCWorld said the firm’s Hyderabad site has capacity for further expansion. Ziff Davis-linked postings for India-based associate data engineering roles remain visible through third-party job platforms that syndicate employer listings. (indiacareers.citrincooperman.com) (etedge-insights.com)