Cloud Computing, DevOps

5 Mins Read

How to Choose a Career in DevOps

Introduction

As a student standing at the turning point of your career path, you’re likely exploring various career avenues. DevOps, short for Development and Operations, is a field that promises exciting opportunities for students like you. This blog gives insights into the vast prospects of DevOps, a list of DevOps career opportunities, diverse roles, in-demand skills, and the ever-growing need for DevOps professionals. 

 

What is DevOps?

DevOps is a software engineering methodology. DevOps stands out as one of the most influential trends in the realm of software development today, alongside cloud computing and mobile technology. It encompasses a collaborative process where IT teams and business teams work closely together to launch new products. By combining the work of development and operations teams, DevOps creates an environment of collaboration and shared responsibility which helps build higher-quality and secure software faster. The primary objective is to stimulate a smooth synergy between software development and IT operations right from the initiation of a project, resulting in quicker software releases with reduced risk. 

DevOps places a strong emphasis on utilizing the power of automation. By automating various aspects of the development process, it allows IT operations and developers to operate with increased efficiency.  

 

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Why are DevOps Vital in Organizations?

DevOps transcends being a mere career choice, understanding the value of DevOps to an organization is essential. DevOps effectively addresses a spectrum of issues, including ;

Customer Expectations: The supreme goal is to consistently meet and exceed customer expectations. 

Application Delivery: Instant and efficient application delivery and updates are essential 

Breaking Silos: The elimination of barriers between development, operations, and other stakeholders is pivotal for seamless collaboration. 

Timely Issue Identification: Identification and resolution of problems early in the development lifecycle is key. 

Environmental Consistency: Ensuring that applications function correctly across diverse environments is a fundamental requirement. 

Incident Management: Simplifying complex incident management and problem resolution processes improves operational efficiency. 

Automating Repetitive Tasks: The automation of repetitive manual tasks delivers resources and increases efficiency. DevOps streamlines operations throughout the application development lifecycle, facilitating faster application delivery, simplified issue resolution, and fostering a culture of collaboration among all team members. 

  

DevOps Education and Skills

When it comes to pursuing a degree for a DevOps career, employers often favor candidates with bachelor’s degrees in fields like information technology, software design, or closely related areas. For a more targeted approach, consider aiming for a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the following fields: 

Computer Programming: A degree in computer programming equips you with essential coding skills, which are highly valuable in DevOps. Proficiency in programming languages is crucial for streamlining software development and operations. 

Software Development: Opting for a software development degree provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the entire software creation process. You’ll become skilled in crafting, maintaining, and optimizing software, all of which are invaluable in the world of DevOps.

Software Engineering: A software engineering degree offers an overall view of software systems. It covers everything from design and development to software management, aligning perfectly with the multifaceted nature of DevOps. 

Why choose these fields over IT administration? Because they provide you with a strong foundation in software construction, a key asset for confidently addressing the challenges that DevOps engineers encounter as they smoothly merge software development and operations. 

Acquire Skills: Education is just the initial step.  A DevOps engineer demands specific skills and certifications, including: 

  1. Technical Knowledge: In addition to your DevOps-oriented degree, the possession of scripting skills is often a prerequisite. Proficiency in programming languages like JavaScript, Ruby, and Python is a must. Familiarity with a Linux environment, expertise in automation frameworks, and mastery of DevOps tools such as Chef and Puppet are essential. 
  1. Cross-Training: Enhance your desirability as a DevOps engineer by diversifying your skill set. For instance, if you lean towards software development, leverage your coding skills to create tools that streamline development processes. Collaborate with your development team to tackle operational tasks, effectively preparing yourself for a DevOps role. 
  1. Soft Skills: The influence of soft skills should not be underestimated. DevOps engineers often assume leadership roles. Therefore, increasing your leadership, time management, and collaboration skills is essential. Seize opportunities within your current role to lead teams and create training materials for system engineers and software developers to sharpen these skills. 

 

DevOps Certifications

Consider choosing DevOps certifications like  Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional, and Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate.  

If you are looking to get trained on DevOps, CloudThat has the right course designed according to your needs. Our expert trainers help you gain the essential knowledge required for the latest industry needs. Explore our wide range of best DevOps certification courses to master the various aspects of software operations, development, and deployment. Join our DevOps Certification Training Course and land in a demanding and rewarding career. 

 

Common DevOps Roles

A DevOps team comprises professionals with distinct roles, each contributing to the success of the team. Common DevOps roles include:   

  • DevOps Engineer: Oversees DevOps operations and the software development lifecycle while fostering collaboration and cross-team communication. 
  • Release Manager: Manages the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline and application building and deployment operations. 
  • Automation Engineer: Plans and implements automation solutions to eliminate manual, repetitive tasks and support the CI/CD pipeline. 
  • Software Developer: Writes and updates application code, including unit tests and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) instructions. 
  • Software Tester: Ensures products meet defined quality assurance (QA) standards and can be safely released to customers. 
  • Security Engineer: Focuses on application and infrastructure security, with an eye toward data integrity and compliance. 
  • DevOps Evangelist: Promotes an organization’s DevOps initiatives and communicates the benefits to stakeholders. 
  • User Experience (UX) Engineer: Ensures products align with UX expectations, enhancing the overall user experience. 

 

The Demand for DevOps Talent

The future of DevOps is brimming with promise, and here’s why: 

 A report sponsored by the Linux Foundation and EdX highlights that DevOps professionals are the most sought-after job role, as attested by 65% of companies planning to expand their DevOps workforce. 

 A developer survey from CodinGame identifies DevOps practitioners as the most in-demand developers for the year. 

Indeed positions DevOps among the top 20 most sought-after IT jobs. Indeed also noted that 72 % of DevOps engineers are satisfied with their salaries. For this reason alone, DevOps careers are highly sought-after. Beyond that attractive DevOps salary, engineers in this field receive several added benefits, including 401(k) matching, commuter assistance, health insurance, employee stock purchase plans, relocation assistance, tuition reimbursement, the ability to work from home, and other perks. 

Glassdoor underscores that an array of prestigious companies is actively seeking DevOps talent, including industry giants like Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Autodesk, Capital One, Cisco Systems, IBM, Intuit, Salesforce, SAP, VMware, the Walt Disney Co., and many others. 

 

DevOps Salaries

According to Indeed.com, the average base salary for a DevOps engineer stands at $124,181. However, what makes this field truly captivating is the diversity it offers in terms of compensation. Entry-level DevOps engineers may commence their careers with salaries around $81,000, while experienced professionals can command an impressive $189,000. Yet, it’s not solely about the base salary; DevOps professionals often receive an additional average cash bonus of $9,000 annually. 

Location acts as a significant factor in determining your DevOps salary. For instance, San Francisco, California, boasts the highest average DevOps salary, at $151,000 annually. In contrast, Austin, Texas, follows closely behind, albeit with an average salary that is slightly lower. 

 

Conclusion

DevOps is a worldwide movement with numerous benefits for individuals and organizations. Organizations are adopting DevOps practices to improve efficiency and agility throughout the software development lifecycle. The demand for DevOps professionals continues to rise, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a promising careerIt’s a journey where you can improve communication, eliminate bottlenecks, and enhance software delivery. With the right skills and credentials, you can become a sought-after DevOps professional in a rapidly growing field. Consider enrolling in programs renowned for their DevOps-related curriculum to enhance your standing in the job market. 

 

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WRITTEN BY Sandra S

Sandra is an accomplished postgraduate in English language and literature from the University of Kerala, hailing from the picturesque city of Kollam. With a strong foundation in language and communication, she possesses excellent written and oral communication skills. Her academic journey has honed her abilities to demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail, qualities that she believes are vital in fostering effective content writing. Here at CloudThat, Sandra works as a Content Intern in marketing, where she learns new skills and abilities that contribute to her professional growth.

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