what is a DevOps engineer?
A DevOps engineer designs new products or improves existing ones to increase revenue for a company. That means you should know the phases of the product development cycle to design, develop and create new product ideas for businesses.
As a DevOps engineer, you work in any industry that produces consumer products, from pharmaceutical industries that create medical equipment to manufacturers of mechanical toys. To succeed in your role, it is crucial to understand mechanical engineering principles, especially in designing or developing equipment and gadgets. Some DevOps engineers also spend their careers developing systems or components that facilitate the use of products.
As a DevOps engineer, you conduct market research to identify gaps, targeting users and similar products before you design a product. From the research, you develop new concepts that meet the needs of consumers. You also decide on the features to incorporate for your product to stand out. After creating the prototype and design, you collaborate with engineers and other specialists in the field to ensure the digital products meet the quality standards. You also engage marketing teams to build a marketable product with a promising return on investment (ROI).
Would working as a DevOps engineer suit your problem-solving skills and familiarity with coding and scripting? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a DevOps engineer role.
DevOps engineer jobsaverage DevOps engineer salary
According to Job Bank, DevOps engineers take home a median salary of $152,269 per year. When you have entry-level experience, you start with a salary of $146,250 annually, while experienced DevOps engineers earn over $155,678 yearly.
Your earnings fluctuate based on your region or province. In Nova Scotia, your average salary is 154,482 per year, while in Manitoba, you earn $151,719 annually. When you work in regions with a high demand for DevOps engineers, you will likely earn more due to the shortage of qualified professionals. Working in urban areas with tech hubs also improves your salary prospects.
Aside from location, your employer also influences your earnings. Working for a small start-up limits your salary since they have fewer resources. You are likely to earn more if you land a role in a large company.
types of DevOps engineers
As a DevOps engineer, you use your expertise to create products, from conceptualization to the final production stage. You can specialize in the following areas:
- product design engineer: your job is to plan and build a functional product for your employer from the idea provided. You research various ways to implement the concept and prepare the technical drawings and prototypes. You can also improve on existing products.
- project DevOps engineer: you supervise the entire product life cycle process, from idea conceptualization to releasing the product to the market.
- test DevOps engineer: you are in charge of running quality assurance tests and ensuring a product meets the industry standards. You also analyze the efficiency and functionality of the product.
- technical DevOps engineer: as a DevOps engineer, you are in charge of the technical aspects, creating the blueprints or drawings and checking artist renderings for practicability.
working as a DevOps engineer
If you enjoy collaborating with other professionals on development projects, you will have fun working as a DevOps engineer. Check out the duties and responsibilities associated with the role.
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what does a DevOps engineer do?
As a DevOps engineer, your daily tasks and responsibilities include:
- researching the viability of new product ideas: your job is to conceive new product ideas for the company. When you have an idea, you perform market research to determine its viability based on the target audience and the product features that could improve its functionality.
- designing products: you are in charge of converting the research findings into design plans and creating prototypes using computer-assisted engineering (CAE) or computer-aided design (CAD) software. Working alongside industrial designers, you also consult various stakeholders and analyze prototype testing data to generate the final designs used in production.
- determining the manufacturing specifications: when upper management approves your product design, you work on the manufacturing specifics. For instance, you determine the materials, manufacturing procedures and techniques required to produce a quality product.
- testing: as a DevOps engineer, you test your idea at every stage, from its prototype to the product's market release. Beta testing helps gauge the market reception, while quality assurance testing ensures the product meets industry standards.
- designing upgrades and improvement: as a product's market grows, you find ways to improve its functionality and efficiency to ensure it serves a broad customer base. Hence, you can follow the first product with a series that suits various market niches or improve the existing products with additional features.
- writing reports: documenting every stage of the product development process is crucial. You present reports to upper management, assisting them in decision-making and measuring the product's viability.
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work environment of a DevOps engineer
As a DevOps engineer, you work in various industries, from manufacturing to consumer goods production firms. The work environment often varies depending on the industry and your roles. During the design stage, you work in an office environment to analyze field data and draw blueprints using CAD software. You also meet with various stakeholders to discuss the project requirements. During the manufacturing phase, you supervise the production stages at the factory or production plant. In some industries, you work in a laboratory environment to test the products before they are produced for consumers.
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who are your colleagues?
As a DevOps engineer, you discuss project requirements with web developers, software developers and systems engineers. You also seek feedback on a project from developers and other information technology (IT) professionals. When you manage a large project, you work with Scrum Masters and project managers to complete your tasks on time.
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DevOps engineer work schedule
Working as a DevOps engineer is a full-time job of 40 hours a week. Since the development stages have deadlines, you may work overtime on weekdays and weekends to deal with issues that are behind schedule. Part-time opportunities are rare since DevOps is a demanding job. However, you can work on a contract or freelance basis. The job also involves travelling since you pitch product designs to investors or attend conferences.
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career opportunities as a DevOps engineer
As a DevOps engineer, your job prospects increase as you gain experience and attain additional qualifications. For instance, achieving chartered status in engineering opens the door to management opportunities and senior roles. DevOps engineers often progress into supervisory roles like project managers or product managers. You can also join a consultancy or become a lecturer after gaining expert knowledge. Some DevOps engineers specialize in specific roles, such as testing or product design.
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advantages of finding a job as a DevOps engineer through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
DevOps engineer skills and education
To work as a DevOps engineer, you require the following educational qualifications:
- bachelor’s degree: to become a DevOps engineer, you require a bachelor’s degree in computer systems engineering, software engineering or computer science. You can also pursue a college program in computer science to get an entry-level position as a DevOps engineer. Some employers ask for a master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field, especially if you are taking up a senior position.
- professional certification and licensing: you require a territorial or provincial association of professional engineers to work as a DevOps engineer. Like other engineers, you are eligible for registration to an association after you complete the supervised work experience and the professional practice examination. For instance, in Alberta, register with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, while in Manitoba, register with Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.
competencies and characteristics of DevOps engineers
The skills you need as a DevOps engineer include the following:
- communication: you need good communication skills when you are a DevOps engineer. It helps you communicate clearly with clients, team members and company stakeholders when explaining the product design or development process.
- research skills: market research is important in determining the consumer needs and features to include in a product. Research skills help you understand the target market and competition before designing a product.
- attention to detail: as a DevOps engineer, you draw blueprints and prepare technical drawings for various products. If you aren't detail-oriented, you are likely to miss important aspects of the design specifications.
- computer skills: computer skills are handy since you use various applications to create your designs. Experience in using CAD software also helps you draw exceptional designs.
- interpersonal skills: as a DevOps engineer, you work alongside various professionals. You need interpersonal skills to collaborate with them and avoid conflicts.
- flexibility: as a DevOps engineer, it is important to be flexible so that you can handle tasks at any hour. Software issues arise any time of day or night, so you have irregular hours. Sometimes, you stay on call to resolve issues.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a DevOps engineer.
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are DevOps engineers in demand in Canada?
Tech specialists, including DevOps engineers, are in high demand in Canada, especially in innovation and technology hubs. DevOps engineers are a great addition to the tech scene because of their diverse skills. Your expertise in coding, cloud environments, system administration and configuration management is useful in tech fields.
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what exactly does a DevOps engineer do?
As a DevOps engineer, you coordinate a team of experts tasked with maintaining and creating a company's software. Your job is to speed up the software development life cycle and improve collaboration, automation and speed. You collaborate with other developers to ensure the development of a project meets the set requirements.
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how much do DevOps engineers make in Canada?
Your salary as a DevOps engineer depends on various factors, from location to experience and qualifications. In an entry-level role, you earn $146,250 per year due to minimal experience. With mid-level experience, you earn $152,269 per year, while senior-level DevOps engineers earn over $155,678 annually.
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do DevOps engineers require coding skills?
Yes. As a DevOps engineer, you lead a team of developers throughout the software development cycle. You require coding skills to write programs that automate infrastructure management and software maintenance processes.
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is DevOps engineering a good career?
DevOps engineers require unique skills to perform their duties, making them rare in the job market. With the shortage of qualified candidates and high demand for DevOps engineers, employers pay lucrative salaries for professionals with relevant skills.
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how do I find a job as a DevOps engineer?
Finding a job near you as a DevOps engineer is easy. Search our job offers. Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
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