How to Become a Database Engineer
How to Become a Database Engineer
A career as a database engineer is highly lucrative and rewarding, and with the necessary work experience and qualifications, you will become a competitive applicant. This article will provide an informative guide of everything that you need to know about how to become a database engineer and ignite an exciting career!
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Database Engineer?
When hoping to start a career as a database engineer, it is advised to have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline such as computer science, information technology or a related field such as data management or systems engineering. Pursuing a master’s degree in database management can further improve your employability as it allows you to develop your knowledge.
It is, however, still possible to secure a database engineer job by taking classes at a two-year technical training school and completing a series of qualifications that can help you to secure a position on a degree programme.
As a Beginner, Where Should I Start in Database Engineering?
As a beginner wanting to start a career in database engineering, it is necessary to work towards gaining a bachelor’s degree in computer science or other information technology course that includes learning both programming language and software design. University coursework will help you to gain the necessary knowledge that is needed for internships.
However, as well as having excellent academic qualifications, employers in the industry also value candidates applying for entry-level positions to have acquired a body of work experience as it shows that you have hands-on experience. Gaining professional experience through internships or freelance work will also help you to achieve employment as there will be opportunities to attend networking events with experts in the field.
Skill Set Required for a Database Engineer
The following soft skills and technical skills are relevant to be successful as a database engineer:
Excellent communication skills
Knowledge of computer software, programming and database technologies
Being able to work in a team and independently
Good problem-solving and analytical abilities
Solid organisational skills
The ability to work to tight deadlines
A willingness to keep up-to-date with new technology
Business acumen and understanding of business needs in IT
What Does a Database Engineer Do?
The job description for a database engineer states that you are responsible for maintaining the performance of a company’s database systems, keeping them secure and troubleshooting effectively when issues arise. Database engineers are also tasked with handling database administration.
Typical Duties for a Database Engineer
The primary responsibilities of the role are as follows:
Popular Career Pathways for Database Engineers
There are excellent prospects and opportunities for database engineers to advance in their career to management positions such as a database manager, senior database administrator; roles which bring with them both increasing technical and managerial responsibility.
As well as progressing to managerial positions, as a database engineer, you could also move into another area such as network management, project management, systems development or database architecture.
Continuing to educate yourself throughout your career to keep up with new developments and staying up-to-date as the field evolves will significantly improve your chances of working towards a management position. Most employers will expect you to have at least one technical database certification program such as, IBM Certified Database Administrator, Oracle Database Certification or Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
