Among these professionals, cloud engineers play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and maintaining cloud infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and security.
In this blog, we’ll explore what a cloud engineer is, how you can become a cloud engineer and what you can do to fast track your career.
What is a cloud engineer?
A cloud engineer is a specialised IT professional responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud infrastructure and services. They possess a deep understanding of cloud computing technologies and platforms, allowing them to architect scalable solutions that meet the unique needs of their organisation.
How to become a cloud engineer
To embark on a career as a cloud engineer, certain skills, experiences, and qualifications are essential. The items listed below are specific to cloud engineers, but you can read our blog on general IT skills that will set you apart if you’d like a more general viewpoint.
Skills
At the core of a cloud engineer’s skill set lies proficiency in various programming languages, particularly those commonly used in cloud development such as Python, Java, or Ruby. Additionally, a strong grasp of networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, DNS, and HTTP, is crucial for designing and optimising cloud architectures. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert in a couple of these, you could put time into learning them in your own time or even pick them up on the job.
Experience
Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is invaluable for aspiring cloud engineers. Building and deploying applications on these platforms provide valuable insights into their capabilities and limitations, enhancing one’s ability to design robust cloud solutions.
Qualifications
While formal education is not always a prerequisite for a career in cloud engineering, obtaining relevant certifications can significantly boost your credibility and marketability.
Certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, or Google Cloud Certified – Professional Cloud Architect demonstrate proficiency in specific cloud technologies and can open doors to lucrative job opportunities.
Being able to demonstrate practical experience may help if your list of formal qualifications is somewhat lacking.
How to get ahead as a cloud engineer
Once you’ve established the foundational skills and qualifications, there are several strategies you can employ to advance your career as a cloud engineer.
Develop your coding skills
Coding lies at the heart of cloud engineering, enabling automation, orchestration, and customisation of cloud resources. By continuously honing your coding skills and staying ahead of emerging technologies and frameworks, you can streamline workflows, optimise performance, and drive innovation within your organisation.
Improve your knowledge of agile development
As organisations embrace agile methodologies to accelerate software delivery and adapt to changing requirements, cloud engineers must align their practices with agile principles. By fostering collaboration, embracing iterative development, and prioritising customer feedback, you can deliver value more efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced cloud environment.
Expand your knowledge and understanding of different types of cloud
Cloud computing encompasses a diverse array of services and deployment models, including public, private, and hybrid clouds. By familiarising yourself with the strengths and limitations of each type of cloud, you can tailor solutions to meet the specific needs of your organisation and drive business outcomes more effectively.
Advance your networking experience
In cloud engineering, networking expertise is indispensable for designing secure, high-performance architectures. By deepening your understanding of virtual and IT networks, including concepts such as VLANs, subnets, and routing protocols, you can optimise connectivity, enhance security, and mitigate potential bottlenecks in your cloud infrastructure.
Enhance your understanding of DevOps
DevOps, short for Development and Operations, is a software development methodology that emphasises collaboration, automation, and continuous integration between software development and IT operations teams. DevOps practices emphasise collaboration, automation, and continuous improvement, encouraging a culture of innovation within organisations. By embracing DevOps principles and tools, such as configuration management, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code (IaC), you can accelerate software delivery, improve reliability, and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
By cultivating a diverse skill set, staying abreast of industry trends, and embracing emerging technologies, you can position yourself as a valuable asset in the ever-expanding realm of cloud computing.
If you’re in the market for a cloud engineering job, stay tuned to our careers page which is regularly updated with career opportunities.
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