The continuous shift to the online world has influenced every industry, with IT not left far behind. Companies both big & small are ditching the onsite data centers & server rooms and migrating to the cloud, leading to a humongous demand for cloud computing professionals.
But what is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the delivery of IT services over the cloud (internet) such as storage, database, software, networking, and a lot more by cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. There are different types of cloud that one can avail of depending upon their requirement – private cloud, hybrid cloud, and public cloud.
Just like different types of clouds, there are different kinds of cloud services as well, namely – Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Server less computing. Now that we have an overview of what cloud computing and its services are, let’s understand who the cloud computing professionals are.
Who is a Cloud Engineer?
To put it simply, a cloud engineer is an IT professional who builds & maintains the cloud infrastructure, however, they do have more specific functions such as Cloud Development, Cloud Architecture, and Cloud Administration. Basically, a professional who takes care of all the technical aspects related to cloud computing.
As discussed above each role has a different set of responsibilities around cloud computing, let’s discuss what they do in detail.
What Does a Cloud Engineer Do?
Saying that someone is a cloud engineer can leave some scope for ambiguity around the specific responsibilities of that professional since cloud engineer is an umbrella term. To really understand what a cloud engineer does we need to be specific with the job role.
1. Solutions Architect
As the name suggests, a Solutions Architect lays out the technical vision of a solution to a specific business problem. They analyze the existing environment and resources to come up with the best technical solution and decide which resources need to be utilized or which software products should be developed.
2. Cloud Developer
Cloud developers are responsible for building computer applications & software and to maintain & implement cloud infrastructure. It is essential for them to understand the application lifecycle while utilizing APIs
3. SysOps Engineer
System operations engineers enhance the application performance by identifying the bottlenecks and are responsible for multi-user systems. They also ensure the maintenance of data integrity.
How to Become a Cloud Engineer?
Now that you know who is a cloud engineer and what are the primary roles & responsibilities of one, let’s move on to how to become a cloud engineer.
With more and more organizations showing interest in cloud computing has led to an increase in Cloud Engineering professionals, if you follow the right steps you can become one too!
Here are a few steps you can take on your journey to becoming a Cloud Engineer:
Education
Since cloud engineers are majorly IT professionals, a degree in Information Technology or Computer Science can be your first stepping stone towards becoming a successful Cloud Engineer. A bachelors in any related field that will help you gain skills in software & system infrastructure or technical aspects of the software will do the job.
Getting a bachelor’s will also prepare you for an advanced degree if you choose to pursue this career since an advanced degree on your resume will always shine bright like a diamond. Many employers prefer a bachelor’s, while some even ask for an advanced degree but that is changing, a certification program/coding bootcamp can also equip you with the required skills for landing the job.
Coding/Programming Languages
Stellar coding skills are required for a successful career in cloud computing, if you are not proficient in the programming languages then you can land into trouble. Programming languages are usually a part of the curriculum taught at the bachelor’s level. If you don’t have a degree then you can opt for a coding bootcamp or there are a plethora of resources available online for you to use.
Knowing multiple programming languages will always act in your favor as it will showcase you as a more versatile candidate. A few programming languages that a cloud engineer should know are:
- Python
- PHP
- C++
- Java
- Ruby
Certification
With the number of people shifting their careers and showing interest in joining the cloud computing domain do so by taking up relevant certifications. Even existing cloud engineer professionals take up certifications to brush up their skills or amp up their resumes.
Google can be the saving grace for people without required educational qualification, as it provides a test and upon completion, you will become a Google Certified Associate Cloud Engineer. There are other certifications you can take up that are offered by some common vendors, such as:
- Microsoft Certifications
- Google Cloud Platform Certification
- AWS Certifications
Relevant Experience
Relevant experience is often a prerequisite for cloud engineering jobs, however, for new people in the field it is difficult to gain experience, in those cases, aspiring cloud engineers can join internships since applying the knowledge is a must in technical fields.
You can even build your portfolio by undertaking open source projects, look for internships or projects that will allow you to work with cloud-as-a-service, that will significantly improve your
The overall impact of your technical expertise.
Resume
Whenever we talk about a career and getting a certain job, our focus mainly lies in acquiring the right experience and skills, creating a job-winning resume is often overlooked. While applying for a Cloud Engineer job make sure that you create a separate ‘Technical Skills’ section and a ‘Key Projects’ section, this will give you the necessary space and opportunity to display your experience and expertise.
Different Cloud Engineering Profiles
A cloud Computing Engineer has numerous career options to explore, a few of them are listed below:
- Solution Architect
- Cloud Developer
- Data Engineer
- Cloud Architect
- Security Engineer
- SysOps Administrator
- Cloud Network Engineer
Skills Required for Becoming a Cloud Engineer
A cloud computing professional has a diverse range of responsibilities & duties to fulfill, and for that they need a good skill set as well. We have listed a few of them below for your reference:
1. Storage :- A cloud engineer should have proficiency in handling the storage and a thorough understanding of what kind of cloud the organization uses (personal cloud, public cloud, or hybrid cloud)
2. Database Management :- Cloud database management is an essential skill for a cloud engineer, a few examples of cloud databases are MySQL and Hadoop.
3. Operating Systems :- It goes without saying that knowledge of the administration and operation of operating systems. The commonly used operating systems are Linux and Windows.
4. Programming :- For cloud computing professionals it is essential to have command over programming languages such as Python, C++, GoLang, etc.
5. Virtualization & Containerization :- Configuration & management of Virtual Machines (VMs) that run on hardware is a common responsibility of a cloud engineer. Knowledge of containerization tools such as Kubernetes & Docker is also necessary.
While technical skills are a must for professionals in the Information Technology sector, soft skills are also quite important. A few of them are:
- Coordination & Communication
- Ability to learn and adapt to change
- Attention to detail
Salary of a Cloud Engineer
Cloud Engineering offers a highly lucrative salary that ranges from $104K to as high as $250K+. Such high numbers make it a sought-after job.
We are listing down the average salary of a cloud engineer based on location:
- United States – $171K+
- Australia – $120K – $140K
- Canada – $99K+
- United Kingdom – $71K
Cloud Engineer Salary based on Job Role
- Solution Architect Salary – $141K
- DevOps Engineer – $126K
- Cloud Developer – $120K
- Cloud Network Engineer – $90K
- Cloud Administrator – $75K
Our Upcoming Training
Want to become a cloud engineer but do not know where to start from? Do not fret, we have got you covered. Check our training:
| Name | Trainer | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| MariaDB Training | Ajit Kumar | View Schedule |
| Certified Agile Coaching | Jerry Rajamoney | View Schedule |
| Cloud Security Knowledge | Sarbojit Bose | View Schedule |
Cloud Engineer Job Outlook
Most organizations are moving to cloud infrastructure due to various reasons, it is highly cost-effective and utilizes resources in an optimum way while maintaining data integrity & security. As per a report by NetEnrich 68% of It departments were using public cloud infrastructure in 2019, and now that percentage has increased substantially.
A large number of enterprises are investing in a private cloud, Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), it is estimated that by 2024 the enterprises would have invested 80 cents of every IT hosting dollar on the cloud.
Such mass migration to the cloud generates a plethora of job opportunities and will continue to do so in the near future, making it one of the most in-demand jobs of the decade.
We strive to provide business professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to increase work performance and drive greater return on investment for the global customers we support. Agilitics delivers customized technology and management training solutions to large corporations and government agencies around the world.