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ZoomyDonut
ZoomyDonut
Walmart

Data Engineering to SWE

Hi All,

I have 6 YOE. Initial 2.5 years I worked as Backend developer in Python, Django, AWS and Little bit JS. After that all of my experience is in Data Engineering mostly in GCP (have few certifications as well.) Currently I am working at Walmart.

Most of the work I do in Data side is adhoc and projects are also not upto the expectations lot of manual work is also there. I am not really enjoying my career as data engineer. Pay is good.

I am thinking to move back to Software Engineering,

  1. is it a good idea for long term?
  2. What skill should I focus on if I have to move back?
  3. Is it just the projects that I am working on making data engineer look less interesting to work ?
8mo ago
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CosmicMochi
CosmicMochi
Mercedes-Benz Group8mo
  1. Move into software engineering - wider scope of work and more satisfaction.
  2. You need to be strong in coding fundamentals. Rest is to brush up for SWE interviews(leetcode and system design)
  3. Large scale Data Engineering work in product based companies is done by folks with the title SWE-Data.
ZoomyDonut
ZoomyDonut
Walmart8mo

Considering the tech stack most of the big companies uses Java and Spring and my experience is mostly in python I do have knowledge of Java. So should I also consider brushing my skill in Java?

SquishyPenguin
SquishyPenguin
Walmart8mo

What data engineering project are you working on currently and why is it boring?

ZoomyDonut
ZoomyDonut
Walmart8mo

It’s mostly batch ETL job where source is csv files most of the time and in some case it’s SQL Sever to BQ job. Tools team is using are internal platform like Element and Dataiku.

SquishyPenguin
SquishyPenguin
Walmart8mo

Understandable! See if you can move to any realtime projects. Moving back to swe might not be that easy, considering your yoe, as you're expected to have strong dsa, design skills. I feel DE is good as it's a specialization in swe. Use your swe skills here and be outstanding!

FluffyWaffle
FluffyWaffle
Stealth8mo

Isn't the data scientist role also paid as par with sdes?

ZoomyDonut
ZoomyDonut
Walmart8mo

In some companies SDE are paid more than Data Scientist. But the Pay is not the main concern here.
Work satisfaction is. Most of the projects that I have worked in data engineering are not interesting. May be it’s just projects that I am getting and overall Data Engineering world work is more interesting and challenging.

FluffyWaffle
FluffyWaffle
Stealth8mo

How did you switched from normal sde role to data scientist role

PerkyQuokka
PerkyQuokka
PWC8mo

Here i am a DE with 4 yoe worked on good tech project recently but pay is peanuts.
Is walmart that bad? 🙃

ZoomyDonut
ZoomyDonut
Walmart8mo

Walmart overall is good. Pay is also good not really great but good compared to other companies.

GigglyQuokka
GigglyQuokka
Apple8mo

Switching back to Software Engineering? Great! Your Python, Django, AWS skills will be your superpowers. Focus on algorithms and data structures. "Manzil mil hi jayegi bhatak kar hi sahi".

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