Database designer

Database designers specify the database’s logical structure, processes, and information flows. They design data models and databases to serve data acquisition.

Excludes people performing managerial, programming, coding, and setting of a system’s activities.

Here are some duties of database designers:

• Collaborate with clients, business analysts, and software developers to gather and analyze data requirements for database design.
• Create conceptual, logical, and physical data models that represent the data’s structure, relationships, and constraints.
• Design and define database tables, fields, primary keys, foreign keys, indexes, and other database objects to ensure efficient data storage and retrieval.
• Normalize data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity while considering factors like data volume and performance.
• Choose appropriate database management systems (DBMS) based on project requirements and considerations such as scalability, performance, and cost.
• Implement data security measures by defining user roles, permissions, and access controls to safeguard sensitive information.
• Optimize database performance by analyzing query execution plans, indexing strategies, and query optimization techniques.
• Develop data validation rules and integrity constraints to ensure data accuracy and consistency.
• Work with application developers to integrate databases with software applications, ensuring seamless data interaction.
• Provide guidance and support to database administrators during the physical implementation of the database.
• Stay informed about emerging database technologies, trends, and best practices to recommend improvements and innovations.
• Collaborate with testing teams to ensure data integrity, accuracy, and functionality through various testing phases.
• Generate and maintain documentation of database designs, data models, and architecture for future reference.
• Participate in code reviews, quality assurance processes, and team discussions to ensure adherence to design standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve database design-related issues, working closely with development teams and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the evaluation of new database tools, technologies, and methodologies to enhance design and development processes.

The following job titles also refer to database designer:

data model designer
data architect
data base designer
database designers
data base designers
database architect
database design engineer

Database designers work in office environments, often as part of software development teams or IT departments. They collaborate with various stakeholders, including business analysts, software developers, and database administrators. The work may involve occasional overtime or off-hours support to meet project deadlines or address critical design-related issues.

Most database designers hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field. Strong knowledge of database management systems (DBMS), data modeling tools, and query languages (such as SQL) is essential. Database designers often gain practical experience through internships, coursework, or entry-level positions where they work on database design projects. Certification in database design or related technologies can enhance their credentials.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Database designer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to database designer.

data warehouse designer
ICT intelligent systems designer
ICT system architect
knowledge engineer
software architect

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of database designer.

• Information structure: The type of infrastructure which defines the format of data: semi-structured, unstructured and structured.
• Systems development life-cycle: The sequence of steps, such as planning, creating, testing and deploying and the models for the development and life-cycle management of a system.
• Database: The classification of databases, that includes their purpose, characteristics, terminology, models and use such as XML databases, document-oriented databases and full text databases.
• Web programming: The programming paradigm that is based on combining markup (which adds context and structure to text) and other web programming code, such as AJAX, JavaScript and PHP, in order to carry out appropriate actions and visualise the content.
• ICT security legislation: The set of legislative rules that safeguards information technology, ICT networks and computer systems and legal consequences which result from their misuse. Regulated measures include firewalls, intrusion detection, anti-virus software and encryption.
• Business process modelling: The tools, methods and notations such as Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL), used to describe and analyse the characteristics of a business process and model its further development.
• Resource description framework query language: The query languages such as SPARQL which are used to retrieve and manipulate data stored in Resource Description Framework format (RDF).
• Query languages: The field of standardised computer languages for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.
• Database development tools: The methodologies and tools used for creating logical and physical structure of databases, such as logical data structures, diagrams, modelling methodologies and entity-relationships.
• Database management systems: The tools for creating, updating and managing databases, such as Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Systems theory: The principles that can be applied to all types of systems at all hierarchical levels, which describe the system’s internal organisation, its mechanisms of maintaining identity and stability and achieving adaptation and self-regulation and its dependencies and interaction with the environment.

These skills are necessary for the role of database designer.

• Migrate existing data: Apply migration and conversion methods for existing data, in order to transfer or convert data between formats, storage or computer systems.
• Use markup languages: Utilise computer languages that are syntactically distinguishable from the text to add annotations to a document, specify layout and process types of documents such as HTML.
• Develop automated migration methods: Create automated transfer of ICT information between storage types, formats and systems to save human resources from performing the task manually.
• Assess ICT knowledge: Evaluate the implicit mastery of skilled experts in an ICT system to make it explicit for further analysis and usage.
• Manage database: Apply database design schemes and models, define data dependencies, use query languages and database management systems (DBMS) to develop and manage databases.
• Perform data analysis: Collect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, with the aim of discovering useful information in a decision-making process.
• Create software design: Transpose a series of requirements into a clear and organised software design.
• Write database documentation: Develop documentation containing information about the database that is relevant to end users.
• Design database scheme: Draft a database scheme by following the Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) rules in order to create a logically arranged group of objects such as tables, columns and processes.
• Operate relational database management system: Extract, store and verify information using database management systems based on the relational database model, which arranges data into tables of rows and columns, such as Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL (Oracle Corporation).
• Create database diagrams: Develop the database design models and diagrams which establish the structure of a database by using modelling software tools to be implemented in further processes.
• Create data sets: Generate a collection of new or existing related data sets that are made up out of separate elements but can be manipulated as one unit.
• Analyse business requirements: Study clients’ needs and expectations for a product or service in order to identify and resolve inconsistencies and possible disagreements of involved stakeholders.
• Manage standards for data exchange: Set and maintain standards for transforming data from source schemas into the necessary data structure of a result schema.
• Apply ICT systems theory: Implement principles of ICT systems theory in order to explain and document system characteristics that can be applied universally to other systems
• Define technical requirements: Specify technical properties of goods, materials, methods, processes, services, systems, software and functionalities by identifying and responding to the particular needs that are to be satisfied according to customer requirements.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of database designer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Haskell: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Haskell.
• Erlang: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Erlang.
• SAS language: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in SAS language.
• Agile project management: The agile project management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.
• Ruby (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Ruby.
• Common Lisp: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Common Lisp.
• Lisp: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Lisp.
• Visual Studio.NET: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Visual Basic.
• Java (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Java.
• MDX: The computer language MDX is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the software company Microsoft.
• Computer programming: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms (e.g. object oriented programming, functional programming) and of programming languages.
• Prolog (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Prolog.
• OpenEdge Advanced Business Language: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in OpenEdge Advanced Business Language.
• JavaScript: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in JavaScript.
• DB2: The computer program IBM DB2 is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company IBM.
• Microsoft Access: The computer program Access is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Microsoft.
• XQuery: The computer language XQuery is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the international standards organisation World Wide Web Consortium.
• Perl: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Perl.
• Smalltalk (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Smalltalk.
• PHP: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in PHP.
• OpenEdge Database: The computer program OpenEdge Database is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Progress Software Corporation.
• Assembly (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Assembly.
• ObjectStore: The computer program ObjectStore is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Object Design, Incorporated.
• C#: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in C#.
• MySQL: The computer program MySQL is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, currently developed by the software company Oracle.
• R: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in R.
• Groovy: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Groovy.
• ASP.NET: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in ASP.NET.
• APL: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in APL.
• SPARQL: The computer language SPARQL is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the international standards organisation World Wide Web Consortium.
• Microsoft Visual C++: The computer program Visual C++ is a suite of software development tools for writing programs, such as compiler, debugger, code editor, code highlights, packaged in a unified user interface. It is developed by the software company Microsoft.
• IBM Informix: The computer program IBM Informix is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company IBM.
• TypeScript: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in TypeScript.
• CoffeeScript: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in CoffeeScript.
• Objective-C: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Objective-C.
• ML (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in ML.
• LDAP: The computer language LDAP is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.
• Postgresql: The computer program PostgreSQL is a free and open-source software tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group.
• Ajax: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in AJAX.
• C++: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in C++.
• FileMaker (database management systems): The computer program FileMaker is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company FileMaker Inc.
• SAP R3: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in SAP R3.
• Swift (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Swift.
• ICT project management methodologies: The methodologies or models for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals, such methodologies are Waterfall, Incremental, V-Model, Scrum or Agile and using project management ICT tools.
• SQL Server: The computer program SQL Server is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Microsoft.
• Matlab: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in MATLAB.
• Unstructured data: The information that is not arranged in a pre-defined manner or does not have a pre-defined data model and is difficult to understand and find patterns in without using techniques such as data mining.
• Ca datacom/db: The computer program CA Datacom/DB is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, currently developed by the software company CA Technologies.
• LINQ: The computer language LINQ is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the software company Microsoft.
• Python (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Python.
• Scratch (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Scratch.
• Process-based management: The process-based management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.
• Teradata Database: The computer program Teradata Database is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Teradata Corporation.
• Lean project management: The lean project management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.
• VBScript: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in VBScript.
• Oracle Relational Database: The computer program Oracle Rdb is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Oracle.
• COBOL: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in COBOL.
• Pascal (computer programming): The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Pascal.
• ABAP: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in ABAP.
• N1QL: The computer language N1QL is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the software company Couchbase.
• Data models: The techniques and existing systems used for structuring data elements and showing relationships between them, as well as methods for interpreting the data structures and relationships.
• Scala: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in Scala.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of database designer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Define database physical structure: Specify the physical configuration of database files on a given media. This consists of in-detail specifications of indexing options, data types and data elements placed in the data dictionary.
• Use access control software: Utilise software to define the roles and manage user authentication, privileges and access rights to ICT systems, data and services.
• Design database backup specifications: Specify procedures to be performed on databases which ensure the copying and archiving of data for possible restoration in case of a data loss event.
• Apply technical communication skills: Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
• Build business relationships: Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.
• Perform resource planning: Estimate the expected input in terms of time, human and financial resources necessary to achieve the project objectives.

2521 – Database designers and administrators

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References

1. Database designer – ESCO
2. How to Become a Database Designer | Vertabelo Database Modeler
3. Featured image: Photo by panumas nikhomkhai