In the last article, we described what DevOps is. Are you wondering if this is a career path for you or looking for a proper candidate? Our team has prepared material that will show the backstage of this work and essential skills to be a DevOps Engineer.
Requirements for a good DevOps Engineer should be related to the organization and ongoing project specificity. So there is no one right answer, but we can present to you how it works in DAC. What background is needed to build cloud-scale microservices and designing IoT solutions for integration with the cloud in our projects?
What is DevOps?
DevOps (an acronym for Development and Operations) is the work culture of software engineers and at the same time a set of practices aimed at integrating the development process and the process of implementation, maintenance, and service of the product into one process focusing on the continuous delivery of value in the product directly to the customer. The most important part of this approach is the organization’s focus on shortening the time from the idea for new functionality to its installation at the customer’s site with expected quality. Continuous integration is key in the DevOps approach.
The perfect candidate for DevOps Engineer
What skillset should every DevOps Engineer have? In our company, as in many other companies, we appreciate the versatility. We work in a team of many specialists on various competencies. To be the best at this job, DevOps Engineer needs to be aware of the entire process. Therefore programming skills are a great advantage. Using this knowledge in every project isn’t necessary, but it gives a broader perspective and new opportunities. It opens many paths to work on diverse and exciting projects.
An essential quality of DevOps Engineers is continuous learning. The urge for further self-development is crucial to keep all specialists from going out of business. Therefore, continuous improvement of qualifications is vital in this job. The technological landscape evolves dynamically, and a valuable DevOps Engineer always knows the best solution for the most complex problems and the right tools to use. Familiarity with the newest, available stacks for building, monitoring, and automation of applications under development is a must.
Complex projects require communication and collaboration
The common goal is fundamental, so attitude is very important. All teammates are counting on DevOps Engineer’s experience and knowledge and support with what needs to be done at the moment. Flexibility and interdisciplinarity will always pay off. Having needed skills and knowing proper tools makes DevOps Engineer very important team member, leading business to success. DevOps skills include many soft skills, like critical thinking based on data, communication, cooperations with all teams member and more. Undeniably, well-developed soft skills are very important element in DevOps’s work and are the key for efficient communication within the team.
“A good Devops Engineer can save a lot of money on your project. Programmers tend to do something that is already ready. They know their work environment very well, but are not familiar with some ready-made DevOps solutions that may work “out of the box”. The knowledge of DevOps Engineer is therefore very important at the system design stage” – Adrian Nicoś, Solution Architect.
DevOps Engineer is a team role, not a title
In addition to the right approach, technical skills are needed as well. Good DevOps Engineer must know what to do to ensure successful deployment and integration. To consider this career path, Docker, Kubernetes, Python, Shell, and Git are necessary. Knowledge of AWS and Ansible will be a plus in the projects we work on. Understanding the cloud infrastructure and experience with different operating systems (Windows, Linux, and more), as well as knowing some scripting languages can be important in this work. Basic knowledge of Java, SQL, or MongoDB will be helpful in many projects. Of course, problem-solving and proactivity are as crucial as the entire technology stack.
The most desirable DevOps Engineer can have a high-level overview of each project. It gives a chance to oversee possible bottlenecks and prevent future application failures. Someone working as DevOps Engineer needs to have excellent planning skills and a unique ability to think ahead. Well-planned development brings value to the company. Shortening the systems development cycle and providing continuous delivery saves time and money and makes our clients happy. A good DevOps Engineer is key to the success of all teams.
“Excellent DevOps Managers must have nerves of steel combined with a broad understanding of cloud, on premise or hybrid technologies and respective tools at their disposal. Much like a great chef, they should be able to pick just the right ingredients to make things work without making it too pricey. When things run smooth, they remain unnoticed. But in fact they’re one of the most important members of the team” – Krzysztof Radecki, CTO.
Adapt the DevOps engineer role to your company
DevOps Engineer is a role that needs to be adapted to the needs of the company and may differ in each organization. However, the flexibility and the desire to further develop and expand knowledge are the qualities that distinguish the best specialists in this position. DevOps culture will affect the software development industry in the next years. Check the article on how DevOps changed our company.
Are you interested in implementing a successful DevOps strategy in your organization or looking for DevOps Engineer for your project? Feel free to contact us and get to know more about how DevOps can improve your services and team performance.
