DevOps (Development Operations) Engineer

Working Schedule

• DevOps Engineer ranks #5 on Glassdoor’s Best Jobs in America 2020 list. Demand is high, so expect full-time work, at least. The supply of highly-qualified engineers in this sector is still not aligned with the demand. Organizations rely on the unique skill sets these workers bring to the table during times of transition. Overtime hours may be needed when projects get behind schedule or unexpected problems arise. 

Typical Duties

• DevOps Engineers ensure users get what organizations want them to get, without disruption or diminished quality, even as changes are being made to platforms
• Infrastructure management is a key responsibility, to include developing and deploying apps
• Applying principles of agile methodology 
• Building the Continuous Integration & Delivery pipeline 
• Connecting tech goals to business needs
• Liaising with different teams 
• Managing effective security and hunting for vulnerabilities
• Using automation tools to deliver code to various environments 
• Planning application and infrastructure; testing and development
• Understanding IT ops and sysadmin functions; strategizing integration and deployment 
• Working with open-source tools and scalable databases 
• Additional Responsibilities
  • “On-call” Incident response and management
  • Ensuring compliance with organizational protocols 
  • Optimizing processes, people, and tooling

Soft Skills

• Ability to facilitate collaboration
• Change management skills
• Flexibility
• Attention to detail
• Customer service 
• Decisiveness
• Highly organized; good time management skills
• Strong security-consciousness 
• Leadership and management skills
• Patience and analytical problem-solving
• Strong communications skills
• Team-oriented and goal-focused

Technical Skills

• Continuous Integration
• Familiarity with infrastructure automation 
• Knowledge of coding languages, such as Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Perl, C/C++, Go, and Java
• Understanding containers (standardized units of software)

• Computer systems design agencies
• Corporations/companies
• Governmental/Military agencies
• Healthcare 
• Higher education institutions
• Media and entertainment
• Self-employed

Companies rely on the soft skills of a seasoned DevOps guru nearly as much as their tech abilities. Developmental Operations Engineers are expected to be outstanding facilitators of seamless change. There’s a huge responsibility for them to ensure that teams can come together to achieve goals that may not always seem to be in common. 
 
When changes need to be rolled out quickly, time is of the essence. But when it comes to writing software, rushing leads to mistakes that cannot be afforded. That’s where the cool-headed, analytical powers of the DevOps Engineer comes into play. Sometimes stuck between a rock and a hard place, it’s up to them to find ways to overcome all hurdles, mediate issues, and get things done right the first time. 

Automation is king. The more automation can be successfully utilized, the less likelihood of human mistakes. DevOps Engineers need the ability to analyze their organization’s practices and find areas to automate or places where existing automation can be improved upon. Another trend is shifting from monoliths to small, scalable microservices that are less complex to manage. Google’s popular Kubernetes container management tool is also helping many DevOps teams and will continue to do so in the coming years.
 
As with any role in the IT world, the endless creep of artificial intelligence/machine learning will continue to impact DevOps and the challenges inherent with juggling massive datasets. AI, used properly, can relieve the burden and get rid of bottlenecks. Other current developments in the world of DevOps include migration to serverless architecture and ever-increasing focus on security. 

DevOps Engineers, like other IT professionals, spend most of their days inside, working at a desk and staring at screens. Most were avid tech fans growing up, content to while away hours at their computer keyboard unraveling the mysteries of software and coding languages. However, Developmental Operations requires strong people skills, which suggests workers weren’t just sitting in their rooms alone all day. 
 
On the contrary, they were more likely collaborating with peers, either in-person or online. The skills needed for this career field require strong social abilities in addition to an objective mindset. Workers who take an interest in DevOps were probably respected at an early age for their fairness, rationality, and talent for arbitrating disputes and bringing about consensus. They may have been good at debating, as well as English, marketing, and art.