Cloud Engineer vs. Data Engineer: What Are the Differences?

There are many different types of engineers, each with their own unique skills and responsibilities. Two common engineering roles are that of a cloud engineer and a data engineer. Though these positions share some similarities, there are several key differences between them.

In this article, we discuss the differences between a cloud engineer and a data engineer, and we provide additional engineering professions you may be interested in pursuing.

What is a Cloud Engineer?

Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the systems that power a company’s cloud computing infrastructure. They work with a company’s IT department to create and implement plans for using cloud-based services to meet the company’s business goals. Cloud Engineers also work with developers to ensure that the company’s applications are compatible with the cloud infrastructure. They also monitor the performance of the system and make changes as needed to keep the system running smoothly.

What is a Data Engineer?

Data Engineers design, build, maintain and troubleshoot data processing systems. They work with data architects to design data models and flows that meet the needs of the business. Data Engineers develop and test data processing systems to ensure they are accurate, efficient and meet the needs of the business. They also work with data scientists to develop algorithms and models that can be used to analyze data. Data Engineers may also be responsible for developing tools and applications to support data processing and analysis.

Cloud Engineer vs. Data Engineer

Here are the main differences between a cloud engineer and a data engineer.

Job Duties

Both cloud and data engineers perform a variety of tasks to help their companies. The duties they carry out depend on the needs of their company and the type of engineering they do. For example, a data engineer might conduct research to determine the best ways to store and retrieve data. Then, they might build databases that meet those requirements. A cloud engineer might design cloud computing systems for different departments in their company. They also monitor usage patterns to ensure that the systems remain functional.

Job Requirements

Cloud engineers and data engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another related field. They might also pursue a master’s degree to gain more advanced knowledge in their field. Additionally, many cloud engineers and data engineers become certified through the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect program or the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) program. These programs offer training on how to use cloud computing platforms and other tools that professionals might need on the job.

Work Environment

Cloud and data engineers both work in office settings, but their work environments differ. A cloud engineer typically works for a company that provides cloud services to clients. They may travel to client sites to help them set up or troubleshoot their systems.

A data engineer usually works for an organization that uses large amounts of data. They often spend most of their time working on projects within the office, but they may also visit clients’ locations to assist with implementation.

Skills

Both cloud engineers and data engineers use technical skills to perform their jobs. Cloud engineers need to have a strong understanding of cloud computing concepts and how to design, build and maintain cloud-based systems. Data engineers need to have a strong understanding of databases and how to design, build and maintain them.

Both cloud engineers and data engineers also need to be able to code. Cloud engineers typically use coding languages like Java, Python and Ruby to write scripts that automate tasks or build applications. Data engineers typically use coding languages like SQL, NoSQL and Hadoop to query data or build data pipelines.

While both cloud engineers and data engineers need to have strong analytical skills to be successful in their roles, data engineers tend to use their analytical skills more often. This is because a large part of their job involves working with data sets to find trends, patterns and insights. Cloud engineers also need to be able to analyze data, but they typically use this skill to inform the design of their cloud-based systems.

Salary

Cloud engineers can earn an average salary of $116,372 per year, while data engineers can earn an average salary of $113,717 per year. Both of these average salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.