How to Become a DevOps Engineer – Best Career Roadmap

  • Written By The IoT Academy 

  • Published on June 21st, 2024

DevOps engineers are crucial for improving how software is developed and managed. They automate processes to deploy applications more efficiently and integrate strong security measures. So, this guide helps beginners learn how to become a DevOps engineer as well as essential skills like using cloud platforms and containers, along with improving communication and problem-solving skills. As businesses increasingly seek faster and more scalable software solutions. DevOps engineers lead innovation by adapting to new technologies and constantly learning.

Introduction to DevOps

DevOps is about teamwork between developers and IT operations to make software delivery faster and more efficient. It uses automation and tools to speed up how applications are built and deployed. To become a DevOps engineer, you need expertise in continuous integration and infrastructure as code to break down barriers between teams and ensure the software is reliable and secure when it reaches users.

DevOps Engineer Roles and Responsibilities

Before you become a DevOps engineer, you should be aware of the key job responsibilities for this role. As a DevOps Engineer, your roles and responsibilities typically revolve around bridging the gap between development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams. Here is an outline of key responsibilities:

  • Infrastructure Automation: Use tools like Ansible, Chef, Puppet, or Terraform to automate setting up and managing infrastructure for building, deploying, and operating applications.
  • Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD): Create automated pipelines (using Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, and GitHub Actions) to build, test, and deploy applications smoothly across different environments.
  • Monitoring and Logging: Set up systems (like Prometheus, ELK stack – Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana, Grafana, Datadog) to monitor and track the performance of applications and infrastructure.
  • Version Control: Manage and oversee systems like Git, SVN, or Mercurial to track code changes, ensuring smooth integration with CI/CD pipelines.
  • Containerization and Orchestration: Use Docker to package applications into containers and manage them efficiently using tools such as Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, or Apache Mesos.
  • Security and Compliance: Integrate security measures throughout the CI/CD process and infrastructure, ensuring adherence to standards like GDPR or HIPAA through regular security checks and audits.

Roadmap to Become a DevOps Engineer

Becoming a DevOps Engineer means learning a mix of technical skills, and gaining practical experience. As well as understanding different tools and practices. So, here is a DevOps career path that can guide you through the necessary steps:

1. Understand the Core Concepts

Before diving into specific tools and technologies, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamental principles of DevOps. Familiarize yourself with concepts like CI/CD, version control, microservices architecture, and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

2. Learn Essential Tools and Technologies

  • Version Control Systems: Git (GitHub, GitLab)
  • CI/CD: Jenkins, CircleCI, Travis CI
  • Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
  • Configuration Management: Ansible, Chef, Puppet
  • Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud

3. Gain Hands-On Experience

Set up your own CI/CD pipeline, practice writing infrastructure as code scripts, and deploy applications on cloud platforms. Hands-on experience is crucial for understanding how different tools and technologies work together in a real-world environment.

4. Acquire Soft Skills

Effective communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills are essential for DevOps engineers, as they often work across teams and disciplines.

5. Continuous Learning

The DevOps landscape is constantly evolving, with new tools and practices emerging regularly. Stay updated with industry trends, attend conferences, and participate in online communities to keep your skills sharp.

Skills Required to Become a DevOps Engineer

To become a DevOps engineer, you need a mix of technical and soft skills to connect development and operations teams effectively. As well as here are the key skills you should focus on developing:

  • Programming Skills: Proficiency in scripting languages like Python, Ruby, or Shell scripting is beneficial.
  • System Administration: Understanding of Linux/Unix systems and network fundamentals.
  • Automation Tools: Experience with tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet for configuration management.
  • Cloud Skills: Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and services like EC2, S3, VPC, etc.
  • Containerization: Familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes for container orchestration.
  • Monitoring and Logging Tools: Experience with monitoring tools like Nagios, Prometheus, and ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana).

Future of DevOps Engineers

The DevOps engineer future looks bright because companies are focusing more on making their software development faster. As well as more scalable with automation. As cloud computing, microservices, and containerization grow, DevOps engineers will play a vital role in managing complex systems and integrating new technologies smoothly. They will also be crucial in ensuring strong security measures are in place throughout the software development process. By staying flexible and encouraging teamwork and creativity. DevOps engineers can help organizations keep up with technological changes. Also, can meet the needs of a dynamic market.

DevOps Engineer vs Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps Engineer and Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) are roles within the tech industry that often overlap but have distinct focuses and responsibilities. So, here is a simple comparison table between a DevOps Engineer and a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE):

Aspect DevOps Engineer Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

Aspect

DevOps Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

Main Focus

Streamlining development and operations processes

Ensuring system reliability and performance

Key Responsibilities

Automation, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code

Monitoring, incident response, and performance tuning

Primary Tools

Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible

Prometheus, Grafana, SRE tools, Google Borg/Omega

Typical Background

Software development or IT operations

Software engineering with a focus on large-scale systems

Collaboration

Works closely with development and operations teams

Collaborates with software developers to improve systems

Goal

Faster and more efficient software delivery

High availability and reliability of services

Automation

Focuses on automating the entire software lifecycle

Automates system reliability and operational tasks

Incident Management

Assists in resolving deployment issues

Handles system outages and performance issues

Performance

Improves deployment speed and efficiency

Enhances system performance and scalability

Culture

Emphasizes collaboration and continuous improvement

Adopts a proactive approach to system reliability and error reduction

DevOps Engineer Salary

DevOps engineers earn competitive salaries both in India and around the world. In India, the average salary DevOps engineer ranges from INR 6-20 lakhs per year, depending on experience and location. Globally, they can earn between $70,000 to $150,000 annually in places like the US and Western Europe.

Salaries are influenced by skills in tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS. As well as experience with CI/CD pipelines and automating infrastructure. As more companies adopt DevOps to improve efficiency. So, demand for skilled engineers is growing, which is likely to lead to higher salaries in the future.

Also Read: Top DevOps Practices and Principles – Why It is Important

Conclusion

In conclusion, to become a DevOps engineer, you need technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and good interpersonal skills. By continually improving your skills and staying updated on industry trends, you can build a rewarding career as a DevOps engineer. Embrace teamwork and automation, and be ready to adapt to changes in software development and operations. DevOps offers not only well-paying jobs but also the chance to innovate how organizations deliver software solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is eligible to become a DevOps engineer?

Ans. Any individual with a background in IT, software development, or system administration can transition into a DevOps role with the right skills and training. While a degree in computer science or related fields can be advantageous, practical experience and proficiency with relevant tools are often more critical.

Q. Can a non-IT person learn DevOps?

Ans. Yes, individuals from non-IT backgrounds can learn DevOps by acquiring the necessary technical skills through training programs, certifications, and hands-on experience. A solid understanding of basic IT concepts and a willingness to learn new technologies are essential prerequisites for success in this field.

About The Author:

The IoT Academy as a reputed ed-tech training institute is imparting online / Offline training in emerging technologies such as Data Science, Machine Learning, IoT, Deep Learning, and more. We believe in making revolutionary attempt in changing the course of making online education accessible and dynamic.

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