DevOps

DevOps engineer jobs are becoming some of the most in-demand tech roles in Australia. DevOps engineers are responsible for overseeing software development and operations, with a focus on building solutions to manage, monitor, and improve system collaboration between development teams and operations teams. So, what exactly is a DevOps engineer job description? DevOps Engineer job descriptions usually involve deploying cloud applications or updating systems to ensure uniformity between networks, servers and automation elements within a given environment. DevOps engineers also work towards ensuring the stability, performance and scalability of an organisation's applications that run on cloud services or data centres. Utilising knowledge from multiple disciplines such as Systems Administration, Automation Tools, DevOps Lifecycle Management, Version Control Systems, Configuration Management solutions and Container technologies, DevOps engineers help bridge gaps across Waterfall (traditional) system upgrades and Agile Cloud deployments by taking ownership of DevOps products at any stage of the development cycle.

Duties and responsibilities - What does a DevOps Engineer do?

DevOps engineers are essential within the software development process, they’re responsible for connecting the development and operations teams to accelerate release cycles and provide a smooth operational infrastructure. DevOps engineers must have an extensive technical background and be well-versed in DevOps methodologies to bridge the gap between development methods and technical operations processes. They also support DevOps initiatives such as continuous integration, continuous delivery, code deployment and system automation, ultimately ensuring that complex systems are operating optimally. As part of their job description, DevOps engineers anticipate potential issues on production systems, identify errors and hurdles early in the process and take ownership of resolving any technical problems that arise during iterations. Generally speaking, DevOps engineers travel along a bright career path with lots of opportunities for professional growth due to their key role at the intersection of two erstwhile disparate teams.

Qualities needed to be a successful DevOps Engineer

Leveraging software development, software developers, and administrators to develop tools and cultivate cross-team collaboration is at the core of what it takes to become a successful DevOps engineer. With software development knowledge and a natural knack for engineering solutions and systems, an effective DevOps engineer should be able to quickly understand the software system’s architecture and existing processes. The ability to debug software issues on their own as well as communicate effectively with software developers and other engineers will further demonstrate the skills needed by a DevOps engineer. Furthermore, developing automation tools that ensure quality assurance while monitoring web traffic health and performance are critical abilities expected of those focused on this type of engineering career. Only then can software developers have the confidence that their applications are running securely and efficiently at scale.

Qualifications and technical skills - how to become a DevOps engineer

Becoming a DevOps engineer entails having a strong understanding of both software development and system operations. The core skillset of a successful DevOps engineer includes knowledge of cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform; an understanding of source control systems such as Git and Subversion; experience configuring operating systems such as Linux and Windows; proficiency in scripting languages like Bash and Python; familiarity with programming languages like Java and JavaScript; expertise in automation tools like Puppet, Ansible, Chef, etc.; application deployment systems like containers and serverless solutions; aptitude for using configuration management tools like Chef and Terraform to provision the environment.

Additionally, proficiency in monitoring solutions such as New Relic or Application Insights is essential. It is also important for a DevOps engineer to have good communication skills, and problem-solving abilities, be able to work with teams, adapt quickly to changing trends, prioritize tasks efficiently, and have an eye for detail with regard to product quality assurance and scalability requirements.

Career development - What are the next steps for a DevOps engineer

As a DevOps engineer, there are several logical steps to progress one’s career. By demonstrating an in-depth understanding of software development lifecycle processes and DevOps tools, an engineer can move up the professional ladder. In addition to having a solid grip on the technical aspects of DevOps engineering, attending workshops, seminars and other educational resources can provide invaluable insight into managing teams, leading projects and fine-tuning best practices. With continuous learning and broadening one's knowledge in software engineering and management, DevOps engineer roles can then extend to a managerial position within their current organisation. Or alternatively, they can look for options elsewhere in the industry.

Salary and remuneration - How much does a DevOps engineer make?

As DevOps engineers become better skilled and more experienced, their incomes tend to rise. With an average starting salary of $88,000 and a mid-career salary of around $122,000 per year, the earning potential for successful DevOps engineers can be pretty lucrative. Different industries may offer varying total salaries based on experience and skill set. While wages vary from industry to industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that DevOps Engineer salaries show a steady increase over time with continued employment in the field. Overall, experienced DevOps engineers have great earning potential, making them increasingly competitive and sought after in the job market.

DevOps Engineering FAQs

What is a DevOps engineer?

A DevOps engineer is a valuable name to know in the tech industry for anyone looking to work with software development. They play an important role in development and operations teams, aimed towards improving collaboration and communication. A DevOps engineer will be expected to have expertise in both development and system administration as they integrate code and automate deployments. Their goal is to keep systems running smoothly to provide excellent quality service for the customer or user. Individuals hoping to become DevOps engineers need to have knowledge of a wide range of topics such as configuration management, infrastructure automation, web server technology, continuous integration/deployment processes, and more. Without a dependable DevOps engineer on board any team, achieving maximum effectiveness might not be what it can be.

What is the demand for DevOps engineers in Australia?

As software development life cycle requirements become increasingly complex and frenetic, the demand for highly-skilled DevOps engineers in Australia is rising. In today's world of software development, it is essential to make sure software updates are quickly released without affecting software reliability or code consistency. DevOps engineers possess both the technical skills as well as organisational methods to ensure timely software delivery while maintaining system stability. This expertise is a valuable asset and is highly sought after by many Australian businesses, making the demand for DevOps engineers in Australia higher than ever before.

Do DevOps engineers require coding skills?

In Australia, the answer to whether DevOps engineers require coding skills or not is a definite 'yes'. While computer science knowledge is certainly not compulsory, the best DevOps engineers have a firm grasp of computer science fundamentals, along with a sound understanding of DevOps practices. This allows them to effectively identify software issues and develop a plan to rectify, them while also automating processes when possible. Developers who have technical skills and computer science experience can also find success within a DevOps environment and be better equipped to work across different technologies and architectures.

Is DevOps engineering a difficult role?

DevOps engineering can be a challenging role to take on, but for those looking for the right fit, it can be a unique opportunity to drive innovation and execution. The DevOps principles of collaboration, communication, and automation enable engineers to rapidly iterate and develop solutions with agility while ensuring quality in production. DevOps culture encourages team-wide participation across all stages of the development process - from planning to deployment - creating an environment that allows teams to move quickly and effectively. With this increased responsibility also comes greater reward as DevOps engineers can observe the tangible effects of their work resulting in improved product value and customer experience.

What does a DevOps engineer do day-to-day?

On a typical day, a DevOps engineer in Australia is responsible for the software code that makes up an application or software. This involves ensuring it is delivering the highest quality product to customers. As part of their role, they must work with other software teams and system administrators to develop software code and ensure its delivery with minimum risk involved. Additionally, they are usually tasked with maintaining and executing continuous integration/deployment (CI/CD) pipelines which allow for frequent software updates without disrupting services. In doing so, DevOps engineers help to create quality software that responds quickly to customer demands; this is essential for optimising the customer experience.

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