Systems and methods are provided for a grid computing system that performs analytical calculations on data stored in a distributed database system. A grid-enabled software component at a control node is configured to invoke database management software (DBMS) at the control node to cause the DBMS at a plurality of the worker nodes to make available data to the grid-enabled software component local to its node; instruct the grid-enabled software components at the plurality of worker nodes to perform an analytical calculation on the received data and to send the results of the data analysis to the grid-enabled software component at the control node; and assemble the results of the data analysis performed by the grid-enabled software components at the plurality of worker nodes.