I've never really seen the distinction between data and software engineering. It's more like front-end vs backend. If you're a data engineer and it's all no code tooling, then you're just an analyst or something.

When I worked at bigCo , it was a totally different world. Data engineers used data platform tools to do data work, usually for data’s sake. Software teams trying to build stuff with data had to finagle their way onto roadmaps.

The difference in titles is more or less where most of the time is spent. Developer could be doing front-end, back-end, embedded, high-performance computing, system, game, data analysis, or any other niche work. All of those have different design, tooling, and ways of thinking that you gain through actually doing.

I been in interviews where after reading my resume they say oh your an embedded developer. Another said a front-end, no a back-end, no a system developer, and other desktop developer. Reality, I did all of those to get the job done and create a viable product.