The role of DevOps Engineer has gained much popularity in the technology industry over the past few years. However, before learning about the role and responsibilities of these professionals, it is important to understand what the DevOps engineer description is. Put simply, DevOps is a series of processes and practices that help bridge the gap between software developers and IT staff.
DevOps is a software development strategy that helps to speed up the different aspects of developing, testing, and releasing software. As a result, it ensures easier, faster, and continuous delivery of software and software updates. A DevOps job description also includes minimizing software failures and reducing the lead time between fixes.
Who are DevOps Engineers?
Not too long ago, the task of developing and testing software was handled by separate teams, resulting in gaps and conflicts. A DevOps engineer role helps integrate these previously separate teams and minimize the misunderstandings, miscommunications, and conflicts in prioritization. As a result, they help eliminate the barriers that hinder organizational productivity and cause customer dissatisfaction.
DevOps Engineers must clearly understand the software development life cycle and possess an in-depth knowledge of various automation tools. A devops tools certification will help to understand better.
DevOps Engineer job description combines the aspects of both technical and IT operations. These professionals can either be developers interested in deployment tasks and network operations or system admins passionate about scripting and coding. They can take up development tasks to improve the planning, testing, and deployment process.
DevOps Engineer Roles and Responsibilities
The DevOps engineer roles and responsibilities combine both management and technical roles. The multi-prong responsibilities of these professionals make it necessary for them to manage operations and handle their technical aspects simultaneously. The key roles of these professionals include the following.
- DevOps Security Expert – As the name suggests, the DevOps security expert is responsible for monitoring the security and health of the software product being developed.
- DevOps Quality Engineers – The DevOps job description of the quality engineer is that of a professional responsible for checking and maintaining the software product to match client needs and expectations.
- DevOps Automation Engineer – A DevOps automation engineer is a professional responsible for orchestration and automation of various software tools for simplifying tasks.
- DevOps Developer / Tester – Professionals having the developer/tester as their DevOps engineer job description are responsible for developing and rigorously testing the software code.
- Release Manager – A DevOps release manager is responsible for the smooth release of new features for upgrading the software and ensuring the post-release stability of these products.
- DevOps Evangelist – DevOps engineer's responsibilities as an evangelist include ensuring a hassle-free overall implementation of the principles and tools of this popular software development strategy.
Learning about the common roles they can opt for as DevOps engineers, aspiring candidates also need to make themselves aware of the responsibilities associated with the job. The most important DevOps engineer responsibilities include the following.
- These professionals need to understand the project KPIs and customer requirements properly.
- They are responsible for effectively implementing the various development, testing, automation tools, and IT infrastructure.
- Planning the team structure and activities and ensuring active involvement of these professionals in project management activities also form a part of the DevOps engineer job description.
- The DevOps engineers are also responsible for dealing with external interfaces, setting up the required tools and infrastructure, and managing stakeholders.
- They also need to define and set the various aspects of development and ensure their proper testing, smooth release, and frequent updates besides supporting the processes.
- The DevOps team's roles and responsibilities include monitoring the software development process through its entire lifecycle and ensuring adherence to changing business needs.
- These professionals are also responsible for regularly updating or creating new processes to enhance performance and minimize wastage.
- One of the key provisions of the DevOps developer job description is to handle the periodic reporting about the project progress to the management and the customer.
Sample DevOps Engineer Job Description Template
With the demand for DevOps constantly on the rise, companies are struggling to recruit the best candidates in the field. Having the right job description template can help companies in this context by attracting the right candidates. Given below is a DevOps job description example template that companies can use.
Job Description
This section introduces the candidates to the role, the hiring company, its corporate culture, and the workplace environment. It is important to offer accurate details interestingly to create a perfect recruiting pitch. The information provided in this section helps the candidates understand what the company has to offer and why they should accept the role.
DevOps Engineer Job Responsibilities
This section offers comprehensive details about the responsibilities that the candidates would be expected to shoulder in their new roles. It should cover both short- and long-term responsibilities, preferably listed out in bullet point form.
Work Hours and Benefits
As the title indicates, this section provides detailed information about the average working hours and work timings along with the benefits being offered. Companies should make the most of this section to attract the candidates by offering all the necessary information that might influence their decision.
DevOps Engineer Qualification and Skills
In this section, the hiring companies need to provide details about the expected qualifications and devops skills that the candidates should possess. It is important to provide this information clearly and accurately to avoid attracting candidates who are not properly qualified or do not possess the required skills.
Education, Experience, and Licencing
The section offers details about the expected educational qualification, experience, and licensing requirements that candidates need to fulfill to be eligible for the job.
Call To Action
This is the section where the companies provide details about the application process for the job and the contact details for interested candidates.
Skills Required to be a DevOps Engineer
Candidates aspiring to take up the DevOps engineer role must have a technical or a STEM field degree. Many organizations also seek applicants with a master's degree in computer science. Devops certification training online courses are designed to help them master the required skills. Other desirable skills that these professionals must possess include the following.
- Great communication and teamwork skills.
- Good working knowledge of different programming languages.
- A knack for effective problem-solving and logical reasoning.
- Ability to pay great attention to detail.
- Exceptional time-management and organizational skills along with good multitasking capability.
- A thorough awareness of DevOps and Agile principles.
DevOps Engineer Salary
DevOps Engineers can earn a decent amount even with minimal experience. The salary of the DevOps engineer professionals in India ranges from ₹ 4.2 Lakhs to ₹ 12.5 Lakhs with the average annual salary being around ₹ 6.0 Lakhs and the highest salary being around ₹ 30.0 Lakhs. The actual salary depends on the role, skills, and experience of the candidates. In general, the more experienced the candidates are the higher their salaries are across different roles.
How to Become a DevOps Engineer
A DevOps Engineer role has emerged as one of the most lucrative and rewarding career options in the IT sector. Hence, it is not surprising that many aspiring candidates are interested in taking it up as a profession. To become a DevOps Engineer, candidates need to have an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related field. They also need to complete an appropriate DevOps certification program. In addition, the aspiring candidates must possess a thorough knowledge of using various automation tools along with a basic working knowledge of programming and coding languages. They should also be well-versed in application building, testing, deployment, and monitoring.
Conclusion
Given the myriad set of DevOps engineer roles and responsibilities, it is not surprising that it has become one of the highest-paying job profiles globally. Many experts consider it more than just an IT function and define it as a philosophy that impacts the employee interactions with top management and entry-level positions.