The data engineers I know started out as data scientists. They discovered
that their ability to make models that did anything useful was hampered
by low-quality or absent data. Then they discovered that there was a
lot more job satisfaction (not to mention much better pay) in making
useful data available than there was in clicking the "train" button
over and over in slightly different configurations.
Network and meet someone who will give you, a web developer (a profession that is heavily stigmatized in the industry), a chance in a very competitive field.
They are not. There is a stigma associated with the ecosystem I think.
People who can create beautiful and user-friendly interfaces are extremely valuable and respected.
But my experiences trying to set up a typescript project and the unbelievable number of frameworks and crazy things to navigate (mjs/cjs) made me yearn for the pains of the Python ecosystem again.