“Data is the new oil”. Have you ever heard about that expression? The expression shows us one thing: that data is one of the most crucial elements these days. In today’s world, it’s all about data. The role of data is vital, and it applies to almost every aspect and industry. As a result, data needs to be organised and structured perfectly. That’s where the data engineer comes into play.
Data engineering has become a profession that is often heard in this digital era. Moreover, statistics show that many people want to become a data engineer. Are you one of them? If yes, then you need to pay attention to this content. This article will explore more about data engineers, such as what they are, what they do, their skill set, salary, and how to become one. Ready? Scroll down!
What is a data engineer?
Data engineers are specialised professionals in the Information Technology (IT) field who organise data. Their responsibilities include designing, building, managing the infrastructure, and analysing data. In addition, all of the data that is organised and managed is for analytical and operational purposes. They ensure that the data is ready, well-curated, secure, and easy to access. In other words, they play a crucial role in processing large volumes of data into accessible material.
Data engineer usually works with a data analyst or data scientist to ensure data provision is seamless and efficient. However, they are not delivered to analysts and scientists only, but also to business managers as decision-makers. After all, business management also needs to analyse the comprehensive data and utilise it to boost business growth.
Data engineer responsibilities
Data engineers have complex day-to-day responsibilities. To clarify, data has a lot of different types and sources. The role of these types of engineers is to build data pipelines, gathering data from multiple sources and optimising the gathered data for easy analysis for those who need it. To sum it up, data engineering work is not easy at all. In fact, it can be very difficult for those who do not have the right skills for the task.
Additionally, data engineer roles can be different, depending on the organisation. There are 3 main roles that you need to be aware of: generalist, pipeline-centric engineers, and database-centric engineers. Firstly, generalist data engineers focus more on end-to-end data collection. Secondly, pipeline-centric engineers are usually responsible for more complex data science projects. Thirdly, database-centric engineers are very familiar with pipelines and ETL methods (extract, transform, and load). All that said, there are still tasks common for some data engineers, such as:
- Design, build, and maintain database pipeline.
- Modify raw data into valuable information.
- Develop data set processes.
- Improve data quality and reliability.
- Create new data validation methods.
- Optimise data systems.
Data engineer fundamental skills
To become a professional data engineer, you have to master some technical and non-technical skills. At first, you'll need to build the fundamental skills. Programming, database systems, ETL tools and cloud computing are crucial to have. However, don’t forget that you’re still in the engineering field. It means that it also requires non-technical skills. For more details, here are several skills you'll need to succeed as a data engineer:
Technical Skills
- Programming: Has a deep understanding of Java, SQL, Scala, and Python.
- ETL systems: Familiar with the extract, transform, and load (ETL) process.
- Data modelling: Capable of designing data models effectively.
- Cloud computing: At least able to operate Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google Cloud.
- Big data tools: Understand various tools for managing big data, such as Kafka, Spark, and Hadoop.
Non-Technical Skills
- Analytical thinking: Ability to analyse problems and turn them into solutions.
- Problem-solving: Handling complex data-related issues.
- Collaborative: Works well with other teams, as teamwork is essential for data engineers.
- Communication: Able to explain complex concepts clearly to teams or business management.
Estimated data engineer salary
For you who are interested in this field, obviously, salary is a vital aspect to consider. So, here we come into one of the most wanted questions to ask: How much do data engineers earn? For one, data engineers' salaries could be different, depending on their level of experience, such as junior, mid-level, and senior. Secondly, the salary variety is also affected by other factors like location.
For example, the average base salary in the UK is £55,837 per year, according to Indeed. However, if we break it down, there are various average salaries in different locations. Take a look at the data of the highest-paying cities for data engineers in the UK based on the same source.
- London: £65,734 per year
- Newcastle: £53,853 per year
- Birmingham: £53,726 per year
- Manchester: £52,638 per year
- Reading: £52,519 per year
- Edinburgh: £52,438 per year
- Bristol: £51,960 per year
- Leeds: £49,738 per year
- Glasgow: £47,226 per year
Guide to become a data engineer
As the field of data engineers is growing rapidly, maybe you’re curious about how to become one. First of all, it’s highly recommended to have a degree majoring in software engineering, data science, or any major related. With a degree, you will get all of the fundamental knowledge to become a data engineer. But, there are other steps that you should be aware of to pursue a career in this field. Here’s the guide:
1. Learn essential data engineering skills
As stated before, you’re required to master some of the technical and non-technical skills to become a data engineer. Skills such as coding, cloud computing, ETL, database management, and analytical thinking are very important to master. However, you also need to keep up to date as the data engineering field is very dynamic and the technology system is always evolving.
2. Get data engineer certifications
Your skills will not mean anything if you don’t have something that can validate them. Therefore, you need to get certifications to improve your knowledge and advance your career as a data engineer. There are a lot of certifications that you can get, such as IBM Certified Data Engineer, AWS Certified Data Engineer, and Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer.
3. Take data engineering online courses
Consider taking data engineering online learning courses to make yourself stand out from others. These days, there are plenty of institutions that provide online courses. Please note, choose institutions that offer practical methods in real-world projects. With that, you will have valuable experiences that help you in the data engineering field.
4. Create a data engineer portfolio
We all know that a portfolio has become a key aspect of a job application these days, including for a data engineer. It shows the recruiter how capable you are and what you can offer for them. So, you can use data engineering projects that you’ve completed in online courses or even your independent projects.
Final Thoughts
So how is it, are you more interested in becoming a data engineer? Data engineering itself is one of the jobs that are in demand in the UK. LinkedIn News UK revealed 25 demanding job titles over the past five years. In 2023, the data engineer career came up in number 13. In other words, this field offers a lot of opportunities.
If you desire to work in this field, you should make the most of this golden opportunity. The College of Contract Management offers you many engineering resources to help you stay up to date with the industry. Moreover, we provide practical learning with experts that will set you apart from the others. Enrol in one of our courses today and start building your career as a data engineer!
