Data Science Careers in Social Media and Big Tech

Mobile applications, social media platforms, and ecommerce websites collect vast amounts of user data, creating a growing demand across industries for data scientists and analysts who can turn data into useful information. Businesses need data science professionals to manage the challenges of storing and transferring user data. While many of these challenges focus on keeping personally identifiable information safe, data science professionals in social media and technology companies are also tasked with improving user experience and creating new software and technologies. Data scientists, engineers, and analysts are foundational to the Big Tech industry, and pursuing a career in this ever-expanding industry opens up many employment opportunities. 

What is Big Tech?

Big Tech, or Big Technology, is another name for the handful of social media and technology companies well known for their size and influence across industries. The most commonly cited Big Tech companies are the acronym GAFA, which stands for Google, Amazon, Meta (formerly known as Facebook), and Apple. FAANG is also used to denote America's most popular technology companies: Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (Alphabet), all known for their steady growth and development over time. Past and potential growth makes Big Tech companies highly desirable to investors and data science professionals.

Big Tech companies attract many applicants with STEM backgrounds. Data science professionals, in particular, find opportunities at Big Tech companies to develop new products and services based on analysis and interpretation of their vast stores of user data. Data scientists may also influence the decision-making processes relative to the improvement of Big Tech companies, software, and user experience. Consequently, building a career in data science, analysis, and engineering in the Big Tech industry comes with significant competition.

Demand for Data Scientists in Social Media and Technology

Data scientists are in-demand across industries, most significantly in the technology industry. Currently, the technology industry employs "41% of all data scientists, " and the need is expanding. Many data science students and professionals dream of finding jobs at the most popular social media and technology companies. The top companies hiring data scientists are generally high-ranking in the social media and technology sectors. Students and professionals interested in pursuing a career in social media and technology must leverage their data science skills and training to set themselves apart from other applicants.

Top Data Science Careers in Social Media and Big Tech

Data Science Manager 

Data science professionals generally work as part of a team, with each member bringing a different area of expertise. Teams need leaders, and data science managers perform these critical leadership roles. Most data science managers are responsible for creating detailed project plans and managing the project’s completion by assigning tasks to appropriate team members. Data science managers incorporate their knowledge of data science with project management skills to successfully develop products and technology and complete tasks and deliverables. 

Threat Intelligence Analyst

Threat Intelligence Analyst is a position that incorporates data science, information technology, and cybersecurity. Threat intelligence analysts often work for technology companies and financial institutions, monitoring systems and networks and developing cybersecurity strategies to protect the company from cyberattacks. Big Tech companies offer numerous employment opportunities for security analysts and cybersecurity specialists with backgrounds in big data, mobile applications, and consumer data. Their large threat-intelligence departments include teams of analysts and engineers skilled in programming languages and threat monitoring.

Solutions Architect 

Careers in data infrastructure and database design continue to grow, with solutions architects working across fields and industries. Solutions architects analyze and compare business expectations for products and services with consumer expectations, using technical, engineering, and problem-solving skills to design solutions that address and improve both. Solutions architects are also expected to work with cloud-based and complex database management systems such as data warehouses and lakes. Solutions architects at Big Tech companies like Amazon should have a background in business, web design and development, and the SQL programming language.

Artificial Intelligence Engineer 

The growing reliance on automation and machine learning across fields and industries ensures that experts in artificial intelligence (AI) are just as crucial in Big Tech as in other sectors of the data science industry. Artificial Intelligence Engineers use machine learning models, automation, and engineering to create AI systems relevant to Big Tech companies, including recommendation systems, bots, virtual assistants, and devices. Big Tech companies like Google and Meta are also committed to ethical AI and responsible machine learning, so there is a growing demand for AI experts with backgrounds in these areas. 

Research Data Scientist 

Big Tech companies must remain on the cutting edge of information science and technology to remain competitive, so they commit vast human and capital resources to research. Research data scientists are always well-informed on current trends and technologies in the data science industry and how to use them with relevant data to improve the business and its products and services. Research data scientists may be involved in business strategy, data infrastructure, product development, and user experience design. They play essential roles in research and development, learning from user data and technology studies.

Interested in a Data Science Career in Big Tech?

With so many job opportunities in social media and big tech companies, this is a great time to expand your data science skills! Noble Desktop's data science classes include multiple bootcamps and certificate programs for students and professionals interested in a Big Tech career. The Data Science Certificate teaches beginner data scientists to program with Python and SQL and introduces them to automation and machine learning algorithms. The Python Machine Learning Bootcamp is for more advanced students and covers the skills necessary to succeed in a Big Tech company. By incorporating programming languages, machine learning, and automation into the curriculum, Noble Desktop prepares data science students and professionals to build lasting careers in social media and technology.