What is DevOps Engineer? Skills, Roles & Responsibilities

Tasks like data management and library updates for new product releases combine with needs for leadership and collaboration across teams. It is important for DevOps engineers to understand the fundamentals of application development and delivery. An understanding of containers and container orchestration technologies, like Docker and Kubernetes, is also often important if you want to work in DevOps. Not every DevOps team uses these technologies, but they are widespread today, especially within businesses that take a modern, DevOps-centric approach to software development and management.

  • The full compensation package for a DevOps engineer depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s experience and geographic location.
  • A DevOps engineer is an information technology (IT) professional who works as the go-between for the software engineering and operations teams of a company.
  • For starters, you can check out the CareerFoundry Full-Stack Web Development Program, which is a flexible fully mentored programming curriculum designed to give you a thorough understanding of how to work in development.

A DevOps engineer can help automate tasks, monitor and log tools, and improve continuous integration and delivery processes. Similar to the earlier comment on DevOps consulting, it is essential to understand the DevOps engineer skills needed for the project in question to ensure a successful application for how to become a devops engineer a job position. DevOps model keeps development and operations together, working as a team for the software development process, starting from development, test, deployment, and checking updates. Sometimes, even security teams and quality assurance team work together throughout the application lifecycle.

The Growing Demand for DevOps Engineers

DevOps engineers need to have a strong software development or IT operations background, along with a mix of other technical skills and soft skills from other disciplines. These skillsets include knowledge of programming languages, automation tools, interpersonal skills, and analytical problem solving. Most DevOps engineers possess a strong software development or IT operations background, along with a mix of other technical skills and soft skills from other disciplines. These skillsets may include knowledge of programming languages, proficiency with automation tools, interpersonal skills, and analytical problem solving. A DevOps engineer can be called in for more complex projects and the actual implementation.

To do all of that, DevOps engineers introduce processes, tools, and methodologies that streamline and secure the relationship between writing, deploying and updating code when enhancements or fixes are made. They are responsible for building and maintaining the systems that support the application. DevOps engineer candidates are often expected to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, software engineering or a similar field. CareerFoundry is an online school for people looking to switch to a rewarding career in tech.

The Best Countries to Become a DevOps Engineer

Monitoring also lets you figure out how different systems affect each other, both when they’re running simultaneously and in sequence. Because containers can be spun up and shut down very quickly, containerization makes it easy and inexpensive to explore the effects of different aspects of software. A DevOps Engineer needs to understand containerization because it impacts how a product is built, adjusted, and tested. Containers provide a way of isolating processes from the rest of the software. Each container acts as a virtual machine, running one piece of the overall process. For example, one team would tackle database structure, while another created the front end or security features.

  • The average base salary for DevOps engineers in the US is $104,095 per year [1].
  • A DevOps Engineer is a software engineer who specializes in the practices and tools that enable the continuous delivery of software.
  • This in turn puts up the responsibility of keeping every phase of the development cycle risk-free.
  • We outlined the core responsibilities of DevOps engineers above, but you should read up on DevOps tasks in more detail to understand what DevOps engineering looks like on a day-to-day basis.
  • They’ll provide feedback, support, and advice as you build your new career.
  • The entire SDLC, therefore, integrates aspects of both development and operations.

But till today, location matters even though you might be working from home. Accordingly, experience plays a significant role in deciding the salary structure of a DevOps engineer. There is a robust market for the IT Industry with the fast-paced shift towards digitalization, every industry is inclining towards technology-centric methodologies and strategies. He/she will be responsible to bring into the company their ideas, methodologies that reduce complexities and enhance quality, reliability, and security.

Careers in Law (Without Being a Lawyer)

DevOps also reduces the risk of errors when releasing new features or updates. By automating tasks and shifting the testing to the left, businesses can avoid costly mistakes that can cause downtime or data loss. If you’re excited about the strategic planning and implementation of a DevOps initiative, then a DevOps consultant is likely the best option. A DevOps consultant can help assess the infrastructure and processes, identify areas where improvement is needed, and develop and implement a plan to improve those areas.

Don’t forget to check out our Best Apprenticeship Employers table too! Here you’ll find the best companies to work for as voted by students who were once in your shoes. If you don’t have any relevant skills, you can always do a free online IT course or join an after-school programming club. This shows your passion and dedication and will send recruiters into a happy frenzy wanting to whip you up. You’ll work for an employer, getting trained up like a pro, while studying towards nationally recognised qualifications equivalent to GCSEs, A-Levels or a university degree. Uni is great for making friends, gaining independence and experiencing campus life.