What Does a Data Warehouse Engineer Do?

Key takeaways

A data warehouse engineer uses data processing frameworks to design and maintain data warehouses, making data easier to locate and analyze.

• Data architects earn a median annual salary of $135,980, compared to database administrators who earn $104,620 [1].

• As a data warehouse engineer, you design and manage a company’s data warehouse so they can quickly access data.

• You can gain experience in entry-level data jobs before advancing to the role of a data warehouse engineer.

Explore more about what a data warehouse engineer does, the essential tools and skills to have, and how you can begin your journey to become one. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence Specialization. In as little as eight months, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the basics of structured data modeling, gain practical SQL coding experience, and develop an in-depth understanding of data warehouse design and data manipulation. Upon completion, add this shareable credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is the role of a data warehouse engineer?

Data warehouse engineers design, build, and manage the infrastructure for collecting, storing, and analyzing data. These professionals work with data scientists, upper management, and data analysts to create a warehouse that allows quick and easy access to the correct data. They do this by writing code and monitoring it for bugs or other issues that might compromise the data.

Data warehouse engineers must consider their company's needs while designing a data warehouse, which is the system that collects, stores, and sorts all the data a company might collect. This data is vital for machine learning, data analysis, and data mining. 

Some companies assign data warehouse engineers a specific subset of a more complex data set, while others take a more general role, managing large amounts of data from many different sources. Often, the warehouses include different types of databases to store the various kinds of data being collected.

What is a data warehouse?

Data warehouses used to be primarily for storing data. Still, with the sheer volume of data collected nowadays, the data warehouse also needs systems for search and analysis built into its framework. Data warehouse engineers create these systems and choose how to store the data. Typically, in this role, you use data marts, which are smaller subsets of storage within the larger warehouse, or data lakes, which are less structured, to accomplish your goals.

Where do data warehouse engineers work? 

Data warehouse engineers work in various fields, including government, business, information technology, health care, finance, and consulting. They typically have traditional nine-to-five schedules, but unexpected issues or large projects might require longer work hours.

What does a data warehouse engineer do?

While the specific tasks and responsibilities of a data warehouse engineer depend on the particular needs of a business, some general duties include:

• Creating data models tailored to your employer’s specific needs and goals

• Monitoring systems for effectiveness and bugs

• Developing reports and data representation that provide insights

• Designing, building, implementing, and maintaining a data warehouse

• Implementing improvements to a data warehouse as needed

• Staying up-to-date on the newest trends and software in data management

• Using data pipeline tools and operations (e.g., automation) where necessary

• Creating metadata to make data easier to search

Types of data warehouse engineers

Data warehouse engineers tend to fall into three categories:

• Generalist data engineers: Generalist data engineers usually work at smaller companies and are responsible for the entire information pipeline. They tend to work as both engineers and data scientists.

• Pipeline data engineers: Pipeline data engineers usually work in larger companies and focus on transforming data into a form that data scientists can access and analyze.

• Database data engineers: Database data engineers specialize in setting up, adding data to, and maintaining the data warehouse and its databases.

What tools do data warehouse engineers use?

Since data warehouse engineers are responsible for complex data management, they need extensive knowledge of computer programming languages and tools, such as Java, Python, and SQL. They also use data processing frameworks like Hive, Spark, and Hadoop. In addition, they use business intelligence tools like Tableau, Qlik, and Looker, which are important for day-to-day tasks such as data visualization.

Salary and job outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), database professionals in the US, such as data warehouse engineers, are in high demand and part of a growing industry. Database architects make an average of $135,980 per year, while database administrators make an average of $104,620 annually [1]. According to data from the BLS, the sector will grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034 [2].

Read more: 4 Data Analyst Career Paths: Your Guide to Leveling Up

What skills do you need to become a data warehouse engineer?

Data warehouse engineers must have a solid technical and computer science background to succeed in this role. You can learn these skills through educational opportunities, online certifications, and on-the-job experience.

Required qualifications, education, and certifications

According to Zippia, 69 percent of data warehouse engineers have a bachelor’s degree, while 31 percent have a master’s [3]. Degrees in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering technology all have the foundational knowledge needed to help you gain the skills necessary to be successful in this role. While many employers don’t require certifications, earning additional credentials can help set you apart in a competitive field.

Technical skills

Some technical skills that are helpful in a data warehouse engineer role include:

• Experience with programming languages, such as SQL, Java, R, and Python

• Experience with data framework programs like Hive, Hadoop, and Spark

• Data warehousing techniques

• Analytical skills

• Interpersonal skills

Experience

Many data warehouse engineers receive on-the-job training to gain experience in their company’s systems, software, and needs. While completing a bachelor's degree, consider taking on internships to grow your skill set and experience. Developing your technical expertise, like in SQL or Python, is crucial to qualifying for the role.

How much do data warehouse engineers make?

According to Indeed, data warehouse engineers in the US make an average annual salary of $82,229; however, this number may vary based on location [4]. For example, a data warehouse engineer in Washington, DC earns an average salary of $140,624, compared to the same role in Richmond, Virginia, who earns $80,981 [4]. 

How to become a data warehouse engineer

To become a data warehouse engineer, you’ll need to look for an entry-level position that best matches your educational and work background. If you feel that you’re missing important skills or qualifications, gaining a four-year degree or online certificate is the first step to becoming competitive in the field. Many data warehouse engineers gain experience as data analysts or junior database administrators before progressing to more advanced roles.

Similar careers to a data warehouse engineer

Back-end developers and lifecycle engineers are careers that share a lot of crossover with a data warehouse engineer role, though they include some key differences. Here is a simple breakdown of each job:

• A back-end developer creates the application side of a product, including APIs and databases, while data warehouse engineers focus more on high-level design.

• Lifecycle engineers work across a wide range of industries and use math and science to solve problems within high-scale engineering projects.

Data warehouse engineer career advancement

Data warehouse engineers advance their careers by gaining management and supervisory roles as they develop within a company. Advancement also occurs through the assignment of larger projects and more complex data. Some engineers might move to advisory positions that involve less technical work, while others may become more involved in designing and creating the data warehouse architecture.

Discover career resources

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• Learn from experts: Meet the Engineer Strengthening His Leadership Skills

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