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Career Path: How to Become a Data Infrastructure Manager

Companies that handle large amounts of data rely on Data Infrastructure engineers to develop pipelines that allow for the reliable storage and accessibility of big data. Data Infrastructure Managers oversee the Data Infrastructure engineers. This is a role that may go by other names and is closely related to other big data occupations, but it is one that is also in-demand. As businesses continue to rely on quality data to help them better understand their customers, clients and competition, they can make operational changes accordingly to be more successful. The work a Data Infrastru...more

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Career Path: How to Become a Data Infrastructure Manager

Companies that handle large amounts of data rely on Data Infrastructure engineers to develop pipelines that allow for the reliable storage and accessibility of big data. Data Infrastructure Managers oversee the Data Infrastructure engineers. This is a role that may go by other names and is closely related to other big data occupations, but it is one that is also in-demand. As businesses continue to rely on quality data to help them better understand their customers, clients and competition, they can make operational changes accordingly to be more successful. The work a Data Infrastructure Manager does ensures the company has the proper architecture in place that promotes the collection of meaningful data.

Getting Through the Door

Gaining an entry-level position as a Data Infrastructure Manager will necessitate the right amount of experience and education. It is a role similar to data architecture and data engineering, so it is likely that a hiring manager may be interested in your aptitude for aspects of these two roles as well as managerial aspects, with a particular focus on:

  • The ability to develop data warehouses and implement pipelines and other architecture on a consistent basis.
  • Familiarity with ETL (extraction, transformation, load) principles.
  • A dexterity with languages such as R, Java, Python, Spark, SAS, MatLab, SQL, NOSQL, XML, Pig, Hadoop, C/C++, Ruby and Perl.
  • Continuously testing data infrastructure for reliability and implementing solutions as needed.
  • The ability and desire to lead a team to success.
  • Capable of multi-tasking and have excellent organizational skills.

Degrees and Experience

Data Infrastructure Managers typically have a bachelor’s or graduate degree in computer science, information science, or a related field. To hone their management skills, some also may take business courses or work towards an MBA. Though the exact requirements a company looks for when hiring a Data Infrastructure Manager varies, the more education the better.

The same can be said for experience. Data Infrastructure Managers who demonstrate a well-rounded amount of technical experience will be impressive to potential employers. Having a couple of years of experience in an IT position is key for entry-level Data Infrastructure Managers. Showing an aptitude for building and managing data structures and identifying when and how these structures should be repaired or replaced with better solutions using cutting-edge data technologies.

Working as a Junior Level Data Infrastructure Manager

Data Infrastructure Managers at the junior-level of their career have been entrusted with an increasing amount of responsibilities and are expected to be gaining a fluency with related technologies. They are tasked with training and mentoring new hires and guiding their team as they continuously build and test solid data structures. Data Infrastructure Managers engage in managerial tasks in addition to overseeing colleagues, including budgeting, forecasting and scheduling, as well as attending meetings with senior staff members and communicating business needs to their team.

Moving up the Ranks

With the right amount of passion, knowledge and drive, a Data Infrastructure Manager can assuredly rise in their field. Junior Data Infrastructure Managers have demonstrated their commitment to their team, their company and the ability to learn and implement new technologies to keep data structures strong and valuable internally and for client use. Data Infrastructure Managers need to thrive under pressure to move forward in the field and have a strong ability for critical thinking. Likely there will be constant issues with data infrastructures; quickly and effectively implementing a solution is key. Data Infrastructure Manager is a career with plenty of responsibilities, so demonstrating a deftness with assigned tasks and more will help this professional achieve higher rankings.

Advance Your Career: How to Become a Senior Level Data Infrastructure Manager

Becoming a senior Data Infrastructure Manager is a career-high that indicates the professional is respected for their knowledge and reliability. This can be done after spending several years as a Data Infrastructure Manager and proving your ability to go above and beyond your responsibilities.

Maybe you have displayed your technical prowess and ingenuity by discovering a new technology or mix of technologies that can make data infrastructures more secure. Perhaps you have proven your managerial skills by taking additional business courses, leading to a business acuity like discovering new means of cutting the budget without affecting operations. These are just examples, but they speak to how a Data Infrastructure Manager can reach senior status through dedication and a willingness to learn and apply new tricks.

Study the Core Fields

Creating data storage solutions is a complex field that involves the merging of several core fields of study. Understanding these will undoubtedly make you a more effective Data Infrastructure Manager. Many of these fields are technical, including having a proficiency with tools that allow for data collection, extraction, modeling and testing, which ensures quality data is available for examination. Studying business aspects, including HR, accounting and admin, will help you better develop the managerial side of your role, making you a more valuable leader.

Invest in Yourself

Taking the time to hone your skills as a Data Infrastructure Manager is the key to moving forward in your career and becoming a better leader. This can be achieved in several ways. Researching and participating in certification programs that can help you develop your technical and business skills can give you a competitive edge. Attending seminars and conferences related to advances in technology is a fantastic way to ensure you keep your tech abilities sharp and that the latest and greatest tech evolutions don’t pass you by. By investing in yourself, you are showing your bosses and colleagues how seriously you take your work.

Don’t Stop at Data Infrastructure Management

There are several fields related to Data Infrastructure Management. Understanding these similar areas can help you better define your role and be a more effective Data Infrastructure Manager. Some of these occupations include data engineering, which, like Data Infrastructure engineering, involves the building of complex data systems and architecture, although Data Infrastructure engineering also utilizes and creates solutions for applications and physical devices. Data scientists rely on the data extracted from Data Infrastructure systems and process it for analysis. They use this cleansed data for painting a picture and predicting trends, whereas Data Infrastructure engineers are concerned with being able to collect and store this data initially.

Data Infrastructure Manager Job Description

Data Infrastructure Managers oversee the team of engineers who build, test and improve the infrastructure necessary for data collection. Data infrastructure is a highly-technical field that is relied upon by businesses that need useful data for housing and analyzing to better understand their operations.

Data Infrastructure Managers are proficient with both the business side and the technical side of their role. They gain a steady grasp of the various programs, tools and languages necessary for data infrastructure, the creation of pipelines and warehouses, as well as troubleshoot issues. These managers also guide and mentor team members and ensure the business goals are clearly understood and followed.

What We Need Your Help With

  • Leading the Data Infrastructure team to successfully build, maintain and troubleshoot new and existing data structures.
  • Manage onsite and cloud infrastructure services.
  • Following and discovering the best methods for collecting and storing quality data.

We Look For

  • A professional engineer with business and technical savvy.
  • Someone who understands all components of data infrastructures (including hardware, software, servers, storage, cloud or managed services, I/O and networking) and how they work together.
  • Good at identifying technical trends that can shore-up loose ends and that generally benefit the company.
  • Proficiency in languages like R, Python, Java, C/C++, Hive, SQL, Pig and more.
  • Being able to spot potential issues before they occur.
  • Someone who thrives under pressure.
  • Having an aptitude for critical thinking.

These Would Also Be Nice

  • A natural leader
  • Solid understanding of related technical processes
  • A knack for business
  • Exceptional communication skills
  • Being organized

Senior Data Infrastructure Manager Career Paths: Where to Go from Here

Senior Data Infrastructure Managers have spent perhaps as much as 10 years in the field and have amassed an impressive amount of skills to utilize. Many Data Infrastructure Managers are happy to stay where they are, leading the Data Infrastructure team to consistently produce exceptional data infrastructure solutions.

Others may feel compelled to move on to a new, although related, career. When this happens, many Data Infrastructure Managers have taken up careers as machine learning engineers, perhaps as a manager or senior position, using their knowledge of data warehousing and how to leverage big data to help build devices and systems that rely on data to complete a task. They may also be interested in data science, which takes the data collected in the structures built by Data Infrastructure engineers and analyze its relevance.

Whether a senior Data Infrastructure Manager is happy to stay where they are until retirement or move on to newer pastures, there is little doubt by experts that Data Infrastructure Managers will continue to be needed as new technologies emerge and the collection of meaningful data can be a matter of sink or swim for companies.

Top industries hiring Data Infrastructure Managers

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