A DevOps Engineer is an IT professional who combines development and project management skills. Highly sought after by companies, this role helps organizations quickly adapt to technological changes. By using tools, processes, and methods, a DevOps engineer creates applications and software while encouraging collaboration and meeting business needs. This article will tell you more about this profession.
1. Origin and Evolution
The term “DevOps” comes from the combination of “Developer” (Dev) and “System Operator” (Ops), referring to a hybrid role. The mission of a DevOps engineer is to oversee both development and system operations teams while maintaining the infrastructure.
The concept of DevOps originated in the United States and began to spread in Europe during the 2000s, mainly thanks to Patrick Debois, a Belgian IT consultant who launched DevOps Days in 2009. This is a community conference dedicated to DevOps, created to reduce tensions between Dev and Ops teams.
Since then, many DevOps events have taken place around the world. The DevOps community is focused on studying and sharing practices and technologies that help develop and deploy high-quality software and products quickly.
2. Role and Responsibilities
The DevOps engineer plays a key role by acting as a bridge between development and operations teams. They automate processes and ensure a stable infrastructure.
Their main responsibilities are:
- Automating deployment and infrastructure
- Improving collaboration between Dev and Ops
- Ensuring system availability and performance
- Securing applications and infrastructure
In a project, the DevOps engineer is present at every stage, from development to deployment. They run control tests to validate features. Once the product is launched, they handle maintenance, fix bugs, and ensure everything functions properly, while also considering user feedback for continuous improvement.
3. Skills of a DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer combines technical and interpersonal skills to ensure applications and systems run smoothly. Required skills vary depending on the organization, team structure, tools, and technologies used.
Essential skills include:
- Technical skills: Mastery of process automation with tools such as Docker and Kubernetes. Knowledge of IT systems and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) concepts.
- Programming skills: Ability to code in languages such as Python, JavaScript, and PHP to automate tasks and manage applications.
- Collaboration and communication: Work with different teams, solve problems quickly, and communicate effectively to ensure project success.
- Tech watch: Stay up to date with new technologies and continuously learn new tools or programming languages as needed.
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4. Education and Training to Become a DevOps Engineer
Although there isn’t a specific academic path dedicated solely to this profession, it is recommended to study computer development and gain professional experience. A degree, preferably at the Master’s level (Bac+5), along with work experience, is ideal.
Recommended degrees and training:
- Bac+2 to Bac+3: BTS SIO, DUT in Computer Science, or a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science to get started.
- Bac+5: Engineering school or Master’s degree in Computer Science to deepen knowledge.
- Specialized certifications: Training in tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS is highly recommended.
Experience:
Having experience in software development or system administration is essential to gain hands-on skills. Online courses and personal projects are great ways to specialize and improve your abilities.
5. Salary and Career Prospects
At the beginning of their career, a DevOps engineer earns about €55,000 gross per year. After three years of experience, they can earn between €60,000 and €80,000. After eight years, salaries can increase significantly.
Factors influencing salary:
- Large tech companies (e.g., Google, Amazon) and tech start-ups often offer higher compensation.
- Some sectors, like Finance, are particularly attractive for DevOps roles.
- Location also plays a role: cities like Paris, Silicon Valley, or other tech hubs offer higher salaries due to the cost of living.
6. Why Become a DevOps Engineer?
The DevOps engineer role has become essential in modern IT. DevOps engineers are now among the most in-demand and best-paid professionals. Demand is high because there are still few professionals trained in this field.
Who can become a DevOps engineer?
- Developers with a few years of experience
- System administrators looking to move toward automation
- Individuals passionate about infrastructure management, automation, and security
Are you interested in a career change? Bessand can help guide you toward a position that matches your aspirations.
The DevOps profession allows companies to be more competitive, and the role continues to evolve with technological advancements. It offers many career opportunities in the industry, a strong salary, and excellent growth prospects for IT professionals.
This career is especially appealing to those passionate about technology, teamwork, and solving complex problems.
