How to Become a DevOps Engineer

What is DevOps, and what are the skills needed for DevOps engineering journey? And why has it become so popular and in demand today? We cannot answer the question without looking into the essence of software development. Before DevOps, software development relied on core coding, but DevOps became the methodology that would help developers and IT operations communicate faster and work more seamlessly. At the core of this methodology stands two important concepts: communication and collaboration. Let’s explore how to become a DevOps engineer.

What is DevOps?

DevOps helps connect software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). DevOps engineers are key in ensuring software gets delivered smoothly and efficiently. They improve software quality, help with coding, and make it easy to pass code between team members. To do well in this role, DevOps engineers need specific skills in technical areas and communication.

What Does DevOps Engineers Actually Do?

DevOps engineers are technical, operational, and communication experts who work with other team members to ensure that a project runs smoothly and has minimal disruption and interruptions. They also find and solve problems.

• Manage software infrastructure: DevOps engineers oversee the setup and maintenance of software infrastructure, ensuring it runs smoothly and efficiently. A DevOps engineer must possess this crucial skill.
• Ensure smooth software delivery: They streamline the process of delivering software and software updates, ensuring that updates are automatically delivered to users without disrupting the software’s performance.
• Automate repetitive tasks: DevOps engineers automate routine tasks, saving time and reducing the potential for errors in software development and deployment processes.
• Monitor system performance: They monitor system performance closely, identifying and addressing any issues to maintain optimal operation. This is one of the top skills for DevOps engineers.
• Integrate code changes: DevOps engineers facilitate the seamless integration of code changes from development to production environments, ensuring consistency and reliability. In layman’s terms, they ensure that codes work properly.
• Collaborate with different teams: They work closely with various teams, including developers, operations, and other stakeholders, to align efforts and achieve common goals.
• Solve technical problems efficiently: DevOps engineers troubleshoot and resolve technical issues promptly and efficiently, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth operation of software systems.

How to Become a DevOps Engineer

Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of software development, IT operations, and the principles of DevOps. You can get free and paid resources online. Even if you cannot afford to pay for resources, check out YouTube videos, free Udemy and Coursera tutorials, and other free resources. Just because it’s free does not mean it has no value.

Learn Relevant Skills

DevOps engineers need a diverse skill set that includes scripting, coding, automation, and system administration. Start by learning popular programming languages like Python, shell scripting, and infrastructure automation tools like Ansible or Terraform.

Gain Hands-on Experience

Practice makes perfect! Get hands-on experience by working on personal projects, contributing to open-source software, or participating in coding challenges. First, it helps you build a portfolio. Second, you get to challenge yourself and see how you are fair amongst your peers.

Explore DevOps Tools

Familiarize yourself with popular DevOps tools and technologies, such as Git for version control, Jenkins for continuous integration, Docker for containerization, and Kubernetes for orchestration. Experiment with these tools to understand how they work together in a DevOps environment.

Stay Updated: The tech industry is fluid, changing, and immensely dynamic. Do not get left behind!

Get Certified

Consider pursuing relevant certifications to validate your skills and enhance your credibility as a DevOps engineer. Certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), or Docker Certified Associate can boost your resume and open up new opportunities.

Network and Collaborate

Networking is key to success in any field. Attend industry events, join DevOps meetups, and connect with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Collaborating with others not only helps you learn from their experiences but also opens doors to potential job opportunities.

Apply for Jobs

Once you feel confident in your skills and experience, start applying for DevOps engineer positions. Remember: do not wait until you become an expert before you start applying for jobs. That’s why freelance platforms have sections for beginner, intermediate, and expert.

Technical Skills of a DevOps Engineer

• Scripting and Coding: DevOps engineers need to be skilled at writing scripts and using automation tools.
• Version Control Systems: They should be comfortable using tools like Git to manage code.
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Pipelines: They need to know how to use CI/CD tools for fast and reliable software delivery.
• Containerization and Orchestration: Knowledge of containerization tools like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes is important.
• Cloud Services: Understanding cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud is essential for modern software development.

Conclusion

Collaboration, automation, and measurement are the pillars of a DevOps engineer. Under these three pillars lie technical skills, communication, coding and software development, and leadership. DevOps is a methodology, but beyond, it’s a journey. You will not become an expert in a year—except you have a genius-level IQ. And even geniuses sometimes fail at communication. But if you are committed and consistent, you will find yourself in a career that can change your life. Now that you know the DevOps engineer skills needed, start your journey!

Sara Duerr

Sara has been in the career development field for over 10 years and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She covers topics such as resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, career planning, and more. You can connect with her on LinkedIn. She has curated our free downloadable resume templates for Word and resume templates for Google Docs.