OVERVIEW
What Is an AWS DevOps Engineer (Professional Level)?
AWS DevOps engineers are IT professionals that have learned server management on Amazon Web Service (AWS) and have earned their AWS DevOps Engineer–Professional Certification. This certification proves that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to work with AWS infrastructure and automation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does an AWS DevOps Engineer Do?
Before describing the role of an AWS DevOps engineer, it’s important to first define DevOps. DevOps is a methodology that companies use to automate the entire software development life cycle (SDLS). This is done by combining software development and IT operations so that digital technologies can be delivered faster than by the traditional development process.
There are numerous complex pieces that need to come together during an SDLS. The goal of a DevOps engineer is to streamline this process through continuous evaluation, quality assurance, and collaboration. A DevOps engineer helps take a software solution from idea to completion by seeing the big picture and helping everyone involved in the project work together.
DevOps engineers take on a variety of tasks every day, but their main responsibility is to troubleshoot software and hardware so they work together successfully. Their day-to-day duties might include:
- Deploying, automating, managing, and maintaining AWS cloud-based production systems.
- Providing recommendations for architecture and process improvements.
- Monitoring the performance of software applications.
- Improving the security of software for end users.
- Connecting code libraries, databases, software, or other tools together so they function more effectively.
- Troubleshooting across various application domains and platforms.
- Evaluating new technology alternatives.
- Automating functions to improve efficiency.
- Working with other engineers, product managers, department heads, and more to streamline digital services for end users.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become an AWS DevOps Engineer (Professional Level)?
There are several steps you’ll need to take to start working as an AWS DevOps engineer.
Step One: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
The specialized knowledge and skills you need to work as a DevOps engineer are most often obtained by completing a degree program. A bachelor’s degree in software engineering will teach you subjects such as programming languages, coding processes, software development, and IT operations, all of which are required for this role.
Step Two: Consider a Master’s Degree
With its managerial responsibilities, a position in DevOps engineering can, in some cases, require a master’s degree. Getting your Master of Science in Data Analytics or a related advanced degree can help you impress potential employers and show that you’re serious about a career in DevOps.
Step Three: Gain Experience
Before earning the AWS DevOps Engineer–Professional Certification it’s important to gain two or more years of hands-on experience working in AWS environments. This can help you gain the confidence you need to tackle the certification exam and stand out in the job market.
Step Four: Earn your AWS DevOps Engineer–Professional Certification
The AWS DevOps Engineer–Professional Certification is for seasoned AWS pros looking to take their knowledge and skills to the next level. Earning this certification validates your ability to automate the testing and deployment of AWS infrastructure and applications. Like every other AWS certification exam, it’s a multiple-choice exam. You’re given 75 questions to complete within a total of 180 minutes. The minimum passing mark you need to obtain is 750 out of 1000.
Best Degrees for AWS DevOps Engineer (Professional Level)
Technology
Computer Science – B.S.
Problem solvers and math lovers needed! Your task:...
Problem solvers and math lovers needed! Your task:
Lay the groundwork for the computing breakthroughs that will enable tomorrow's technologies. Utilize your previous college courses or IT experience to help you complete your degree faster.
- Time: 60% of graduates in similar programs finish within 24 months.
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program.
You'll have the opportunity to earn these certifications:
- Linux Essentials
- Axelos ITIL Foundation
You can also accelerate your program and complete both a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Computer Science together, requiring less courses overall and saving you time and money. Learn more about this option.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Artifical Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning
- Logic
- Architecture and systems
- Data structures
- Computer theory
- Version Control
- Linux
Technology
Software Engineering – B.S.
You're a creative and tech genius who wants the bigger opportunities....
You're a creative and tech genius who wants the bigger opportunities.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish similar programs within 35 months.
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 or 38 total courses in this program depending on your track.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost are:
- CompTIA Project +
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- ITIL®1 Foundation Certification
You can also accelerate your program and complete both a B.S. in Software Engineering and an M.S. in Software Engineering together, requiring less courses overall and saving you time and money. Learn more about this option.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Web development
- Mobile application development
- User experience design
- Software quality assurance
Technology
Computer Science – M.S.
A degree in computer science can give you critical IT skills for your...
A degree in computer science can give you critical IT skills for your future.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish similar programs within 20 months.
- Tuition: $3,985 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
The M.S. in Computer Science at WGU has three specializations for students to choose from, giving them the opportunity to focus on an area that is meaningful for their career and life. The specializations are Computing Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, and Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. You can also accelerate your program and complete both a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Computer Science together, requiring less courses overall and saving you time and money.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in the computer science programs include:
- Programming and Logic
- Architecture and Systems
- Data Structures
- AI
- Project Management
Technology
Data Analytics – M.S.
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:...
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,520 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
This program consists of three specialization areas which allow you to gain specific experience and skills that will benefit your future career. You can choose from data science, data engineering, and decision process engineering specializations to enhance your degree.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data Modeling
- Big Data
- Business Intelligence
- Data Quality
- SQL
- Python
Technology
Software Engineering – M.S.
Earn a master's degree in software engineering and boost your career...
Earn a master's degree in software engineering and boost your career options.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish similar programs within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
This program features three specializations that help you focus your studies and boost your résumé with specific skills and experience. The specialization areas are AI Engineering, DevOps Engineering, and Domain Driven Design.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program include:
- Software design
- Architecture
- Project management
- Testing
- System integration
How Much Does an AWS DevOps Engineer Make?
$138,115
The average AWS DevOps engineer salary in the United States is $138,115, with top earners making $170,000 per year, according to Talent.com.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
22%
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t collect information on DevOps engineers, the job outlook is promising based on data of similar roles. For instance, the BLS estimates a 22% job growth for software developers from 2020 to 2030. This growth is much faster than average when compared to all occupations. If you’re considering a DevOps engineer career path, there’s no better time to take the leap.
SKILLS
What Skills Does an AWS DevOps Engineer Need?
To excel in this role, you’ll need a unique set of skills and experience. Some of those include:
- Ability to use infrastructure as code.
- Expertise with scripting languages such as Linux/Unix, Python, Ruby, etc.
- Hands-on experience in deployment tools such as Chef, Puppet, Terraform, etc.
- Knowledge in the complete software development life cycle.
- Experience building and maintaining AWS infrastructure.
- Knowledge of IP networking, VPN's, DNS, load balancing and firewall.
- Strong presentation, verbal communication, and written communications skills.
- Ability to lead effectively.
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
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