DevOps engineer
DevOps engineers, or development operations engineers, help make software processes more efficient.
About the job
What it's like
Imagine being a problem solver who brings people together to work towards a shared goal. If you'd like a digital career where you'd be doing just that, you could be a DevOps engineer. You might enjoy this job if you're tech-savvy and enthusiastic about technology.
DevOps is short for development operations. A development team works to create new products and services. They might build these using software. An IT operations team would then make sure the software runs smoothly. A DevOps engineer has knowledge of both worlds and helps bring the work each team does together to improve the process.
It’s also important to be aware of potential cyber security risks and take steps to guard against them. You'll need to have an understanding of secure coding practices, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing.
DevOps engineers who want to specialise in cyber security should also have a strong understanding of cryptography, network security, and incident response.
You'll work with developers to put in place coding changes, and with operations staff to make sure systems run well.
Your tasks might include:
developing software tools
communicating with different teams and offering guidance
understanding the needs of users
managing stakeholders
automating and improving processes
testing and analysing code written by others
making sure systems are safe from cybersecurity threats
considering cyber security precautions such as implementing secure coding practices, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
troubleshooting, fixing bugs and developing software updates
monitoring performance and user experience
planning out projects and contributing to project management decisions
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- written communication
- working with technology
- researching
- problem solving
- mentoring
- developing a plan
- creative
- attention to detail
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Physics
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Engineering Science
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Computing Science
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Many employers will ask for a degree in a relevant subject to apply for this job. You can go to university to get this or get helpful qualifications at college or through an apprenticeship.
Other employers will accept applications from people who have several years’ experience. You'd need to be able to show that you've gathered the skills needed.
The headings shown explain more about each of the different routes you could take.
Apprenticeship
Start your journey towards becoming a DevOps engineer by doing an apprenticeship.
You can start learning the skills you'll need in this career through a Foundation Apprenticeship. While you're in S5 or S6, you'll gain work experience while you study.
Have a look at this Software Development apprenticeship on Apprenticeships.scot. It could set you up for further study or to get into a job where you can build your skills further.
If you’re 16 or older, a Modern Apprenticeship will let you work and earn while you study for a qualification. After you qualify, you'd be able to study further or move into a role where you can build experience.
You might find these opportunities on Apprenticeships.scot helpful:
You could also earn a degree level qualification through a graduate apprenticeship. Read about this one in IT: Software Development on Apprenticeships.scot.
College
Although formal qualifications are not always necessary, you'll need a lot of skills and knowledge. A good way to gain this is through studying at college or university.
You could start by going to college after school and getting:
National Qualifications (NQs)
a National Certificate (NC)
a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
a Higher National Diploma (HND)
You could study in areas such as:
software development
software engineering
computing science
computing
To study at NC or NQ level, you'd likely need either:
3 National 4s, preferably Maths, English and Computing Science
3 or 4 National 5s in these subjects for more advanced courses
To study for an HNC or HND, you'd likely need both:
1 or 2 Highers at C or above in relevant subjects
2 to 4 National 5s at C or above
Search for relevant college courses.
University
A degree can be useful for getting into this profession as you need to build a wide range of knowledge.
You could study in areas such as:
software development
software engineering
computing science
computing
Use our course search to find an undergraduate course.
To study for a degree in these areas, you’d likely need:
an HNC or HND
4 Highers at BBBC, including Maths or Computing plus National 5 English at C or above
For some software engineering courses, there is a significantly higher entry standard. For example, the University of Edinburgh looks for candidates who have 4 or 5 Highers at AAAB to AAAAA.
If you earn a degree, you could continue to broaden your knowledge through further study.
Have a look at relevant postgraduate courses.
Work
It's helpful to have a degree or other relevant qualification, but not essential. You can work towards becoming a DevOps engineer.
You'd need to build a lot of experience. You can do this by working in software development, engineering or other IT roles.
Check out the 'you will also need' section for more information about the skills and knowledge you'll need to gather.
Experience or qualifications which show knowledge of the industry will be helpful. For example, Skills For Work: Engineering or relevant Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).
You can gain skills and get experience by volunteering. Browse technology volunteering opportunities on Volunteer.scot.
You need a strong skill set and a wide range of knowledge to do this job. You'll need significant experience in some of these areas:
software development lifecycles
cloud computing services such as AWS, Azure and GCP
continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD)
agile working
scripting languages such as JavaScript, Python, PHP and Go
version control
automation tools such as Git, Docker and Kubernetes
It'll also help to pick up project management skills to take into this role.
This role can vary depending on what individual employers are looking for. There may be more areas you'd need experience in.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'DevOps engineer'
