Introduction

 

Data engineering emerges as one of the most well-paying careers in 2022. A Data Engineer career proposes fixed working hours with 2-day weekend leave and paid leaves. So, many youths are encouraged to opt for data engineering as their career path.

Are you interested in building a career in data engineering? Well, in this scenario, you need to acquire certain data engineer skills. Data engineers are paid highly and so these professionals must have expertise in several tech-related applications and processes.

Candidates who can learn and develop relevant skills for data engineer can become effective data engineers. Here, you get to learn all that is expected of a data engineer. You can explore some of the most crucial skills for this profession. Following the pathway to pursue the skills, you can start a lucrative career in data engineering.

What are the responsibilities of a Data Engineer in 2022?


Before jumping to the skillset, you need to know what is expected of a data engineer in 2022. As a data engineer, you have to coalesce with management teams to highlight company objectives. Next, you need to pinpoint the business requisites and acquire datasets accordingly.

Data engineer roles and responsibilities include developing algorithms, creating, testing, and maintaining database pipeline architectures. A data engineer is also responsible to utilize data structures and mutating data into actionable insights. Remember, as a data engineer, you have to stay upgraded on every single advanced data analysis tool.
After learning the major data engineer job roles, you are good to progress to the key skills necessary to become a Data Engineer. Let's dive into the list of top 6 skills required to become a successful data engineer in 2022.

Our learners also read- What is the difference between a Data Engineer and a Data Scientist?


Essential Data Engineering Skills


1. Machine Learning


In the last few decades, Machine learning has emerged as one of the most required technologies. Businesses use machine learning algorithms to predict future results. ML is all about utilizing the past and analyzing present data to draw useful insights.

As a data engineer, you have to be expert in the machine learning basics. This means you must have hands-on experience with fundamental machine learning algorithms. These algorithms would help grasp your firm's requirements. Owing to your ML skills, you can easily design data pipelines and data models. You can even team up with the data scientist more efficiently.

2. Data Warehousing/Analysis


Data warehousing is a skill relevant to the data engineering job role. Because as a data engineer, you need to store large amounts of data for query and analysis. Data warehouse skills, fundamentals, and tools should all come naturally to you. Data warehousing is one of the most fundamental skills required for data engineering professionals.

A data engineer to possess data analytical skills. Data analysis helps engineers create data pipelines, and understand data. Remember, many employers recruit those candidates who have data analysis skills, in addition to data warehousing.

3. Critical Thinking


Critical thinking is one of the top-most skills for data engineer. Data engineers are expected to be experts in evaluating issues, thereby developing solutions - creative and effective. Remember, data engineering is a job role where you need to develop a non-existent solution. Here, the skills and the ability to think critically are highly beneficial.
Critical thinking skills in an organization are associated with a few questions. They are as follows 
  • Do you need to assess the analytics for latent bias? Apply critical thinking skills and generate an answer for the same.
  • Do you need to evaluate all possible data sources? Will it necessarily ensure easy data analytics?
  • Have you already missed anything about the subject being studied? Apply the relevant critical thinking skill to answer such a question within a data engineering job role.

4. Programming Language


Data Engineers must be relevant with strong coding skills. To be easy with coding, you have to have programming skills. Programming languages like Python, Java, and Scala are of utter importance. The most fundamental requirement for a data engineer is  Python.

Python programming language helps you with statistical analysis and data modeling. Java programming language helps you work with data architecture frameworks. So, you should acquire these data engineer skills.

Apart from coding, data engineers usually work on developing multiple programming languages. To do so, programming skills such as NET, R, Shell Scripting, etc. are important. You can even pursue an online course to learn C++ - a programming language. Those who acquire skills with this programming language can easily execute real-time predictive analytics.

5. Database System


A data engineer needs to structure massive data piles into an accessible piece of information. Organizations and firms rely on the information for further data evaluation. So, you must acquire hands-on experience in working with database systems  one of the crucial big data engineer skills. 

Data engineers who acquire knowledge of relational database systems like SQL, Lambda, and MySQL enjoy a lucrative salary. Remember, you must be an expert in a deep understanding of database management. Database solutions such as Bigtable or Cassandra help you work as a data engineer.

6. Good grip over soft skills


Data engineers must acquire certain soft skills & the most in-demand soft skill is  communication/public skills. Since the basic data engineer job role is to work in collaboration with Data Analysts, Data Scientists, and HR & Design teams, teamwork is a necessity. And to manage a team, public skills  communication is crucial.

Remember, technical expertise when associated with soft skills does a miracle. Hence, working on possessing great communication. Data engineers analyze, track and inform the data insights for the organization's needs. So, public skills such as critical thinking, and problem-solving, are a must for a data engineer.

Some Additional Data Engineering Skills - 2022


1. Handling operating systems


As a data engineer, you must have a clear knowledge of how to handle operating systems. This is because the basic job role, here, involves possessing operating systems such as Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Linux.

2. Coding


Coding is a data engineer skill that is both in-demand and crucial. You will require 'coding' for a majority of data engineering job roles. Remember, employers, recruit professionals who are experts in coding using programming languages like Python, Golang, Ruby, etc.

3. Time Management


This is one of the most crucial soft skills  necessary for data engineers. You should know the art of managing and efficiently performing tasks.

4. Business Skills


As a data engineer, you must have a fundamental knowledge of your organization's business goals. Thus, possessing business skills are of utter importance.

5. Real-Time Data Processing


Real-time data processing emerges as an additional but important data engineering skill. As a data engineer, you should be able to handle data processing tools for data modeling. Real-time data processing platforms like Kafka and Spark would be of great help.

6. Automation


Automation means the art of cutting down repetitive manual work. Automation is a skill that helps organizations boom efficiency. So, as a Data Engineer, you should be familiar with automation skills.

7. Hadoop


Big data engineer skills are of utter importance to handle large volumes of data available in various formats. Data Engineers must have expertise to understand the tools that can deal with big data. The best tool is Apache Hadoop. You should have experience working with Hadoop to be able to design large-scale data processing applications.

Final Thoughts 


Now that you know the most famous and in-demand data engineering skills, you should take a step ahead to learn these skills. Working on skills, gaining experience, pursuing platform certification, and opting for a master's degree in data engineering could help you out. You can also enroll for the courses offered by The IoT Academy in the respective domain of data science to have in depth knowledge on the same.