DevOps has gained significant traction in the IT industry over the past decade. Organisations are increasingly looking to optimise their software development processes by bringing together their development and operations teams. 

This has created a need for skilled professionals who can bridge the gap between these two departments, and that's where 

DevOps engineers come in. This article will deeply dive into what a DevOps engineer does and explore the skills required for this exciting career.

What is DevOps?

DevOps is a set of practices that combine software development and IT operations to streamline the software development lifecycle. DevOps aims to improve software quality, reduce time-to-market, and increase efficiency by optimising the software development pipeline. It emphasises collaboration and communication between development and operations teams, enabling them to work together to achieve shared goals.

What does a DevOps Engineer do?

A DevOps engineer is responsible for implementing and maintaining the DevOps methodology in an organisation. They work closely with development, operations, and testing teams to ensure the software development pipeline is efficient and reliable. 

• Infrastructure Management: DevOps engineers manage the software development pipeline's underlying infrastructure. This includes servers, storage, networking, and other hardware and software components. Here are some of the critical responsibilities of a DevOps engineer:
• Continuous Integration and Deployment: DevOps engineers set up and maintain pipelines for continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD). This involves automating the build, test, and deployment processes, which enables developers to quickly and easily push code changes to production.
• Monitoring and Alerting: DevOps engineers are responsible for monitoring the software development pipeline to identify issues before they become critical. They set up alerts to notify the team of problems and work to resolve them quickly.
• Security: DevOps engineers are responsible for ensuring that the software development pipeline is secure. They work closely with security teams to implement security controls and ensure all code changes are thoroughly tested for security vulnerabilities.
• Collaboration and Communication: DevOps engineers work closely with development, operations, and testing teams to ensure everyone is on the same page. They facilitate team communication and collaboration, ensuring everyone achieves a common goal.

Skills Required for a DevOps Engineer

To be a successful DevOps engineer, you need a combination of technical and soft skills. Here are some of the critical skills required for this career path:

• Knowledge of DevOps Tools and Technologies: DevOps engineers must be familiar with many tools and technologies, including cloud platforms, automation tools, containerisation, and configuration management tools. Some popular DevOps tools include Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, Terraform, and Jenkins.
• Programming and Scripting Skills: DevOps engineers should have a good understanding of programming and scripting languages, such as Python, Ruby, and Bash. They should be able to write scripts to automate tasks and develop custom integrations between different tools.
• Understanding of Infrastructure and Networking: DevOps engineers must have a deep knowledge of infrastructure and networking concepts. They should be familiar with cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), as well as networking protocols, such as TCP/IP and HTTP.
• Continuous Learning: DevOps is a rapidly evolving field, and DevOps engineers must be committed to constant learning. They should stay up-to-date with the latest tools, technologies, and best practices in the industry.
• Communication and Collaboration Skills: DevOps engineers work closely with development, operations, and testing teams, so they must have excellent communication and collaboration skills. They should be able to communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders and work effectively in a team environment.
• Problem-Solving Skills: DevOps engineers should have strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot issues quickly. They should be able to identify the root cause of problems and implement solutions to prevent them from occurring in the future.
• Analytical Thinking: DevOps engineers should be able to analyse complex systems and identify areas for improvement. They should be able to use data and metrics to drive decision-making and optimise the software development pipeline.

Career Path for a DevOps Engineer

DevOps is rapidly growing, and the demand for skilled DevOps engineers is rising. According to a recent report by LinkedIn, DevOps engineer was one of the top 15 emerging jobs in the US, with a 34% annual growth rate. As more organisations adopt DevOps methodologies, the demand for DevOps engineers will only increase.

The career path for a DevOps engineer can vary depending on the organisation and individual preferences. Some DevOps engineers may specialise in a particular area, such as cloud infrastructure or security, while others may choose to move into management or leadership roles.

Here are some potential career paths for a DevOps engineer:

• DevOps Engineer: This is the most common role for a DevOps engineer. In this role, you will be responsible for implementing and maintaining the DevOps methodology in an organisation. Here are some potential career paths for a DevOps engineer:
• DevOps Architect: A DevOps architect is responsible for designing and implementing the overall DevOps strategy for an organisation. They work closely with stakeholders to identify business requirements and develop a plan for implementing DevOps best practices.
• DevOps Manager: A DevOps manager leads a team of DevOps engineers. They oversee the implementation of DevOps best practices, manage budgets and resources, and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Site Reliability Engineer (SRE): SREs ensure the software systems are reliable, scalable, and efficient. They work closely with DevOps engineers and development teams to identify and resolve issues before they impact users.
• Cloud Infrastructure Engineer: A cloud infrastructure engineer is responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining the underlying infrastructure that supports cloud-based applications. They work with cloud platforms, such as AWS, Azure, and GCP, to ensure the infrastructure is scalable, secure, and cost-effective.

Role	Median Salary
DevOps Engineer	$110,000
DevOps Architect	$130,000
DevOps Manager	$140,000
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)	$130,000
Cloud Infrastructure Engineer	$120,000

A career in DevOps can be both challenging and rewarding. As organisations adopt DevOps methodologies, the demand for skilled DevOps engineers will only increase. 

To be a successful DevOps engineer, you need technical and soft skills, including knowledge of DevOps tools and technologies, programming and scripting skills, understanding of infrastructure and networking, continuous learning, communication and collaboration skills, problem-solving skills, and analytical thinking.

The career path for a DevOps engineer can vary, with opportunities to specialise in a particular area, move into management or leadership roles, or transition to related roles, such as SRE or cloud infrastructure engineering. 

If you're interested in a career in DevOps, many resources are available to help you get started, including online courses, certifications, and networking events. 

With the right skills and mindset, a career in DevOps can be a fulfilling and lucrative career path.

FAQs

What is DevOps?

DevOps is a set of practices and tools combining software development and IT operations to improve delivery speed and quality.

What are the benefits of DevOps?

DevOps helps organisations to deliver software faster and with higher quality, improve collaboration and communication between teams, and reduce the risk of failures and downtime.

What are some popular DevOps tools?

Popular DevOps tools include Jenkins, Git, Docker, Kubernetes, and Ansible. The means used may vary depending on the organisation and the project's needs.

What skills are required for a career in DevOps?

To be a successful DevOps engineer, you need technical and soft skills, including knowledge of DevOps tools and technologies, programming and scripting skills, understanding of infrastructure and networking, continuous learning, communication and collaboration skills, problem-solving skills, and analytical thinking.

What is the role of a DevOps engineer?

A DevOps engineer is responsible for implementing and maintaining the DevOps methodology in an organisation. They work closely with development, operations, and other teams to ensure that software is delivered quickly and highly.

What is the career path for a DevOps engineer?

The career path for a DevOps engineer can vary, with opportunities to specialise in a particular area, move into management or leadership roles, or transition to related roles, such as SRE or cloud infrastructure engineering.

What certifications are available for DevOps professionals?

Various certifications are available for DevOps professionals, including the Certified DevOps Engineer (CDE) certification from the DevOps Institute and the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.

How can I get started in DevOps?

Many resources are available to help you get started in DevOps, including online courses, certifications, and networking events. It's also helpful to gain experience working with relevant tools and technologies, such as Git, Docker, and Kubernetes, through personal projects or contributing to open-source projects.