How to Be Principal Business Intelligence Developer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Mar 10, 2021 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

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The increasing need for data-driven decision making has led to an increased demand for skilled Business Intelligence (BI) developers. As a result, organizations are investing heavily in the recruitment and training of BI developers, who play a key role in helping companies leverage their data to uncover insights that can drive better business outcomes. These professionals use their expertise in data analysis, reporting, and visualization to provide detailed insights into the performance of the business.

They also design, develop, and maintain data systems, build complex queries and reports, and ensure the accuracy and quality of data used in decision making. As a result of their efforts, businesses are able to make informed decisions that can lead to increased productivity, improved customer service, cost savings, and better operational efficiency.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. To become a Principal Business Intelligence Developer, you will need to obtain a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, software engineering, or information systems.
Gain Experience. You will need to gain experience in the field of business intelligence. This can be accomplished by working as a software engineer or data analyst.
Develop Your Knowledge. You will need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the field of business intelligence. This can be done by attending conferences, taking courses, and reading industry publications.
Earn Relevant Certifications. Earning certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) or Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) can help demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the field of business intelligence.
Get Promoted. Once you have gained the necessary experience and developed your knowledge, you can apply for a position as a principal business intelligence developer.
Maintain Your Skills. To remain competitive in the field of business intelligence, you will need to continually update your skills and stay current on the latest trends and technologies.

In order to stay ahead and efficient as a Principal Business Intelligence Developer, it is important to stay up to date with the latest trends, tools and technologies in the industry. This means taking the time to learn new programming languages, staying on top of the newest data analysis techniques, and exploring how to use existing technologies to solve complex problems. By understanding the latest trends and developments in the field, it is possible to develop solutions that are more efficient and cost-effective.

by taking advantage of modern tools such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is possible to automate tasks that would otherwise take a significant amount of time and effort. By staying ahead of the curve, a Principal Business Intelligence Developer can ensure that their solutions are the most effective and efficient for their organization.

You may want to check Principal Scientist, Principal Sourcing Manager, and Principal Business Systems Analyst for alternative.

Job Description

Develop and maintain business intelligence solutions, such as data warehouses and data marts, to support organizational reporting and decision making.
Design, develop and deploy ETL processes to extract and transform data from multiple sources into the data warehouse.
Design, develop and maintain complex SQL queries, stored procedures and views to support reporting and analytics.
Create reports, dashboards and visualizations for data analysis and insights.
Collaborate with stakeholders to define business requirements and implement data solutions.
Analyze customer requirements and develop data models to meet customer needs.
Monitor and optimize query performance, data architecture and system integrations.
Identify trends and patterns in large volumes of data using data mining techniques.
Develop best practices for data management, security and quality control.
Troubleshoot data-related issues and provide technical support to end users.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Database Design/Architecture: Ability to design and develop databases to meet the data warehousing and business intelligence needs of an organization.
ETL/Data Integration: Knowledge of Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) processes to move and consolidate data from multiple sources into a single repository.
Reporting/Analytics: Expertise in creating and managing reporting, analytics, dashboards, scorecards, and other data visualizations.
Business Analysis: Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify potential solutions to business problems through data analysis.
Data Modeling: Knowledge of data modeling techniques and tools to create logical and physical data models.
Programming Languages: Proficiency in SQL and other databases languages such as PL/SQL, Transact-SQL, or Python.
BI Tools: Familiarity with popular business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, or Qlik.
Data Warehousing: Understanding of data warehousing concepts including dimensional modeling, star schemas, and data marts.
Cloud Computing: Experience with cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure.
Communication Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with project stakeholders, technical teams, and senior management.

Business Intelligence (BI) is a critical skill for any Principal Business Intelligence Developer. With the right expertise, they can help analyze and transform complex data into meaningful insights which can be used to inform and support business decisions. As a result, these professionals are expected to have a deep understanding of data management, data analysis, and data visualization techniques.

They must also possess strong technical abilities, such as coding and scripting, in order to create and maintain BI solutions. the ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with stakeholders is essential for any successful BI project. Without the skillset of a Principal Business Intelligence Developer, businesses may struggle to exploit the full potential of their data, resulting in decreased efficiency and profitability.

Principal IT Auditor, Principal Cybersecurity Analyst, and Principal Process Engineer are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working with business intelligence platforms?
How would you go about creating a data warehouse from scratch?
What methods do you use to ensure data accuracy and integrity?
What strategies have you implemented to optimize ETL processes?
Describe your experience developing data models and data visualization.
What challenges have you faced when working with large datasets?
How do you stay up to date with new trends and technologies in the business intelligence field?
How do you ensure that a business intelligence solution meets the needs of the organization?
What methods do you use to evaluate the success of a business intelligence project?
How do you handle competing deadlines and manage multiple projects?

Common Tools in Industry

Tableau. A business intelligence and analytics platform used to create interactive visualizations and dashboards. (eg: dashboards to track sales performance)
Power BI. A cloud-based business intelligence platform used for data analysis and reporting. (eg: creating reports on customer demographics)
Microsoft SSIS. A platform for building enterprise-level data integration and data transformations solutions. (eg: moving data from one database to another)
QlikView. A visual analytics tool to build interactive dashboards and create powerful data visualizations. (eg: analyzing customer satisfaction scores)
RapidMiner. An open-source data mining software used to build predictive models, analyze data, and uncover insights. (eg: identifying customer segments)
IBM Cognos Analytics. A suite of business intelligence tools and applications to help organizations analyze data and make decisions. (eg: forecasting sales trends)

Professional Organizations to Know

International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
International Association for Information and Data Quality (IAIDQ)
Data Management Association (DAMA)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Society of Business Analysts (SBA)
Open Group Business Analysis Working Group (BAWG)
Association for Information Systems (AIS)
Business Intelligence Network (BIN)

We also have Principal Telecommunications Engineer, Principal Technical Architect, and Principal Network Designer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Data Warehouse. A collection of data from various sources, used for reporting and analysis.
Data Modeling. The process of creating a data structure to support the storage and manipulation of data.
ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load). The process of extracting data from one or more sources, transforming it into a format suitable for analysis, and loading it into a data warehouse.
Data Mart. A subset of a data warehouse, usually focused on a specific department or business unit.
Business Intelligence (BI). The process of gathering, analyzing, and reporting on data to improve business performance.
OLAP (Online Analytical Processing). A tool used to analyze data stored in a data warehouse.
Data Mining. The process of analyzing large amounts of data to uncover patterns and relationships.
Dashboards. Visual representations of data that can be used to monitor performance and identify trends.
Reporting. The process of presenting data in a meaningful way, usually as charts, tables, and graphs.
Analytics. The process of using data to make predictions about future events or trends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a Principal Business Intelligence Developer? A1: A Principal Business Intelligence Developer is a professional who is responsible for developing and managing data-driven solutions to support business intelligence and analytics. They are responsible for creating data warehouses, designing and developing data models, performing ETL processes, and developing reports and dashboards. Q2: What skills are required to be a Principal Business Intelligence Developer? A2: A Principal Business Intelligence Developer should possess advanced knowledge of database design, data modeling, ETL processes, data visualization, data warehousing, business intelligence tools and software, SQL, and programming languages such as Python and R. Q3: What kind of responsibilities does a Principal Business Intelligence Developer have? A3: Responsibilities of a Principal Business Intelligence Developer include designing and developing data models, ETL processes, data warehouses, and reports and dashboards; analyzing and interpreting data; developing and managing BI solutions; creating and optimizing SQL queries; and collaborating with stakeholders to understand business needs and requirements. Q4: What kind of experience is required for a Principal Business Intelligence Developer? A4: A Principal Business Intelligence Developer should have at least 5 years of experience in developing, managing, and analyzing business intelligence solutions. Additionally, they should have experience with various programming languages, databases, and analytics tools. Q5: How much do Principal Business Intelligence Developers earn? A5: According to PayScale.com, the average salary for a Principal Business Intelligence Developer is $106,612 per year in the United States. Salaries can vary depending on experience, location, and other factors.

Web Resources

How to Become a Business Intelligence Developer www.wgu.edu
Business Intelligence Developer / Architect | NC State Online and ... online-distance.ncsu.edu
Certificate in Business Intelligence & Database Development www.pce.uw.edu