How to Choose Between Data Science, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, ML Engineering, and SW Engineering | by Marina Wyss – Gratitude Continues | January, 2025
Make the right choice for YOU
If you're hoping to break into technology or enter a new career family, figuring out which career path is right for you isn't easy — especially if the job titles sound too similar and the roles have a good amount of overlap. Data analysis, data engineering, data science, machine learning engineering, software engineering — while there are definitely similarities, the day-to-day work and the type of person who succeeds in each role could not be more different. And if you choose the wrong one, you could end up wasting tons of time and money-making skills that you'll never use, or worse, stuck in a bad job.
After years of working in these roles myself and mentoring people entering technology, I've seen how many people realize six months into their new job that they've chosen the wrong path.
So, today I explain exactly what you need to know about each of these jobs in order to make the right choice for you. Not just job descriptions, but real, everyday work. What kinds of problems will you actually solve? What skills do you really need? And most importantly – what role fits YOUR strengths and personality?
