Cloud Engineer

What is cloud engineering?

Companies of every size and industry are racing to the cloud. In 2021, the size of the global cloud computing market was valued at $445.3 billion. And it’s expected to grow to $947.3 billion by 2026. That’s a blistering growth rate of 112.7% in just five years.

Cloud engineering is the technical discipline making this digital transformation possible. It refers to the practice of designing, implementing, and managing the infrastructure, applications, and services that operate in the cloud. The “cloud” in this context means to cloud computing, which involves delivering various computing services (such as computing power, storage, and databases) over the internet.

What does a cloud engineer do?

Cloud engineers are IT professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud infrastructure and services. Cloud engineers will build these services in a variety of cloud environments, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

On a more technical level, the responsibilities of cloud engineers include:

• Cloud architecture design: Cloud engineers design the architecture of cloud-based systems, considering factors such as scalability, reliability, performance, and security.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Cloud engineers use infrastructure as code (IaC) tools and practices to automate the provisioning and management of cloud infrastructure.
• Implementation and Deployment: Cloud engineers deploy and configure cloud services and applications based on design specifications.
• Security Implementation: Cloud engineers implement security measures, including access controls, encryption, identity management, and compliance.
• Monitoring and Optimization: Cloud engineers use monitoring tools to track resource utilization, identify bottlenecks, and optimize configurations to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Automation and Orchestration: Cloud engineers automate repetitive tasks and workflows to enhance efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
• Troubleshooting and Support: In the event of issues or outages, cloud engineers are responsible for troubleshooting and resolving problems promptly.
• Cost Management: Cloud engineers manage costs by optimizing resource usage, selecting pricing models, and implementing cost-saving measures. 

What kinds of companies hire cloud engineers?

As organizations increasingly recognize the importance of cloud computing, cloud engineers have become in demand across a wide range of industries. Companies of every size, from startups to large enterprises, hire cloud engineers to build and maintain their cloud infrastructure. Here are some types of companies that commonly hire cloud engineers:

• Technology Companies: Companies in the tech sector, including software development firms, often hire cloud engineers to design, implement, and manage cloud infrastructure for their products and services.
• Finance and Banking: Financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, use cloud services for data storage, analytics, and customer-facing applications.
• Healthcare Organizations: Healthcare providers and organizations handling sensitive health data leverage cloud computing for storage, analysis, and collaboration.
• Retail and E-Commerce: Retailers and e-commerce companies use the cloud for scalable and flexible infrastructure to support online platforms, manage inventory, and analyze customer data.
• Manufacturing Companies: Manufacturing companies use cloud services for supply chain management, process optimization, and data analytics.
• Telecommunications: Telecommunications companies use the cloud for network functions, customer relationship management, and billing systems.
• Consulting Firms: Consulting firms specializing in IT services often have cloud engineering teams to help clients migrate to the cloud and optimize existing cloud environments.

Cloud engineer skills & qualifications

Technical skills

Cloud engineers use a range of technologies to build cloud-based platforms, infrastructure, and applications. 

A core requirement of cloud engineering is expertise in the technologies offered by cloud-hosting providers. These include, to name a few:

• AWS
• Azure
• GCP
• IBM Cloud
• Oracle Cloud

Recruiters and hiring managers who are hiring cloud engineers should look for in-demand competencies with the specific services and products offered by these platforms. An AWS cloud engineer, for example, might be familiar with Amazon cloud products such as Glue, Lake Formation, Redshift, Athena, MSK, and Kinesis.

Many cloud engineering roles require knowledge of data-oriented and object-oriented languages such as Java, Ruby, Python, or Clojure. Some roles also require familiarity with a general programming language, such as C, C+, C#, or Go. 

Depending on the role, software engineers might also work with a number of other tools:

• Databases (SQL, MySQL, NoSQL)
• Message brokers (RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ, Kafka)
• Big data frameworks (Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark)
• Familiarity with web services and APIs (XML, SOAP, WSDL, UDDI)

Some cloud engineers will specialize in DevOps, a set of practices that combines software development and IT operations. Core DevOps skills include:

• Container management software (Docker, Kubernetes)
• CI/CD tools (Gitlab, Jenkins, Nexus)
• Linux Fundamentals And Scripting
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Soft skills

Technical competency alone isn’t enough to succeed in a cloud engineering role. Mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills are also essential. Employers often look for engineers with strong soft skills, including:

• Time management
• Communication
• Project management
• Problem solving

Experience & education

Cloud engineering roles typically require a combination of education and practical experience. The specific requirements can vary based on the employer, the complexity of the projects, and industry expectations. Here are some general guidelines for experience and education for cloud engineers:

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree: Most cloud engineers have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline. About 95% of cloud or DevOps engineers in the U.S., for example, have a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• Bootcamps and Coding Schools: Coding bootcamps and short-term coding schools offer intensive, focused training in cloud engineering. These programs are often an alternative for individuals looking to enter the field quickly, and they cover practical skills required for cloud engineering.
• Online Courses and Certifications: Online platforms like Coursera and Udacity offer courses and certifications in cloud engineering. These can be valuable for individuals seeking flexible, self-paced learning options.

Experience

• On-the-job experience: Internships and full-time roles provide hands-on experience and exposure to real-world projects. This practical experience is highly valuable in developing skills and understanding industry best practices.
• Personal Projects: Building personal projects or contributing to open-source projects can demonstrate initiative and a genuine passion for cloud engineering. This can be particularly beneficial for self-taught engineers or those with non-traditional educational backgrounds.
• Continuous Learning: The field of cloud engineering is constantly evolving. Continuous learning and keeping up with trends is essential for staying relevant and competitive.