5 technology job roles you might not have heard of (yet)

The technology world has grown and evolved immensely over the last few decades, becoming an industry that now plays a crucial part in many areas of our everyday lives. But, as it has grown, so has the need for more people to operate, regulate and facilitate this technology. A recent US Department of Labour report made headlines for stating that 65% of today’s schoolchildren will eventually be employed in jobs that have yet to be created, which shows just how quickly the careers market has changed. All these new roles and titles need to have some purpose, though – how many of the following have you heard of?

Chief Digital Officer

Companies generate a huge amount of data these days, which can prove to be a treasure trove of information and insight into what they’re doing right (or wrong!). Business intelligence and analytics are already becoming common in mid-level positions, with posts such as "data scientist" increasingly appearing, but soon this field will require its own governance, away from the reach of the CIO.

Many organisations are now starting to hire tech-savvy leaders to fill roles such as chief analytics officer, chief data officer and chief digital officer as analytics becomes more core to IT and marketing. Either reporting to the CIO or acting as a stand-alone basis reporting straight to the CEO or MD, a digital or data officer will become a key presence in many organisations in the years to come.

Big data management will prove to be extremely central to running an effective large business over the next few years, so expect to see more and more people appearing in these leadership positions.

Digital Evangelist

As companies embrace the growing world of technology, their presence online becomes more and more important. Businesses are realising that websites and social media are becoming crucial in interacting with their existing customers and increasing their awareness in new markets. Enter the digital evangelist, who can help advise and lead companies with formulating and carrying out an online strategy which can bring them a host of new followers. Often closely intertwined with the Marketing and PR teams, this role is already important in many companies, and will soon prove to be central to the growth of any successful business.

Hacker-in-Residence

Today’s business face a wide range of threats, as hackers increasingly do away with particularly focused motives and launch attacks simply for the fun of it. As a result, many are keen to pinpoint and fix any weaknesses they may have in their existing protection, which is where so-called ‘ethical hackers’ come in. Already employed by some big businesses, they can simulate or carry out real cyberattacks on your business to spot the weaknesses, which can then be identified and fixed.

And as hackers become ever more developed, it will become more important than ever to have someone in your business who can quickly identify your weak spots.

Internet of Things Guru

As we’ve mentioned, the world around us is getting more and more connected every day, as devices get signed up to the Internet of Things (IoT). As the technology continues to develop, (with Cisco estimates that 50 billion devices and objects will be connected to the internet by 2020) and competition intensifies around smart analytics and applications, businesses will need to have employees who can diagnose, explain, and analyse potential issues or challenges around how they work with the IoT.

Many businesses already have some kind of bring you own device (BYOD) or mobile device management (MDM) system in place, overseen by internal administrators, but what about hooking up the office building’s heating, energy use and security systems to a single terminal? Combining functions and making your company smarter and more efficient could give you a vital edge in an increasingly competitive market.

3D Printing Operator

One of the fastest-growing new industries this year has been 3D printing, as the sector explodes due to a recent surge in funding and development. In the future, many homes and businesses will have an in-house facility to quickly and cheaply produce replacement parts or even food – the possibilities really are endless at the moment.

There will be no need to call in exterior workers to fix your goods when you can make your own parts, or even import goods from other countries – if the technology evolves enough, you may even be able to create certain items in your own home or office.