What do you do if your superiors in data engineering aren't noticing your work?

I would strive to communicate effectively about my projects, accomplishments, and the value they bring to the team and organization. This may involve providing regular updates, sharing success stories, and showcasing completed tasks or milestones. I would seek feedback from my superiors to understand their expectations and areas where they believe I can improve or contribute more effectively. Building strong relationships with my superiors and colleagues can also help ensure my work is visible and appreciated, if necessary, I would consider discussing my concerns directly with my superiors in a respectful and constructive manner to seek recognition for my efforts

To get recognition consider: Document Achievements: Keep a detailed log of projects, challenges addressed, and their outcomes. Highlight Impact: Record specific impacts like performance improvements and cost savings. Quantify Success: Whenever possible, quantify the success (e.g., "Improved query performance by 30%"). Use for Evaluations: Utilize this documentation during performance reviews or discussions with superiors. For instance, if you optimized a data process that resulted in a 20% cost reduction in cloud storage expenses, document the initial challenge, your solution, and the quantifiable outcome. This demonstrates not only your technical skills but also your contribution to the organization's financial health.

To communicate consider the following: Regular Updates: Share progress and achievements with your team and superiors regularly. Meet Directly: Opt for brief meetings or one-on-ones for detailed discussions over emails. Simplify Explanations: Break down complex data engineering terms for non-technical stakeholders. Articulate Value: Clearly convey how your work aligns with and impacts company goals. Example: In a meeting, explain how your data model optimization led to faster report generation, simplifying it as "Our reports now take half the time to run, aiding quicker decision-making," linking the technical achievement directly to business efficiency.

Start a blog, contribute to a newsletter, or present at team meetings to share successful project outcomes, lessons learned, or innovative solutions you've developed.

Mentoring others is a great way to establish your value in the team. Consider: Share Knowledge: Actively mentor junior data engineers and peers from other departments. Demonstrate Leadership: Use mentoring to showcase your leadership skills and technical expertise. Foster Growth: Help mentees succeed, reflecting your positive influence and impact on the team. Increase Visibility: Mentees' successes highlight your role as a key contributor and leader. Example: If you guide a junior engineer through optimizing a data pipeline, and their work significantly reduces processing times, it not only showcases their growth but also your effective mentorship and leadership, enhancing your visibility and perceived value within the organization.

Another thing to consider is to consult your leader or your mentor on what to do since they might have experienced the same before. I won't hurt to ask another person who is experienced that you.

I'm wondering about this, as good work usually doesn't go unnoticed. If superiors don't react when good work is done over a longer period of time, and if there aren't any other advantages of the job that make it worthwhile, then maybe it's simply time to search for other opportunities.