How to Become a Data Engineer in 2022

Do you want to learn how to become a Data Engineer? Then, continue reading to learn all the tips and tactics that will help you become one!

A Data Engineer is one of the most profitable IT positions. Data engineers create, implement, and optimize large-scale data gathering, storage, access, and analytics systems. In addition, they build data pipelines that are utilized by data scientists, data-driven applications, and other data consumers.

Data engineering jobs necessitate a diverse range of technical abilities, including in-depth knowledge of several programming languages and SQL database design. Data engineers must also communicate effectively to collaborate across departments and grasp what business executives want to gain from the company’s massive datasets.

If you want to know how to become a data engineer, stay tuned because, in this blog, we’ll explore all aspects of starting a career in data engineering and explain the skills needed to become successful.

5 Steps to Become a Data Engineer

If you enjoy creating and implementing systems, you can easily become a data engineer. Here are some of the most efficient but effective methods for becoming a data engineer.

• Earn a Bachelor’s degree
• Get Certified
• Get an entry-level engineering job
• Get a strong grip on databases
• Hone your skills

Let’s discuss these steps in detail and how they can help you become a successful data engineer.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science, data sciences, software development, statistics, mathematics, or physics is essential for starting your journey as a data engineer. The degree will provide a basic understanding of the principle components of data engineering.

You can either apply for admission on-site or opt for an online degree. Various universities offer online degrees in data engineering, helping you learn at your own pace.

Step 2: Get Certified

If you graduated in a different field and want to switch your career to data engineering, getting the basics of data engineering seems complicated. But, there is no need to worry as you can always enroll in an online certification program to understand the ins and out of a subject.

Data engineering courses are available at several universities and institutes. You may also apply for scholarships and study data engineering to help you start your profession.

Step 3: Get an Entry-Level Engineering Job

When it comes to finding work as a data engineer at an organization, you can be confident that the demand is strong. Work for organizations looking for a data engineer to generate money and gain on-hands experience. Search for employment on Indeed or LinkedIn and select the ones accessible in your region. Alternatively, you can always work from home!

Step 4: Get a Strong Grip on Databases

Make sure you’re up to speed on basic database knowledge and the tools you would use. Databases are essential data engineering components as they set the ground for larger IT infrastructures.

At the absolute least, become acquainted with NoSQL and SQL (Structured Query Language) systems. It’s also a good idea to experiment with database management systems such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. We like these two since they are both open-source, although there are many commercial options that you can master.

Step 5: Hone Your Skills

Using various web-based data engineering tools to expand your knowledge and abilities can substantially increase your work chances. Several options are available, but a few to explore are Amazon Web Services’ cloud architecture, Apache Cloudstack, and Microsoft’s SQL Server Management Studio.

While no one expects you to become an expert in all of these tools, it is vital to become acquainted with them on a fundamental level. With such diverse data engineering tools available, it’s rather typical to see them combined. You need an idea regarding different skills and tools that are currently being utilized in the IT industry.

Skills Needed to Become a Data Engineer

The job designation of Data Engineer requires various personal and professional skills. Relevant skills can help you become a successful data engineer. Here are some of the skills you need to become a data engineer.

• Database management
• Programming languages
• Distributed computing frameworks
• Cloud technology
• ETL frameworks
• Stream Processing frameworks
• Communication skills

Let’s talk about these skills in detail, along with the need and impact of these skills in a data engineering career.

Database management

Data engineers are responsible for storing, managing, updating, and organizing huge volumes of data. This is why they need extensive database architecture and design knowledge. Structure query language (SQL) and NoSQL-based databases are the most commonly utilized database type, so you need a strong command of these skills.

Programming languages

Command in a programming language is an essential skill for a data engineer. Therefore, the job listing often requires a command in one or more programming languages, including Ruby, Python, Perl, Golang, Java, and Scala.

Distributed computing frameworks

Distributed computing frameworks such as Spark and Hadoop allow the distributed processing of data across computer clusters. As different technology sectors commonly use them to distribute and manage data, a data engineer needs a functional understanding of these computing frameworks.

Cloud technology

Storing data in the cloud can help ensure data’s high availability. As data engineering is focused on working with data, it becomes vital for a data engineer to have a strong understanding of cloud technologies. A data engineer must be able to work with multiple cloud platforms such as Azure, OpenShift, AWS, OpenStack, and GCP.

ETL frameworks

ETL helps companies leverage data in a practical and usable manner. It collects and streamlines data collected for multiple sources. Extract Transform Load or ETL prepares the data for analysis. As data engineering is focused on collecting, managing, and utilizing data – a data engineer must have a strong understanding of the ETL framework.

Stream Processing frameworks

Data engineers use stream processing frameworks to react to important events and manage a continuous data stream. Stream process is related to complex event processing, streaming analytics, and real-time analytics.

Therefore, a data engineer must have a firm grip on common stream processing frameworks, including Apache Storm, Apache Spark, Apache Flink, Apache Apex, Apache Samza, Apache Flume, and Amazon Kinesis Streams.

Communication skills

Data engineers need to collaborate with other technical staff. This is where positive communication skills come into action. Strong communication skills can help coordinate with software engineers, cloud engineers, cloud architects, and data scientists to share the finding.

Additionally, a data engineer should be able to convey the message to peers without technical knowledge.

Demand for Data Engineers in 2022 and Beyond

Data engineering is a blend of technical knowledge, business experience, and creativity with one purpose: to assist businesses in gaining valuable insights from their data.

According to the Dice research report, the data engineering position is in great demand. According to the survey, data engineering will be one of the fastest-growing technological careers, with a 50% year-over-year increase in vacant positions. Consulting, database design, programming, and statistical analysis are required in this sector.

In the coming years, the role of data engineers will change, leading to a higher demand for data engineers. The new generation of data engineers will focus on enhancing data reliability, configuring alerts, deploying infrastructure of data use cases, and automating deployment to ascertain data quality.

FAQs

Is it hard to become a data engineer?

Considering the requirement of a bachelor’s degree, we can say that it is pretty hard to become a data engineer. But, you can enroll in an online data engineering course and earn the degree online without going through the hassle of commuting to your university.

How long does it take to be a data engineer?

It usually takes four to five years to become a data engineer. You will need a bachelor’s degree to secure an entry-level position. Still, you can also transition from other data-related roles.

Is data engineering a good career?

Yes, data engineering is one of the best careers in the IT field. According to statistics, it is the top trending job in the IT sector, beating web designers, photon developers, cloud architects, and database architects.

Does data engineering require coding?

Yes, you need command in at least one primary programming language, such as Python, to become a data engineer as most data engineering job designations require coding skills.

What degree is needed for data engineering?

You will need a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer sciences, software, physics, statistics, or a related field to become a data engineer. Along with the relevant degree, you will also need the expertise to qualify for an entry-level job as a data engineer.

Recap

This wraps up our guide on how to become a data engineer. If you want to become a data engineer in 2022, you need to start preparing for the role immediately. Then, with persistence, hard work, and effort, you can begin a fulfilling career in the field of Data engineering.

We’ve presented the notion of data engineering and covered all you need to know to get started as a data engineer in this post. As previously said, the position may be both demanding and rewarding. While data engineering needs persistence and hard work, there are several paths to follow and virtually limitless opportunities for advancement.

Source: https://www.alx-t.com/blog/how-to-become-a-data-engineer/