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Database Architects

SOC 15-1243.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers database architecture practice in enterprise and technology-sector environments, spanning design, modeling, integration, governance, and strategic leadership for relational, distributed, and cloud-based database systems.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Database architecture documentation — draft and organize under direct supervision using established templates in a structured enterprise environment.
  2. Business requirements — gather and record by attending stakeholder meetings alongside senior architects on assigned projects.
  3. Data models — construct basic entity-relationship diagrams for simple applications following mentor-provided guidelines.
  4. Database management system software — install, configure, and perform routine maintenance tasks under close technical oversight.
  5. Database development standards — apply pre-established coding and naming conventions when writing SQL scripts in a supervised development environment.
  6. System scalability concepts — identify and flag potential bottlenecks in proposed database designs during peer-review sessions.
  7. Backup and archival software — execute scheduled backup procedures and verify completion logs according to documented runbooks.
  8. Technical specifications — read and interpret requirements documents to extract relevant data structure needs for assigned schema components.
  9. Commercial database products — assist senior architects in customizing configuration settings to meet project-specific requirements.
  10. Database interfaces — support development of basic data transfer mechanisms by following approved design patterns under team guidance.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Database architectures — develop and document end-to-end designs for moderately complex systems with limited oversight in an enterprise setting.
  2. Stakeholder collaboration — participate actively in cross-functional sessions with system architects and design analysts to translate business needs into data requirements.
  3. Data models — design normalized relational and dimensional models including metadata tables and views for business application support.
  4. Database security — implement role-based access controls, encryption policies, and audit logging in accordance with organizational security standards.
  5. Performance tuning — analyze query execution plans and apply indexing strategies, including function-based indexes, to optimize database response times.
  6. Architectural strategies — apply layered modeling and design approaches across development lifecycle phases to satisfy documented business requirements.
  7. Database application components — build data partitions, global temporary tables, and stored procedures to enable efficient access to enterprise data structures.
  8. Product integration — develop and test methods for connecting disparate database products and middleware within a multi-system environment.
  9. Database development standards — enforce team-level coding and design conventions through code reviews and written guidelines.
  10. ERP and enterprise software — configure and extend commercial database schemas to align with organization-specific operational workflows.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Database architectural strategies — design and implement comprehensive strategies spanning modeling, physical design, and deployment for large-scale enterprise systems autonomously.
  2. Business and industry requirements — lead discovery sessions with diverse stakeholders including software architects and operations analysts to translate complex needs into actionable database designs.
  3. Scalable database systems — architect databases that address concurrent scalability, high availability, disaster recovery, and regulatory compliance across heterogeneous environments.
  4. Advanced data modeling — produce multi-tier data models encompassing OLTP, OLAP, and NoSQL structures aligned to varied application performance profiles.
  5. Database application design — engineer complex interfaces, partitioning schemes, and indexing frameworks that optimize throughput for mission-critical workloads.
  6. Integration architecture — design and validate end-to-end data integration pipelines connecting commercial, custom, and cloud-based database systems without introducing latency or data loss.
  7. Systems evaluation — assess existing database architectures against emerging business demands, producing gap analyses and remediation roadmaps.
  8. Development standards — author and maintain organization-wide database development standards, patterns, and best-practice libraries used across project teams.
  9. Security and reliability design — embed threat modeling, redundancy planning, and performance benchmarking into architectural decisions for sensitive data environments.
  10. Technology selection — evaluate and recommend database management platforms and tooling using structured criteria aligned to long-term organizational strategy.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Enterprise database strategy — define and own the multi-year data architecture roadmap, aligning database investments with organizational technology and business objectives.
  2. Organizational standards governance — establish, publish, and continuously evolve enterprise-wide database development standards and architectural governance frameworks.
  3. Cross-functional leadership — direct collaboration among software architects, data engineers, security officers, and business executives to ensure cohesive data architecture decisions.
  4. Architectural innovation — pioneer adoption of emerging database paradigms such as distributed ledger, graph, or cloud-native architectures to address evolving industry requirements.
  5. Risk and compliance oversight — lead enterprise-level database risk assessments, ensuring architectures meet regulatory, audit, and data sovereignty obligations across all systems.
  6. Mentorship and capability building — coach and evaluate architects at all experience levels, establishing structured learning pathways and technical review processes.
  7. Enterprise integration design — approve and oversee complex multi-product integration strategies that unify heterogeneous data ecosystems at organizational scale.
  8. Technology portfolio management — guide procurement, licensing, and retirement decisions for enterprise database management systems and supporting tooling.
  9. Performance and scalability standards — set organizational benchmarks for database reliability, response time, and fault tolerance, holding teams accountable through architecture review boards.
  10. Thought leadership — represent the organization's database architecture practice through published standards, industry engagement, and executive-level reporting on data infrastructure strategy.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted schema drafting — accepts LLM-generated table and relationship suggestions for well-defined entities, reviewing each output against stated business requirements before committing to the design Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Basic query generation — prompts an AI assistant to produce initial SQL or DDL scripts for routine structures, then manually validates syntax and logic against project specifications Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Data model iteration — directs an AI tool through successive refinements of entity-relationship diagrams, evaluating each proposed change against normalization rules and scalability constraints Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Documentation acceleration — delegates drafting of architecture documentation and data dictionary entries to an AI assistant, saving significant time while retaining authorship of all technical decisions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Requirements parsing — uses an AI tool to extract and summarize data requirements from lengthy business stakeholder documents, then applies critical thinking to validate completeness and accuracy Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. Architecture strategy formulation — orchestrates an AI assistant across multiple design stages—modeling, logical design, and physical implementation—while preserving sole ownership of trade-off decisions on security, performance, and reliability Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Cross-system dependency analysis — hands off system integration specifications to an AI tool for initial gap and impact analysis, then applies systems analysis judgment to verify outputs before presenting recommendations to software and solution architects Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Performance tuning delegation — assigns index strategy and query optimization tasks to an AI assistant for candidate generation, then benchmarks and validates each recommendation against real workload profiles Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  4. Metadata and view scaffolding — instructs an AI tool to generate metadata tables, views, and related database structures from an approved logical model, auditing every artifact for alignment with enterprise data governance standards Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. Enterprise-scale architectural governance — evaluates AI-generated architectural patterns and vendor recommendations against long-horizon scalability, security, and reliability criteria, integrating AI outputs into organization-wide database strategy without delegating final judgment Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. AI autonomy calibration — sets and enforces boundaries on AI tool autonomy across database projects, assigning high-volume, well-bounded tasks to AI agents while retaining human authority over ambiguous or high-risk design decisions, consistent with the occupation's collaborative augmentation profile Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  3. Mentorship through AI workflow design — establishes team-level standards for AI-assisted database development, defining prompt patterns, validation checkpoints, and handoff protocols that junior architects follow when collaborating with LLM tools WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 5039
Augment share: 95%
Time saved: 81.3%
AI autonomy: 3.18
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Reading Comprehension
Score: 45.5 / 100
Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmented
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Artificial Intelligence
artificial_intelligence
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication12 statements
Emerging
  1. Database documentation basics — drafts initial schema diagrams and data dictionary entries using standard notation for team review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Technical vocabulary acquisition — uses correct database terminology when describing table relationships and indexing strategies in team meetings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Stakeholder intake listening — records business requirements during initial discovery sessions by asking clarifying questions about data workflows O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Architecture documentation — produces clear entity-relationship diagrams and annotated data flow documents that non-technical stakeholders can navigate Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-functional requirement translation — converts business analyst narratives into formal data model specifications shared with development teams O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Progress reporting — communicates database design milestones and blockers to project leads using structured status updates Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Technical specification authorship — writes comprehensive database architecture documents covering schema design, partitioning strategies, indexing rationale, and security controls for enterprise review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Multi-audience briefing — presents database design decisions and trade-offs to both engineering teams and executive stakeholders by adjusting technical depth to audience expertise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Standards communication — articulates database development standards and enforcement procedures clearly to developers and DBAs across distributed teams O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Architecture vision articulation — authors organization-wide database architecture whitepapers and design principles that align technical teams and inform long-term infrastructure investment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-discipline facilitation — leads structured design review sessions with system architects, software architects, and business analysts to surface conflicting requirements and drive consensus on data architecture decisions O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Mentored documentation culture — coaches junior architects and developers on documentation standards, ensuring institutional knowledge is captured and maintained across database generations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
2Leadership11 statements
Emerging
  1. Standards awareness — follows established database development standards set by senior architects while noting gaps or inconsistencies for discussion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Peer contribution — shares indexing or normalization approaches with teammates during design reviews without formal facilitation responsibility Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Standards stewardship — drafts proposed additions to database development standards and presents them to the architecture team for adoption O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Design initiative — takes ownership of assigned database design components end-to-end, from requirements gathering through implementation documentation, without prompting Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Junior guidance — guides associate developers through schema design exercises and explains normalization trade-offs in one-on-one settings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Architecture governance — leads the creation and enforcement of database development standards across a project portfolio, resolving design conflicts and ensuring compliance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-team coordination — directs the database integration workstream during multi-system deployments, aligning the efforts of DBAs, developers, and infrastructure engineers toward shared milestones O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Technical decision ownership — makes and defends authoritative design decisions on partitioning, replication topology, and data access patterns under organizational scrutiny Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Center-of-excellence leadership — establishes and chairs a database architecture practice or guild that sets strategic direction, evaluates emerging technologies, and elevates capability across the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Organizational capability building — designs training programs and mentorship structures that develop the next generation of database architects within the enterprise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Executive advisory role — advises C-suite and IT leadership on data infrastructure strategy, translating long-term business goals into scalable database architecture roadmaps O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition11 statements
Emerging
  1. Knowledge gap identification — recognizes when a database design challenge exceeds current skill level and seeks guidance from senior architects or documentation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Learning log practice — tracks new SQL, NoSQL, or modeling concepts encountered on the job to revisit and consolidate understanding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Design reflection — reviews completed schema designs against actual query performance outcomes to identify where initial modeling assumptions were flawed Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Skill mapping — assesses personal proficiency across database domains such as relational modeling, distributed systems, and security, and creates a targeted learning plan Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Approach monitoring — pauses mid-design to evaluate whether the chosen normalization or indexing strategy aligns with stated performance and scalability requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Post-implementation review discipline — conducts structured retrospectives after each major database deployment to extract lessons about design accuracy, estimation, and stakeholder alignment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Mental model updating — revises internal frameworks for data partitioning or replication design when new evidence from production metrics contradicts prior assumptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Cognitive load management — recognizes when the complexity of a multi-database integration problem requires decomposition into smaller reasoning steps and explicitly structures the analysis accordingly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Architectural intuition calibration — systematically compares predicted versus actual performance outcomes across multiple projects to refine judgment models for scalability and reliability decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Reflective practice modeling — openly shares reasoning processes, including past errors and corrections, with junior architects to cultivate metacognitive habits across the team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Strategic learning orchestration — identifies emerging paradigm shifts in database technology and proactively restructures personal and team learning priorities before skill gaps affect delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking11 statements
Emerging
  1. Requirement interrogation — identifies ambiguous or contradictory data requirements by asking targeted clarifying questions during requirements gathering sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Design assumption surfacing — lists explicit assumptions underlying a proposed schema before seeking senior review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Trade-off analysis — evaluates competing database design options such as denormalization versus normalized joins by weighing read/write performance, storage cost, and maintenance complexity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Root cause diagnosis — investigates query performance degradation by systematically ruling out indexing, statistics, locking, and schema design as contributing factors O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Standards reasoning — evaluates whether proposed database development standards address real organizational risks rather than reflexive convention Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Architecture risk assessment — analyzes proposed database architectures for single points of failure, data integrity vulnerabilities, and scalability ceilings before design approval Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Evidence-based technology selection — evaluates relational, columnar, document, and graph database options against specific workload characteristics using benchmark data and architectural principles O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Integration conflict resolution — identifies logical inconsistencies between data models from different source systems and determines canonical resolution strategies during integration design O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Systems-level critical analysis — evaluates the second- and third-order consequences of database architecture decisions on application performance, operational complexity, and long-term data governance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Assumption challenging at scale — scrutinizes organizational data architecture assumptions that have calcified over time and builds evidence-based cases for structural redesign Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Peer review rigor — applies structured critical evaluation frameworks during architecture review boards, exposing flawed reasoning in proposed designs before production commitment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration11 statements
Emerging
  1. Requirements participation — contributes database perspective in joint requirements workshops with business analysts and developers without dominating the discussion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Feedback receptivity — incorporates schema review feedback from senior architects into revised data models without resistance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Cross-functional design partnership — works alongside software architects and system architects to align data models with application architecture constraints during iterative design cycles O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Shared standard creation — co-develops database naming conventions and coding standards with peer DBAs and architects through collaborative working sessions O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Conflict navigation — resolves disagreements about data ownership and schema boundaries with application teams through structured negotiation rather than unilateral decision Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Integrated architecture teaming — coordinates with infrastructure, security, and application development teams simultaneously to ensure database designs satisfy cross-domain requirements for performance, compliance, and deployability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Vendor collaboration — partners with commercial database vendors and third-party integrators to customize products to organizational requirements while maintaining architectural integrity O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Shared accountability modeling — establishes joint ownership agreements with development teams for database performance SLAs, ensuring both sides invest in outcomes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Enterprise collaboration orchestration — builds structured collaboration frameworks between database architecture, enterprise architecture, and business strategy functions so data infrastructure decisions align with organizational direction Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Community of practice cultivation — convenes and facilitates cross-organizational database architecture communities that share knowledge, resolve common design challenges, and elevate collective capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Interdisciplinary bridge building — creates shared vocabulary and decision artifacts that enable meaningful collaboration between database architects and non-technical business owners on data strategy initiatives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
6Character11 statements
Emerging
  1. Data stewardship basics — handles sensitive schema and access control information with appropriate confidentiality during early project assignments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Commitment honoring — delivers assigned documentation and design artifacts on agreed timelines, flagging delays proactively Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Design integrity — presents database design options honestly, including limitations and risks, rather than advocating only for preferred solutions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Accountability in errors — acknowledges design mistakes that led to performance issues and takes ownership of remediation planning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Security ethics — raises concerns when proposed database designs compromise data privacy or security standards, even under schedule pressure O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Standards enforcement integrity — applies database development standards consistently regardless of requester seniority or project urgency Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Transparent trade-off disclosure — documents and communicates the full risk profile of architectural decisions, including known technical debt, in design approval submissions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Professional accountability — accepts responsibility for production database incidents attributable to architectural decisions and leads post-mortem analysis without deflecting blame Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Ethical architecture advocacy — champions data governance and privacy-by-design principles at the organizational level, pushing back on business pressures that would compromise data integrity or user privacy Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Integrity modeling — demonstrates consistent alignment between stated architectural principles and actual design decisions, building organizational trust in the architecture function Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Organizational accountability culture — establishes blameless post-mortem and design review practices that normalize transparency and collective responsibility across database and development teams Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
7Creativity11 statements
Emerging
  1. Alternative exploration — generates at least two distinct schema design approaches for a given requirement before selecting the recommended option Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Constraint reframing — proposes a non-standard indexing or partitioning approach when conventional solutions fail to meet performance requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Innovative data modeling — designs novel metadata table structures or view hierarchies that solve complex data access problems not addressed by standard patterns Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Integration invention — devises custom data transfer mechanisms and transformation logic that enable previously incompatible systems to share data reliably O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Performance creative problem solving — develops unconventional query optimization strategies such as function-based indexes or materialized view chains to overcome legacy schema constraints O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Architectural pattern innovation — creates reusable database architecture patterns tailored to organizational workload profiles that become standard templates for future projects Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Experimental prototyping — builds proof-of-concept database implementations using emerging paradigms such as graph or time-series databases to evaluate fitness for novel business requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Cross-domain inspiration — applies distributed systems or software architecture concepts to database design challenges to generate solutions outside traditional database design conventions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Paradigm-shifting design — pioneers new organizational database architecture approaches that fundamentally change how data is modeled, stored, or accessed across the enterprise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Innovation program leadership — establishes a structured database technology evaluation and experimentation program that systematically explores emerging tools and translates findings into strategic recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Creative standards evolution — redesigns database development standards to encourage rather than suppress creative problem solving while maintaining governance integrity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset11 statements
Emerging
  1. Technology curiosity — voluntarily explores documentation and tutorials for unfamiliar database technologies encountered during project assignments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Feedback integration — applies critical feedback from design reviews to the next iteration of a data model without becoming defensive Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Skill stretch pursuit — volunteers for database architecture assignments that involve technologies or design domains outside current expertise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Failure learning — documents lessons from database designs that did not meet performance or reliability targets and applies them to subsequent architecture decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Certification pursuit — pursues relevant database or cloud architecture certifications to formalize and validate developing competencies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Continuous technology monitoring — maintains current knowledge of relational, NoSQL, NewSQL, and cloud-native database developments through regular engagement with technical publications and conferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Challenge acceptance — takes on high-complexity database migration or modernization projects with significant ambiguity, treating uncertainty as a learning opportunity rather than a risk to avoid Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Iterative improvement discipline — applies incremental refinement cycles to database architecture standards based on production feedback, treating standards as living documents Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Learning organization cultivation — embeds continuous learning expectations into the database architecture team's operating norms, including knowledge-sharing rituals and innovation time Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Paradigm transition leadership — guides the organization through major database technology transitions by modeling the adaptability and effort required to master new paradigms Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Mastery-through-challenge modeling — publicly shares personal experiences of tackling unfamiliar architecture challenges to normalize struggle and persistence as part of expert practice Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness11 statements
Emerging
  1. Requirement presence — maintains focused attention during stakeholder requirements sessions, resisting the urge to mentally jump to design solutions before requirements are fully understood Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stress recognition — identifies when project deadline pressure is causing rushed design decisions and pauses to assess whether shortcuts introduce unacceptable risk Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Deliberate design pacing — allocates structured thinking time before committing to major schema design decisions rather than defaulting to familiar patterns under time pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotion regulation in reviews — maintains professional composure and open reception when database designs receive significant criticism in architecture review sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Attention management during complexity — uses explicit decomposition techniques to maintain cognitive focus when managing simultaneous design constraints across large multi-system database architectures Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Intentional trade-off evaluation — creates dedicated deliberation checkpoints in the design process to ensure performance, scalability, security, and maintainability trade-offs receive proportional attention rather than reactive prioritization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder attunement — reads shifts in stakeholder engagement and concern during design presentations and adjusts communication approach in real time to maintain alignment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Pressure-resistant judgment — maintains evidence-based architectural decision-making discipline during high-stakes production incidents, resisting the pull toward reactive design changes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Contemplative architecture practice — builds structured reflection pauses into the architecture design lifecycle at the team level, normalizing deliberate evaluation over reactive design velocity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Crisis intentionality — models calm, structured problem decomposition during major database outages or data integrity incidents, stabilizing team decision-making under extreme organizational pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Systemic awareness cultivation — maintains simultaneous awareness of technical design details and broader organizational data strategy context, preventing local optimization at the expense of system-wide coherence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude11 statements
Emerging
  1. Complexity tolerance — persists through multi-hour debugging sessions on complex query performance problems without abandoning structured diagnostic approaches Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Ambiguity endurance — continues making design progress on database projects with incomplete or evolving business requirements rather than stalling for perfect clarity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Redesign resilience — restarts data model design after discovering fundamental flaws late in the design cycle without allowing frustration to compromise quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Sustained focus under pressure — maintains architectural rigor and documentation quality during crunch periods leading up to major database deployments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Criticism endurance — sustains productive engagement through repeated design rejections in architecture review boards, using each rejection to sharpen the proposal Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Migration perseverance — leads complex legacy database migration projects spanning months of technical difficulty and stakeholder friction to successful completion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Production incident resolve — sustains methodical root-cause analysis and remediation leadership during prolonged database outages affecting critical business operations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Unpopular decision courage — advocates for necessary but organizationally resistant database architecture changes such as major refactoring or platform migration when evidence supports the case Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Long-horizon persistence — drives multi-year database modernization programs through organizational resistance, budget pressures, and technical setbacks without losing strategic coherence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Adversity modeling — demonstrates transparent resilience during high-profile database architecture failures, maintaining team confidence and organizational trust through honest assessment and decisive recovery action Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Courageous standards defense — sustains enforcement of database development standards and architectural integrity under sustained pressure from business or executive sponsors demanding exceptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
ADP Planner (Automatic Data Processing Planner) · Big Data Architect · Big Data Engineer · Cloud Architect · Cloud Infrastructure Architect · Computer Architect · Data Analyst · Data Architect · Data Engineer · Data Governance Analyst · Data Integration Specialist · Data Management IT Specialist (Data Management Information Technology Specialist)
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisActive ListeningSpeakingProgrammingSystems EvaluationActive LearningOperations AnalysisWritingMonitoringTime ManagementTechnology DesignMathematicsSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationService Orientation
Knowledge domains
Computers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignMathematicsEnglish Language
Abilities
Deductive ReasoningOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingInductive ReasoningSpeech ClarityNear VisionCategory Flexibility
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityIntellectual CuriosityAchievement OrientationCautiousnessInnovation
Technology
Word processing softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareAccess softwareBackup or archival softwareDevelopment environment softwareData base management system softwareDocument management softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareObject or component oriented development softwareWeb platform development software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Develop and document database architectures.
  2. Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
  3. Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
  4. Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
  5. Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
  6. Design database applications, such as interfaces, data transfer mechanisms, global temporary tables, data partitions, and function-based indexes to enable efficient access of the generic database structure.
  7. Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specific needs.
  8. Create and enforce database development standards.
CIP education codes
11.010111.010311.040111.050111.070111.080211.090211.100314.090114.090314.270130.700130.709952.1201

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.