Roles in the Data Ecosystem

Data analysis brings together different professionals who collaborate to turn raw information into meaningful insights.

Each role contributes in a unique way, and understanding these roles will help you recognize where you fit in.

• A Data Analyst focuses on cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data to answer business questions.
• A Data Scientist builds predictive models and algorithms, often using machine learning techniques.
• A Data Engineer builds the infrastructure — like databases and pipelines — that make data usable for others.

Although the roles differ, they often work together:

• Analysts interpret data for teams.
• Scientists build models that need clean, reliable inputs.
• Engineers ensure that data flows smoothly and is stored correctly.

You might start as an analyst and later develop engineering or modeling skills. The data ecosystem is flexible and allows for growth in different directions.