Database integrator

A database integrator is a skilled IT professional responsible for seamlessly connecting and harmonizing different databases and software systems within an organization. They play a critical role in optimizing data flow and accessibility, ensuring that information can be shared and utilized efficiently across various departments and applications. Database integrators work to streamline data processes, enhance collaboration, and improve overall business functionality.

Excludes people performing managerial activities.
Includes people performing programming and coding activities.

Database integrators typically do the following tasks:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand data integration needs and business objectives.
• Design and implement data integration strategies to connect disparate databases and systems.
• Develop data mapping and transformation rules to ensure data consistency and accuracy during integration.
• Utilize integration platforms and tools to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data between systems.
• Create and maintain data connectors, APIs, and middleware to facilitate smooth data exchange.
• Monitor data integration processes, troubleshoot issues, and optimize performance for efficient data movement.
• Implement data validation and quality checks to ensure reliable and accurate data transfer.
• Collaborate with database administrators, software developers, and analysts to ensure successful integration outcomes.
• Evaluate and select appropriate integration technologies and platforms based on project requirements.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies and best practices in data integration to recommend improvements.
• Develop and maintain documentation of integration processes, data mappings, and system configurations.
• Provide technical support to end-users and stakeholders in resolving integration-related inquiries.
• Collaborate with business analysts to align data integration solutions with organizational needs.
• Work on data migration projects, ensuring smooth transition of data from legacy to modern systems.
• Plan and execute data synchronization and replication strategies to maintain data consistency across systems.

The following job titles also refer to database integrator:

data integrator
database development specialist
database integrators
data base integrators
data base integrator

Database integrators typically work in office environments, often as part of IT teams or technology departments. They collaborate with various professionals, including software developers, business analysts, and database administrators. The work may occasionally require off-hours support to address critical integration issues or perform tasks during non-peak hours.

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field is commonly required for database integrator roles. Strong knowledge of database management systems, integration tools, APIs, scripting languages, and data modeling is essential. Practical experience in data integration projects, gained through internships, coursework, or entry-level positions, is valuable. Certifications in relevant integration technologies can enhance a database integrator’s qualifications.

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 integrator is a Skill level 4 occupation.

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

chief data officer
database administrator
data quality specialist
database developer
data scientist

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

• Information structure: The type of infrastructure which defines the format of data: semi-structured, unstructured and structured.
• ICT debugging tools: The ICT tools used to test and debug programs and software code, such as GNU Debugger (GDB), Intel Debugger (IDB), Microsoft Visual Studio Debugger, Valgrind and WinDbg.
• 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.
• Data extraction, transformation and loading tools: The tools for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure.
• Database management systems: The tools for creating, updating and managing databases, such as Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.

These skills are necessary for the role of database integrator.

• Use interface description language: Utilise specification language, such as CORBA and WSDL, for describing interface connection among software components or programs in a programming-language-independent way.
• Integrate ICT data: Combine data from sources to provide unified view of the set of these data.
• Perform data cleansing: Detect and correct corrupt records from data sets, ensure that the data become and remain structured according to guidelines.
• 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.
• Manage ICT legacy implication: Oversee the transfer process from a legacy (an outdated system) to a current system by mapping, interfacing, migrating, documenting and transforming data.
• Balance database resources: Stabilise the workload and resources of a database, by controlling the demand of transactions, allocating disk spaces and ensuring reliability of the servers in order to optimise cost and risk ratio.
• Manage data: Administer all types of data resources through their lifecycle by performing data profiling, parsing, standardisation, identity resolution, cleansing, enhancement and auditing. Ensure the data is fit for purpose, using specialised ICT tools to fulfil the data quality criteria.
• Execute integration testing: Perform testing of system or software components grouped in multiple ways to evaluate their ability to interconnect, their interface and their ability to provide global functionality.
• Verify formal ICT specifications: Check capabilities, correctness and efficiency of intended algorithm or system to match certain formal specifications.
• Implement data warehousing techniques: Apply models and tools such as online analytical processing (OLAP) and Online transaction processing (OLTP), to integrate structured or unstructured data from sources, in order to create a central depository of historical and current data.

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

• 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.
• Informatica PowerCenter: The computer program Informatica PowerCenter is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company Informatica.
• Business intelligence: The tools used to transform large amounts of raw data into relevant and helpful business information.
• IBM InfoSphere DataStage: The computer program IBM InfoSphere DataStage is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company IBM.
• 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.
• Oracle Warehouse Builder: The computer program Oracle Warehouse Builder is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company Oracle.
• Oracle Data Integrator: The computer program Oracle Data Integrator is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company Oracle.
• 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.
• Pentaho Data Integration: The computer program Pentaho Data Integration is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company Pentaho.
• 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.
• OpenEdge Database: The computer program OpenEdge Database is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Progress Software Corporation.
• ObjectStore: The computer program ObjectStore is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Object Design, Incorporated.
• MySQL: The computer program MySQL is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, currently developed by the software company Oracle.
• 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.
• SQL Server iItegration Services: The computer program SQL Server Integration Services is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company Microsoft.
• IBM InfoSphere Information Server: The software program IBM InfoSphere Information Server is a platform for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company IBM.
• IBM Informix: The computer program IBM Informix is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company IBM.
• QlikView Expressor: The computer program QlikView Expressor is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company Qlik.
• 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.
• FileMaker (database management systems): The computer program FileMaker is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company FileMaker Inc.
• SQL Server: The computer program SQL Server is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Microsoft.
• 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.
• 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.
• Teradata Database: The computer program Teradata Database is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Teradata Corporation.
• Oracle Relational Database: The computer program Oracle Rdb is a tool for creating, updating and managing databases, developed by the software company Oracle.
• 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.
• SAP Data Services: The computer program SAP Data Services is a tool for integration of information from multiple applications, created and maintained by organisations, into one consistent and transparent data structure, developed by the software company SAP.

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

• Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
• Perform data mining: Explore large datasets to reveal patterns using statistics, database systems or artificial intelligence and present the information in a comprehensible way.
• Define data quality criteria: Specify the criteria by which data quality is measured for business purposes, such as inconsistencies, incompleteness, usability for purpose and accuracy.
• Use scripting programming: Utilise specialised ICT tools to create computer code that is interpreted by the corresponding run-time environments in order to extend applications and automate common computer operations. Use programming languages which support this method such as Unix Shell scripts, JavaScript, Python and Ruby.
• Write database documentation: Develop documentation containing information about the database that is relevant to end users.
• Execute ICT audits: Organise and execute audits in order to evaluate ICT systems, compliance of components of systems, information processing systems and information security. Identify and collect potential critical issues and recommend solutions based on required standards and solutions.
• Define integration strategy: Specify strategies for system integration, incorporating the time schedule, the processes required to combine components into subsystems and systems, the means on how components will interface as well as the risks associated with the integration.
• Design application interfaces: Create and program application interfaces, their operations, inputs and outputs and underlying types.
• 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
• Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
• Manage ICT semantic integration: Oversee integration of public or internal databases and other data, by using semantic technologies to produce structured semantic output.

2521 – Database designers and administrators

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References

1. Database integrator – ESCO
2. Featured image: Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash