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I apologize if this is a stupid question. I'm a statistician by education, and in an analyst role at a private company. For the past 9 months I've spent 95% of my time building things in Python. First it was a big automation task that, strictly speaking, was outside the scope of my role, think "we need to start doing this new thing that would take two new full time roles if done manually, with lots of options and settings that we can change if we need it later. Btw we need it by yesterday.".

I agreed to take on the project on the terms that I get to solve it in any way I saw fit, which was automating it in Python rather than turning it into an Excel monster.

Then, since that went well I guess, that somehow turned into a part of this HUGE project to create something that will give us Power BI-like functionality but without some of the drawbacks of Power BI. Several data sources, hundreds of values, 20 different types of dynamic time windows, 20 different grouping levels for groups that get assigned differently depending on the type of time window.. All getting fed into 100 different reports in different formats that will each need to look pretty with dynamic formatting etc, and will need to be available on our internal systems as well as sent to 50 different people or combinations of those people somewhere between once a month and every day. I'm starting to realize that we need to set up proper databases for all this data, which I will also have to figure out how to do in the most optimal way and implement.

And before you say "that sounds easy enough", I hadn't touched Python in the past 10 years before this, and even then only used it for one course during my Master's. I don't have a senior to ask when I run into trouble - I'm the only person in my department so I guess I'm the senior. My manager has zero technical knowledge and zero time for me, we have maybe two meetings a year. These tasks come directly from the CEO at our international HQ, who I can't exactly call up to ask programming questions.

I'm not saying this to complain, apart from the stress and pressure this has been so much fun. But it doesn't feel like any analyst role I've had in the past, so what would be an appropriate title for someone doing this sort of work?

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[-] one_old_coder@piefed.social 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If it's fun, profit! I know nothing about what you do but the first job that comes to my mind is "data scientist." Here are some links:

It seems that a lot of data science is focused on AI nowadays, but if you stick with Python you can do everything you want. Also using Python instead of Excel is smart since you achieved that, you're an "engineer data scientist." But since you're the only one, you would be the "director of the data science department."

And no, you're not delusional, you did a good job I guess, don't stop.

[-] ashley_z@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago

This was what I was looking for, thank you so much!

[-] slazer2au@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Might be time to discuss with your manager about how you don't think you can do this and they should either create a new team for it or outsource it.

[-] ashley_z@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 months ago

I'm mostly done so apparently I can do it. What I would want is to get a title and role description etc that matches what I actually do.

[-] zwerg@feddit.org 6 points 2 months ago

Fuck titles, you need a pay rise!

[-] ExperimentalGuy@programming.dev 4 points 2 months ago

First of all, i want to say thats a huge task youre taking on and it sounds like youre doing one hell of a job at it! It sounds like you need a pay raise though, especially if you're still taking on some of the responsibilities that you're supposed to have. Another commenter said that it sounds like a data scientist role, although I think its more both data scientist and data engineering given that you have to consolidate data AND run analysis. Not saying that data scientists don't do any data consolidation work, but it sounds like its's a large part of your role right now.

[-] onlinepersona@programming.dev 4 points 2 months ago

I had a data scientist colleague who did something like this and they were a data engineer. A friend also got shoved into such a role and was in charge of all the data in the company. They tried to create a new team under him for the same pay and he told them to shove it.

Be strong, you might have the cards in your hand here. Ask for a raise and of you want it, a team. You might say you're done, but trust me, the job is never over. There will always be more.

Good luck.

this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2026
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