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Are you saying that true Data Engineers typically do more than just use Tableau or run OLAP queries, or do you see the title 'Data Engineer' itself as a bit of

Are you saying that true Data Engineers typically do more than just use Tableau or run OLAP queries, or do you see the title 'Data Engineer' itself as a bit of a red flag these days? I’m pretty early in my career and was leaning toward Data Engineering, but hearing stuff like this makes me wonder if going for SWE might be smarter.

hobs 2y ago
The better paying role is a Backend SWE (usually). A really a good data engineer is just a Backend SWE who has specific experience. A bad one is a SQL analyst whose been promoted too much.
- bubbleRefuge 2y ago
  as as data engieer/data architect , agreed. there are allot of 'tools' experts who are data engineers but can't code a lick.
  - hobs 2y ago
    Yep, that's where I am at - the amount of times people have talked to me about the most recent podcast where they've heard how a new tool will solve all their problems and really its some samey mix of CDC and bad python+sql is... a lot. I think there's not a ton of political palatability for realizing most of their projects are like one API and a sane use of some SQL away.
pjmlp 2y ago
For starters, Engineer only makes sense if the person actually holds an engineering degree, taken at an institution validated by the Engineering Order.
- JohnFen 2y ago
  That's a legalism that isn't universal. Personally, I think that anyone who engages in engineering is logically an engineer. Maybe not a certified engineer, but an engineer nonetheless.
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    So is anyone that cooks a Chef.
    - hobs 2y ago
      My Kiss The Chef apron says yes.
    - JohnFen 2y ago
      "Chef" is a specific job title. Anyone who has that job, regardless of qualifications, is a "chef", yes.
      - pjmlp 2y ago
        Yeah but can they deliver, and handle a kitchen, like one that actually has a diploma in Culinary arts?
        portaouflop 2y ago
        Sometimes they can, sometimes not. What is your point here?
        JohnFen 2y ago
        Some can, some can't. A degree is no guarantee that the person is able to perform at a high level, and the lack of a degree is no guarantee that they can't. But none of that is relevant to my point, which is largely linguistic. If a person is doing a thing, then they are "a person who is doing the thing." If a person is engineering, then they're an engineer by definition. That's not saying they're a good or bad engineer, just that's what they're doing. There is a role for certifications, of course! But those certifications are intended to mark a lower boundary of ability, nothing more. Rather than overloading "engineer" to indicate that a person has a certification, I'd advocate calling them something like a "certified engineer". That would be correct and accurate, and wouldn't exclude a whole lot of great defacto engineers.
  - taway1874 2y ago

hobs 2y ago

The better paying role is a Backend SWE (usually). A really a good data engineer is just a Backend SWE who has specific experience. A bad one is a SQL analyst whose been promoted too much.

bubbleRefuge 2y ago
as as data engieer/data architect , agreed. there are allot of 'tools' experts who are data engineers but can't code a lick.
- hobs 2y ago
  Yep, that's where I am at - the amount of times people have talked to me about the most recent podcast where they've heard how a new tool will solve all their problems and really its some samey mix of CDC and bad python+sql is... a lot. I think there's not a ton of political palatability for realizing most of their projects are like one API and a sane use of some SQL away.

pjmlp 2y ago

For starters, Engineer only makes sense if the person actually holds an engineering degree, taken at an institution validated by the Engineering Order.

JohnFen 2y ago
That's a legalism that isn't universal. Personally, I think that anyone who engages in engineering is logically an engineer. Maybe not a certified engineer, but an engineer nonetheless.
- pjmlp 2y ago
  So is anyone that cooks a Chef.
  - hobs 2y ago
    My Kiss The Chef apron says yes.
  - JohnFen 2y ago
    "Chef" is a specific job title. Anyone who has that job, regardless of qualifications, is a "chef", yes.
    - pjmlp 2y ago
      Yeah but can they deliver, and handle a kitchen, like one that actually has a diploma in Culinary arts?
      - portaouflop 2y ago
        Sometimes they can, sometimes not. What is your point here?
      - JohnFen 2y ago
        Some can, some can't. A degree is no guarantee that the person is able to perform at a high level, and the lack of a degree is no guarantee that they can't. But none of that is relevant to my point, which is largely linguistic. If a person is doing a thing, then they are "a person who is doing the thing." If a person is engineering, then they're an engineer by definition. That's not saying they're a good or bad engineer, just that's what they're doing. There is a role for certifications, of course! But those certifications are intended to mark a lower boundary of ability, nothing more. Rather than overloading "engineer" to indicate that a person has a certification, I'd advocate calling them something like a "certified engineer". That would be correct and accurate, and wouldn't exclude a whole lot of great defacto engineers.
- taway1874 2y ago