Data Engineer vs Data Architects: Understanding Differences

While the job title, “data engineer” may sound interchangeable with the job description of a “data architect,” there are differences between these two computer-related positions. While both jobs sound almost alike, you have to note the distinctions. 

The following information will show you the key differences in responsibilities between a data engineer and a data architects

Data Engineering: How Is It Different?

Before you look at the differences between data engineering and the responsibilities of a data architect, it helps to define the actual role of a data engineer.

The Key Responsibilities of a Data Engineer

A data engineer ensures that users can access computer data and that it is secured. Therefore, the data engineer’s responsibilities include the following:

● Building a network’s infrastructure. This includes uploading data from various sources, including Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

● Making sure, at all times, that users can access data while complying with a firm’s policies regarding confidentiality and privacy.

● Ensuring that computer scientists and users can effectively use data from both primary and secondary sources

● Leveraging data per a company’s requirements by collaborating with data scientists and the stakeholders in a company.

The main differences between a data engineer and a data architect then are based on what they do. The data architect is the abstract player in these two job roles. It is their job to envision and create a blueprint for a data system’s framework and design. The data engineer supports this goal by developing the architect’s plans so the system can be accessed and utilized.

The data architect is responsible for giving life to a business’s data requirements while a data engineer ensures that the data is accessed conveniently and easily. Therefore, a data architect must have skills that include data design and modeling as well as data integration. The engineer, on the other hand, is experienced in computer programming and data engineering.

Making Further Comparisons

To help you further contrast the differences, the following information shows how the data architect and data engineer collaborate in their roles.

While the data architect creates the vision for a data infrastructure and defines how data is stored, the engineer maintains the data, as defined by the architect.

The data architect’s skills are heavily reliant on a knowledge of databases, modeling, and operating systems while an engineer’s training relies on software development and computer applications and algorithms.

High-level strategizing is part of the architect’s expertise while a data engineer’s primary focus is on day-to-day computer operations. 

You might liken the data architect’s work to that of an actual architect – someone who creates a framework’s design. The data engineer’s job, by contrast, can be likened to a builder. He builds and maintains the system so it can be used by computer researchers and users.

A Quick Summation and Overview

A data engineer must show that he or she has the skills needed to implement the data architect’s plan. As a result, coding is a highly valued skill as is data warehousing. Because an engineer must assess a large amount of information, data warehousing serves his or her purposes well.

Data architects must know how computer systems interact and have strong leadership and communication skills. They often are the leaders of a company’s IT teams and therefore must be able to convey technical information clearly and understandably.