Career Definition of DevOps Engineer
Development operations (DevOps) engineers are responsible for implementing automated applications and transitioning an organization to cloud technology. These engineers can also focus on overseeing an organization's continuous integration protocols. DevOps engineers primarily work in an office setting. These engineers can work for organizations like financial services agencies or information technology service providers. Job duties for DevOps engineers may include developing and executing methods to ensure transparency for applications, collaborating with quality engineers or product managers on issues like operability and application capacity management, and evaluating the performance, usability, and security of an organization's applications. These engineers could be responsible for transitioning on-site physical servers to cloud services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS).
DevOps engineers may provide technical assistance for customer service hotlines as needed. These engineers may also be responsible for overseeing root cause analysis and problem resolution for an organization's applications. DevOps engineers could create and execute tests for automated tools, as well improving an organization's current build processes. These engineers could also evaluate an organization's security needs and provide management with recommendations on the best solutions.
| Educational Requirements | Bachelor's degree |
| Job Skills | Excellent software development skills, strong analytical abilities, effective problem solving skills, and strong communication skills |
| Median Salary (2021)* | $97,098 |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030)** | 22% (Software Developers) |
Sources: *PayScale, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
A career as a DevOps engineer requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline. A strong background in data center migrations will be beneficial. Individuals can further illustrate their skills by pursuing the Certified DevOps Engineer certification through Amazon Web Services (AWS). The certification consists of an examination and showcases expertise in operation, provisioning, and maintaining distributed applications. Individuals can also join an organization like DevOps Agile Skills Association (DASA), which offers training and open source certification for members.
Required Skills
DevOps engineers will need excellent software development skills in order to successfully design and implement applications. Applicable skills are Java, Python, and Groovy. Other relevant technical skills may include the following: Microsoft Server; Linux; Apache; Bash; and IP networking. DevOps engineers should have strong analytical abilities in order to evaluate application performance and determine any applicable improvements. These engineers should also have effective problem solving skills in order to correct any bugs or issues that appear during application testing phases. DevOps engineers will need strong communication skills to interface with colleagues, as well as train junior personnel.
Career Outlook and Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report statistics on DevOps engineers; however, they estimated a 22% job growth for software developers from 2020-2030. This growth is much faster than average compared to all occupations. In December 2021, PayScale reported a median annual salary of $97,098 for DevOps engineers.
Related Careers
Individuals interested in becoming a DevOps engineer could also consider one of the below alternative careers. Positions include a computer analyst.
