Example Career: Database Architects

Career Description

Design strategies for enterprise database systems and set standards for operations, programming, and security. Design and construct large relational databases. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

What Job Titles Database Architects Might Have

• Data Architect
• Database Architect
• Information Architect
• Technical Operations Vice President

What Database Architects Do

• Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance and reliability.
• Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
• Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
• Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
• Set up database clusters, backup, or recovery processes.
• Create and enforce database development standards.
• Develop and document database architectures.
• Design database applications, such as interfaces, data transfer mechanisms, global temporary tables, data partitions, and function-based indexes to enable efficient access of the generic database structure.
• Monitor and report systems resource consumption trends to assure production systems meet availability requirements and hardware enhancements are scheduled appropriately.
• Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations.
• Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.
• Demonstrate database technical functionality, such as performance, security and reliability.
• Develop or maintain archived procedures, procedural codes, or queries for applications.
• Test changes to database applications or systems.
• Develop load-balancing processes to eliminate down time for backup processes.
• Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
• Identify and correct deviations from database development standards.
• Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.

What Database Architects Should Be Good At

• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

What Database Architects Should Be Interested In

• Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

What Database Architects Need to Learn

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.