Data Engineer: Career Path

Data is the fuel of the modern economy and Data Engineers provide the necessary knowledge to extract as much knowledge out of it as possible – a key role!

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What does the Data Engineer career path entail?

Data Engineer

If 'data is the new oil' then data engineers are the equivalent of refineries which turn crude raw oil into usable forms like petrol and other forms of fuel. A key role in the modern economy in a wide variety of businesses, from startups to big tech. This shows in the meteoric growth of data engineering roles and the salaries that are shooting up to new heights.

The best part – other than data scientists, data engineering career paths are more accessible. Strong communication and being a team player is as important – if not more – compared to the ability to crunch some data.

Best books to explore the Data Engineering career path.

A well-written and thorough book can be an amazing path to build deeper understanding and also act as a handbook as you discover the internet's vast resources.

These are our and our experts top picks to get started building career-relevant skills.

Designing Data-Intensive Applications

Data is at the center of many challenges in system design today. Difficult issues need to be figured out, such as scalability, consistency, reliability, efficiency, and maintainability. In addition, we have an overwhelming variety of tools, including relational databases, NoSQL datastores, stream or batch processors, and message brokers. What are the right choices for your application? How do …

Advanced Topics in Database Research

Advanced Topics in Database Research is a series of books on the fields of database, software engineering, and systems analysis and design. They feature the latest research ideas and topics on how to enhance current database systems, improve information storage, refine existing database models, and develop advanced applications.

The Data Warehouse Toolkit

One of the most dramatic new developments in database design, the dimensional data warehouse is a powerful database model that.significantly enhances managers' ability to quickly analyze large, multidimensional data sets. Written by the leading proponent of this revolutionary new approach, this valuable book/CD toolkit outfits you with all the nuts-and-bolts information you need to design, bui…

Big Data

Big Data teaches you to build big data systems using an architecture that takes advantage of clustered hardware along with new tools designed specifically to capture and analyze web-scale data. It describes a scalable, easy-to-understand approach to big data systems that can be built and run by a small team. Following a realistic example, this book guides readers through the theory of big data…

Data Pipelines Pocket Reference

Data pipelines are the foundation for success in data analytics. Moving data from numerous diverse sources and transforming it to provide context is the difference between having data and actually gaining value from it. This pocket reference defines data pipelines and explains how they work in today's modern data stack.

Database and Expert Systems Applications

The Database and Expert Systems Application -DEXA - conferences are mainly oriented to establish a state-of-the art forum on Database and Expert System applications. But Practice without Theory has no sense, as Leonardo said five centuries ago. In this Conference we try a comprornise between these two complementary aspects. A total of 5 sessions are application-oriented, ranging from classical…

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Courses to deepen your Data Engineering skills.

These days, courses are no longer a sequence of videos. They are usually accompanied by projects and a learning community, keeping you accountable and on the path.

Our experts recommend these courses, from free selections to paid programs.

Data Engineering Career Path

Data engineering has seen explosive growth recently as more industries depend on data to drive key business decisions. Take advantage of the surge in demand by becoming a data engineer with Dataquest.

Data engineering and smart analytics

The need for data analysis skills grew by 86% from 2013 to 2018. 1 Become data-driven with Google Cloud. Leverage data and gain real-time insights that improve your decision-making and accelerate innovation. Learn how to design and build data processing systems.

Data Engineering

Learn to design data models, build data warehouses and data lakes, automate data pipelines, and work with massive datasets. At the end of the program, you’ll combine your new skills by completing a capstone project.

Advanced Database Administration

Learn the fundamentals of administering relational database management systems, including managing concurrency and creating objects in the database

Get help with your learning journey

Learning through online courses can be challenging. Get 1:1 guidance from an experienced mentor who can help you stay accountable and answer your questions along the way.

Data Engineering Foundations

Build the Foundation for a Data Engineering Career. Develop hands-on experience with Python, SQL, and Relational Databases and master the fundamentals of the Data Engineering ecosystem.

Data Integration Guide

Learn how data can be integrated : following which principles and for what business outcomes

Top Data Engineering Certifications

Understanding all core concepts of Data Engineering is key to claiming your next certificate. If you need help brushing up on your skills, consider reaching out to one of our mentors.

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate

Hosted by learn.microsoft.com

Demonstrate understanding of common data engineering tasks to implement and manage data engineering workloads on Microsoft Azure, using a number of Azure services.

Prices start at $165.

Data Engineering Certification Coaching

Hosted by mentorcruise.com

Consider reaching out to a coach specialized in Data Engineering certifications. They can help you prepare for your exam, and provide you with the necessary resources to succeed. MentorCruise is the best place to find a coach for your Data Engineering certification. Here are a few top picks:

IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate

Hosted by coursera.org

Prepare for a career as a Data Engineer. Build job-ready skills – and must-have AI skills – for an in-demand career. Earn a credential from IBM. No prior experience required.

Prices start at Free.

Google Professional Data Engineer Certification

Hosted by cloud.google.com

A Professional Data Engineer makes data usable and valuable for others by collecting, transforming, and publishing data. This individual evaluates and selects products and services to meet business and regulatory requirements. A Professional Data Engineer creates and manages robust data processi…

AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate Certification

Hosted by aws.amazon.com

AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate validates skills and knowledge in core data-related AWS services, ability to ingest and transform data, orchestrate data pipelines while applying programming concepts, design data models, manage data life cycles, and ensure data quality.

Prices sta…

Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Cloud Data Engineer Professional Certificate

Hosted by coursera.org

Google’s Cloud Data Engineer Professional Certificate is a flexible online certificate program that provides you with a strong foundation in key big data and machine learning products in Google Cloud in five months or less. It incorporates hands-on labs using Qwiklabs. Designed for professionals…

Data Engineering Workshop

Hosted by mentorcruise.com

Consider joining a workshop specialized in Data Engineering. Workshops are a great way to learn new skills, and get hands-on experience. MentorCruise is the best place to find a workshop for your Data Engineering certification. Here are a few top picks:

Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate

Hosted by coursera.org

Meta’s Database Engineer Professional Certificate is a flexible online certificate program that prepares learners for entry-level database engineering roles in six months or less. Designed for beginners, you’ll learn the key skills required to create, manage, and manipulate databases, along with…

Get the guidance you need on the Data Engineer career path

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!

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9+ yrs of rich experience in implementing Data Engineering, Data Lake, Data Warehousing, and Data Platform Modernization solutions in Fortune 500 clients across CPG, Insurance, and Banking domain I am Azure & Snowflake Certified professional skilled with Azure Data Factory, Databricks, Pyspark, Snowflake, Informatica Powercenter, SQL, Oracle, Data Warehousing, PL/SQL …

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Experienced Data Engineering professional with very strong Data Analytics,SQL,Data reporting skills.Experience with Big data technologies Hadoop,Hive and Spark. Can mentor with career, interviews ,growth ,opportunities and any kind of general advise. If you are venturing/starting or planning to move into data engineering role (or moving from a ETL role ), …

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🚀 Are you yearning to embark on a thrilling career shift into the Data/ML domain, yet uncertain about where to begin? 🔎 Seeking guidance on navigating a career change? ⭐️ In pursuit of your dream job and need expert assistance to make it a reality? 📈 Eager to advance your …

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I am a Data Engineer with several years of experience at companies big and small. I formerly worked at Chime, Zoox (Amazon's self driving company), Instagram, and RocketLawyer. I've done extensive work in almost all aspects of Data Engineering including the infrastructure and platform side, pipelining, modeling, and warehousing side, …

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I have 12+ years of working in successful and failed startups with focus on DataEngineering, MachineLearning. I have deep understanding of SaaS products. In last year or so I have focused myself on clean-tech (climate-tech, clean-energy, climate-crisis). I am leading engineering teams and projects for years. I have work experience …

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Supercharge your transition into data engineering with Gaurav, a passionate Senior Data Engineer at Amazon. With 10 years of experience, Gaurav excels in designing data platforms, implementing architectures like Data lake, Lakehouse, and Data mesh. Expertise in building cloud-based platforms, data pipelines, and ensuring governance and security. Benefit from Gaurav's …

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Browse all Data Engineering mentors

Growing into a Senior Data Engineer role pays off – $30,000 up to per year.

Not only is the progression from individual Data Engineer to a Senior role a natural progression, it also makes all the difference in your average salary.

On a global average, Senior Data Engineer receive a $30,000 salary hike over entry-level Data Engineers when they go from individual contributor to senior personnel.

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Get the help you need & advance your career

Where will you stand in the digital revolution and uprising of the data engineering role? We say it's time to prepare – pick up some data engineering skills with our vetted mentors!