Data Roles

A brief overview of the distinct types of data professionals.

The previous article, "What is Data - like I am five" explained data and emphasized that data is everywhere. This means everybody uses data in their daily activities. However, there are people/roles that deal with collecting, processing, analyzing and the visualization of data.

In this article, we will explore some of these roles in data and their responsibilities.

You will encounter the word "database" in this article. Therefore, before we get into the roles, it is important to understand what a database is.

Database

According to GeeksforGeeks, A database is an organized collection of data stored in a computer system and usually controlled by a database management system (DBMS)

A database is a data store where data is collected and stored for further use. For example, think of a database like your daily journal where you take note of all your daily activities, plans and things (data) you may use in the future. In the IT world, your daily journal is called a database. Database systems are computers that are used to electronically store collections of related data and organize these data, such that it is easily accessed, managed, and updated.

Database Administrator

According to Pluralsight, The database administrator (DBA) is the person who manages, backs up and ensures the availability of the data produced and consumed by today’s organizations via their IT systems.

A database administrator oversees the creation of databases for the storage of data from multiple sources, maintaining the databases, and ensuring data is available for use within an organization. This includes:

Monitoring the sources of data inflow to the database.
Updating the database.
Setting up new databases.
Creating database backups and recovery systems.

Data Architect

According to Coursera, Data architects are IT professionals who leverage their computer science and design skills to review and analyze the data infrastructure of an organization, plan future databases, and implement solutions to store and manage data for organizations and their users.

Data Architects are data professionals who design, create, and develop an organization's data architecture for their database systems. They define the structure for storing data, securing, and managing the flow of data from diverse data sources. They define and oversee the overall structure, design, and governance of data systems and environments.

Data architects use various methods and tools, such as data modeling, data warehousing, data integration, and data security, to create and implement data strategies and policies. Data architects often work with data engineers, data analysts, and data scientists to ensure the alignment and compatibility of data systems and solutions.

Data Engineer

According to Corporate Finance Institute, A data engineer is an individual responsible for managing, optimizing, overseeing, and monitoring data retrieval, storage, and distribution.

A data engineer develops and configures data systems such as databases and large-scale processing systems. They collect, manage, process, validate and optimize data for further use.

A data engineer designs, builds, and maintains the infrastructure and architecture that enable data collection, storage, processing, and analysis. Data engineers use various technologies and tools, such as cloud computing, big data frameworks, pipelines, and databases, to create and manage data systems. Data engineers often work with data analysts and data scientists to ensure the quality, reliability, and scalability of data.

Data Scientist

According to Microsoft Azure, A data scientist collects, analyzes, and interprets big data to uncover patterns and insights, make predictions, and create actionable plans.

A Data Scientist is a data professional who applies advanced techniques and methods, such as machine learning, statistical methods, artificial intelligence, and programming, to analyze large and complex data sets. Data scientists use data to build models, algorithms, and systems that can generate predictions, classifications, or recommendations.

Data Analyst

According to Coursera, A data analyst collects, cleans, and interprets data sets in order to answer a question or solve a problem.

A data analyst is a data professional who manipulates data to extract trends, patterns, and insights into useful business information enabling businesses to harness their data estate to maximize value and make data-driven decisions.

A data analyst is someone who collects, cleans, organizes, and explores data to answer specific questions or solve problems. Data analysts use various methods and tools, such as spreadsheets, databases, statistics, and visualization, to perform data analysis. Data analysts often work closely with business stakeholders, managers, or clients to understand their needs and provide insights and recommendations based on data.

Data Visualization Specialist

Data Visualization Specialists are storytelling experts they use visual techniques to present data, making it easier to understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data.

Data visualization specialists create and design visual representations of data, such as charts, graphs, maps, and dashboards. Data visualization specialists use various tools and techniques, such as color, shape, size, and interactivity, to communicate data effectively and efficiently. Data visualization specialists often work with data analysts and data scientists to present and explain data insights and findings visually.

Conclusion

Data roles are diverse and dynamic, and they offer many opportunities and challenges for data professionals. Data roles require different skills, tools, and knowledge, but they also share some common characteristics, such as curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Data roles are essential for making sense of the data that surrounds us and using it to improve our lives and society.

PS:

Here is an AI-generated description of the roles mentioned in this article

Here’s a comparison of the roles you mentioned:

Role	Description
Database Administrator	Database Administrators are IT professionals responsible for keeping a database up to date and running. Their responsibilities include writing scripts, updating the database, keeping the database running 24/7, and backing up the database¹.
Data Engineer	Data Engineers build and maintain the data infrastructure that other data team members use to perform various tasks. They specialize in handling semi-structured, unstructured, and streaming data.
Data Analyst	Data Analysts deliver value to their companies by taking data, using it to answer questions, and communicating the results to help make business decisions. Common tasks include data cleaning, performing analysis, and creating data visualizations.
Data Scientist	Data Scientists are specialists in solving complex issues through analytical analysis. They capture large amounts of unstructured data and transform them into meaningful datasets that can be used for decision-making.
Data Architect	Data Architects design, create, deploy and manage an organization’s data architecture. They define how the data will be stored, consumed, integrated and managed by different data entities and IT systems.
Data Visualization Specialist	Data Visualization Specialists use visual techniques to present data, making it easier to understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data. They often work closely with data analysts to communicate complex data in a visual way.

Please note that the exact responsibilities can vary from company to company.