I’d recommend scratching the itch by working on various open source projects related to data engineering (ideally once’s in use where you work) for now, since there’s probably enough overlap you can find opportunities to get paid for a little of it, use that to build up a body of experience and get some exposure without much risk to your current position (valuable given the risk of layoffs if the downturn drags on).

Data engineering is a growing market, and the old adage of how to make money during a gold rush applies “sell picks and shovels”… the picks and shovels of data engineering are all software, which by learning how to make them, lets you build the classic “I took my experience using others tools and made my own better ones” narrative and put forward an excellent pitch to future prospective employers.