How to Become a DevOps Engineer: Your Guide to Essential Skills

Large companies are betting big on AI, big data and cloud technologies to work smoothly within existing systems, but that’s easier said than done. Enter DevOps engineers: the technical problem-solvers who build the bridges between cutting-edge technology and practical business use.

These specialists create the processes that let development teams build, test and release software quickly using advanced technologies. They're part developer and part IT expert—with a knack for making complex systems work together seamlessly. It's no wonder they've become essential players on modern tech teams.

Want to join this booming field? We'll walk you through how to become a DevOps engineer, break down the essential skills and job requirements, and explore how newcomers and career-switchers alike can pursue DevOps engineer career paths.

Jumpstart Your Career as a DevOps Engineer

What is DevOps and who are DevOps engineers?
Skills needed for a DevOps career
DevOps education and certification requirements
4 tips on how to start a career in DevOps

What is DevOps and who are DevOps engineers?

DevOps breaks down the traditional walls between a company's programmers (who build software) and IT operations teams (who run that software on servers and networks). Instead of working separately and sometimes at cross purposes, these teams collaborate closely throughout the entire process.

DevOps engineers are the specialists who make this collaboration work smoothly. They create systems and processes that help software move quickly from idea to reality to improvement. Their work touches every stage of software development—from the first planning meetings to launching the product, watching how it performs and making updates based on what users say they need.

For instance, consider what happens when your favorite social media app updates overnight. A DevOps engineer works behind the scenes, coordinating with developers who've fixed bugs and added features, testing across different devices and managing the rollout to millions of users. They program automated checks that monitor error rates and app performance during the update. If problems occur, they can immediately pause or reverse the update to minimize disruption. While you simply notice new features when you wake up the next morning, the DevOps engineer has already managed dozens of technical steps and multiple teams to ensure your app works better than before—without any interruption to your daily use.

Skills needed for a DevOps career

A DevOps engineer is a highly collaborative role that requires a broad technical background balanced with strong interpersonal skills. While responsibilities and requirements vary, most DevOps job requirements include:

Building and maintaining IT and cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible, Puppet)

Managing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines for automated testing and deployment

Setting up monitoring and alerting systems to track system performance and identify issues

Establishing security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring compliance with industry standards

Working closely with development, operations and IT teams to enhance software delivery

Analyzing logs, system metrics and user feedback to diagnose and resolve production issues

Using scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) to automate repetitive tasks and develop testing solutions

DevOps engineers need advanced project management and communication abilities. They work across teams—development, operations, product, and security—translating complex technical concepts for both tech experts and business colleagues. Since they're often troubleshooting production issues, sharp problem-solving skills and quick critical thinking are must-haves for anyone wanting to succeed in this role.

DevOps education and certification requirements

Though most DevOps roles don't mandate an educational degree, pursuing a bachelor’s in computer science or software engineering is highly recommended. These programs typically teach many skills needed for a DevOps career while providing valuable hands-on experience by graduation.

Professional certifications can also strengthen your job application and position you for higher salaries. Some key certifications to explore include Docker Certified Associate (DCA), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), AWS Certified DevOps Engineer and Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert.

4 tips on how to start a career in DevOps

While formal education helps, many DevOps hiring managers prioritize practical experience and hands-on learning. Beyond developing a background in computer science or software engineering, consider these approaches to showcase your skills and build your network:

1. Participate in hackathons: Hackathons are events where programmers work together to solve problems or large projects. Popular events like Microsoft’s Azure Training DevOps Hackathon allow you to practice DevOps techniques and team development in real-world scenarios.

2. Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub: GitHub is a platform almost all DevOps professionals use. Your GitHub profile is like a secondary resume—hiring managers will look at your profile to verify your experience. Contributing to an open-source project or creating something new based on a shared source code allows you to build a virtual portfolio of work. Becoming an active community member is also a great way to pursue intermediate or senior-level DevOps jobs.

3. Network with other DevOps professionals: Attend conferences, join online communities and connect with DevOps engineers on LinkedIn. People typically enjoy discussing their work, and strong relationships might lead to referrals for future openings.

4. Create a personal lab environment: Build your own practice space using free cloud services or virtualization software on your computer. Try out DevOps tools and workflows, then share what you've learned through blog posts or videos. This hands-on approach shows employers you can apply DevOps concepts in real situations, not just talk about them theoretically.

Ready to start your DevOps engineer career?

If you like working with technology, solving interesting problems and collaborating with several different teams, a career as a DevOps engineer might be ideal for you. Browse recent DevOps job posts on Robert Half’s boards, or contact one of our recruiters to help with your job search.

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