What is the difference between and Informatica developer vs. informatica administrator?

An Informatica Developer and an Informatica Administrator serve distinct roles within the Informatica ecosystem, which is widely used for data integration, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, and data management. Here’s a clear breakdown of the differences based on their responsibilities, focus, and skill sets:

Informatica Developer

• Role: Focuses on designing, building, and implementing data integration solutions using Informatica tools, primarily Informatica PowerCenter or Informatica Developer Tool.
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop ETL workflows, mappings, and transformations to extract data from various sources, transform it according to business requirements, and load it into target systems (e.g., data warehouses).
  • Write and optimize code (e.g., SQL, scripting) for data processing.
  • Test and debug workflows to ensure data accuracy and performance.
  • Collaborate with business analysts and data architects to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
  • Create technical documentation for the developed solutions.
• Focus: Hands-on development and problem-solving at the data level.
• Skills:
  • Proficiency in Informatica tools (e.g., PowerCenter Designer, Workflow Manager).
  • Strong knowledge of SQL, databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server), and data warehousing concepts.
  • Familiarity with programming/scripting (e.g., Python, Unix shell scripting).
  • Analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Example Task: Designing a mapping to pull sales data from a CRM system, clean it, and load it into a reporting database.

Informatica Administrator

• Role: Manages and maintains the Informatica environment, ensuring its stability, security, and performance for developers and end-users.
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Install, configure, and upgrade Informatica software and servers.
  • Manage user access, roles, and permissions within the Informatica domain.
  • Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure high availability of services.
  • Handle backups, recovery, and disaster management for Informatica repositories.
  • Coordinate with infrastructure teams (e.g., network, database, storage) to support the environment.
  • Schedule and monitor ETL workflows to ensure they run smoothly.
• Focus: System administration, infrastructure, and operational support.
• Skills:
  • Expertise in Informatica administration tools (e.g., Informatica Administrator Console).
  • Knowledge of operating systems (e.g., Linux, Windows) and server management.
  • Understanding of security protocols (e.g., LDAP, SSL).
  • Ability to monitor and optimize system performance.
  • Strong communication skills to assist developers and resolve issues.
• Example Task: Setting up a new user account in Informatica, configuring database connections, and resolving a workflow failure due to a server issue.