Database Architects

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$134,700 Median Wage (2023)
4,200 Projected job openings (2023-2033)
10.8% Projected growth (2023-2033)

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

Experience Requirements Overview

  • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

  • Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.
  • Develop database parameters or specifications.
  • Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
  • Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
  • Create databases to store electronic data.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

  • Develop and document database architectures.
  • Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
  • Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
  • Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
  • Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
  • 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.
  • Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specific needs.
  • Create and enforce database development standards.
  • Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations.
  • Develop data model describing data elements and their use, following procedures and using pen, template or computer software.
  • Work as part of a project team to coordinate database development and determine project scope and limitations.
  • Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management.
  • Set up database clusters, backup, or recovery processes.
  • Demonstrate database technical functionality, such as performance, security and reliability.
  • Develop load-balancing processes to eliminate down time for backup processes.
  • Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
  • Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.
  • Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
  • Identify and correct deviations from database development standards.
  • Review project requests describing database user needs to estimate time and cost required to accomplish project.
  • Write and code logical and physical database descriptions, and specify identifiers of database to management system or direct others in coding descriptions.
  • Develop or maintain archived procedures, procedural codes, or queries for applications.
  • Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
  • Establish and calculate optimum values for database parameters, using manuals and calculators.
  • Train users and answer questions.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.