I’ve spent 25 years as a software engineer and architect, focusing on application scalability, availability, and security. But I was blind to the world of data engineering, thinking it was just a small specialty of software engineering. Boy, was I wrong.
Recently, I fell into the world of data engineering, and I’m shocked at how foreign it is. I’ve had to learn about data lineage, feature stores, and the differences between Pandas and Polars. I’ve had to wrap my head around what a ‘feature’ even is (it’s not just a column!).
I’ve gained a lot of respect for data engineers, who have to navigate complex pipelines, optimize hardware, and make tough decisions about GPU usage. It’s a world where hardware constraints are real, and scaling isn’t always the answer.
My advice to fellow software engineers is to approach data engineering with humility. We may think we know it all, but we don’t. And to data engineers, I say: be patient with us when we stumble into your lane. We’re not trying to step on your toes; we’re just trying to learn.
The world of data engineering is vast and complex, and I’m grateful to have discovered it. Who knows what other surprises await us?