How to become a cloud engineer 2024

Cloud engineers are the key players in building and maintaining the infrastructure for cloud-based services. Cloud engineers deal with the job specifics, such as cloud architecting, development, and administration, which shows the importance of their role in our increasingly digital world.

As cloud technology powers essential services—from streaming media to online storage—it’s clear why cloud engineers are so important. They ensure these services operate seamlessly, enhancing our daily digital interactions. The demand for skilled cloud engineers is, therefore, on the rise. The cloud computing market could see a growth rate of 16.3% from 2021 to 2026, promising more jobs and competitive salaries in the field.

This is a practical guide for aspiring cloud engineers. We’ll discuss necessary skills, potential earnings, and steps to kickstart a career in cloud engineering. You must understand the fundamentals of cloud computing to sim for the attractive opportunities awaiting in this booming sector.

What is a cloud engineer? #

Cloud engineering is the application of engineering principles to cloud computing, focusing on the design, management, and maintenance of cloud infrastructure. This allows organizations to move key applications and processes to cloud systems, where cloud engineers ensure smooth operation, data management, and security. The role covers various services such as SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, where cloud engineers are also tasked with ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting. 

Let’s also clarify the difference between cloud engineer and cloud architect. A cloud architect develops a cloud system’s overarching vision, strategy, and architecture. In contrast, a cloud engineer focuses on implementing, testing, and maintaining the system’s specific components and services. So, is cloud engineering going to be hard or easy? Data science and cloud computing are instrumental in enhancing business agility. Both demand a solid foundation in technology, programming, and related skills, presenting a steep learning curve. However, they offer substantial rewards, including competitive salaries and expansive career opportunities.

What does a cloud engineer do?#

[cloud engineer roles and responsibilities] [building cloud infrastructure] [building a cloud]

Cloud engineers are responsible for various technical tasks related to building cloud infrastructure, including planning, designing, and managing cloud-based software and applications. Their daily duties can vary by role and company, but typical cloud engineer roles and responsibilities include: 

• Helping organizations migrate to the cloud

• Configuring infrastructure components

• Creating cloud-based applications and databases

• Focusing on automating cloud functions

• Maintaining data security

• Optimizing cloud systems for performance and cost-efficiency

They collaborate with technical teams to troubleshoot issues, stay updated with industry trends, and ensure the continuous improvement of cloud services to meet organizational needs.

A step-by-step guide to becoming a cloud engineer#

With hard work and determination, becoming a cloud engineer is within reach. But exactly how long does it take to become a cloud engineer? Typically, it takes an average person 4–6 years to become a cloud engineer. A four-year degree can provide a strong foundation for starting a cloud-related career, whether as a cloud security engineer or in other roles within the cloud engineering field. Let’s take a look at cloud engineering requirements to help you get an idea of what you need to learn. 

Getting a bachelor’s degree#

As with many IT roles, you’ll typically need a relevant undergraduate degree to land a junior cloud engineer position. Many senior cloud engineers hold a master’s degree, so it’s worth considering further education at some point in your career. Because there’s no cloud engineering degree itself, to become a cloud engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. It’s important to choose a program that focuses on the technical aspects of software, computing, and system frameworks. 

Programming languages to learn #

Is coding required for a cloud engineer? To become a successful cloud engineer, knowing essential programming languages is important. Here are some key languages you should know:

• Python: It’s a versatile language for cloud tasks and it’s valuable for general programming.

• Java: It’s suitable for most programming tasks, including cloud computing, due to its platform-independent nature.

• Golang: It’s open-source and supported by Google Cloud, used for cloud and network services.

• Other languages: ASP.NET, PHP, and Ruby are also popular in cloud computing.

Other skills you should build #

To become a successful cloud engineer, you need a mix of technical and soft cloud engineer skills that meet employer expectations. Companies often seek expertise in specific platforms, like AWS. 

Technical skills:

• Experience with cloud tools and technologies (e.g., AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Amazon CloudFront, Amazon ECS, Amazon VPC, Amazon RDS, AWS Lambda, and WAF)

• Knowledge of major cloud environments (AWS, Azure, IBM Bluemix, Google Cloud)

• Networking concepts (HTTPS, VPN, IP, DNS)

• Experience building CI/CD pipelines and cloud-based applications

• Understanding of database architecture and machine learning

• Linux, networking, security, and recovery

• Storage skills, web services, APIs, virtualization

• Advanced certifications and technical knowledge (e.g., the Network+ and Security+ certifications)

• Security protocols and open standard

Soft skills:

• Strong communication and leadership skills

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

• Product-centric mindset

• Good organizational skills and work ethic

• Passion for the role

Gaining some practical experience to build a portfolio #

To build a strong portfolio as a cloud engineer, you must start early in your education. Gaining real-world experience through open-source projects, freelance work, and volunteer work can significantly enhance your cloud skills and make your portfolio impressive. 

Open-source projects: Contributing to open-source projects, even those from big names like Google, offers valuable experience.

Freelance work: Opportunities on platforms like Upwork can provide professional experience before securing a full-time role.

Volunteer work: Volunteering to donate your code helps you gain experience while assisting organizations with limited budgets.

Creating a GitHub profile is essential for showcasing your code and projects to potential employers. It allows you to store, share, and collaborate on code, serving as a digital portfolio.

Building hands-on experience: Look for opportunities in your current IT role to shadow coworkers in cloud computing or take on related tasks. Sign up for cloud platform accounts to explore and learn independently. Interactive courses and guided projects, such as Analyzing Text and NLP with Textract and Comprehend, can also provide practical experience.

Internships and projects: Pursue internships and participate in open-source projects to build a portfolio that demonstrates your expertise and skills, making you stand out in job interviews. 

Cloud engineering courses to consider#

A cloud engineer certification path is a valuable way to enhance your resume as a cloud developer. It often requires passing exams, which provides a structured learning path. Certifications demonstrate to employers that you’re qualified to work with cloud-based technologies. 

Starting with certifications:

If you’re new to cloud computing, consider foundational certifications like Cloud Computing Fundamentals. These certifications help you learn the basics and terminology of the cloud engineering field.

With some basic cloud knowledge, you can pursue more technical certifications such as the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam Prep course or the Cloud Native Development with Tailwind, Google Cloud, and Firebase course.

Research different certifications to find those that align with your career goals and interests. 

Specializations to consider: 

• Storage and networking:

  • Understand various data storage methods and access points.

  • Gain experience with Azure and AWS services like Amazon S3 and Azure Storage.

  • Have a strong grasp of fundamental networking concepts.

• Virtualization and operating systems:

  • Learn to configure and manage virtual machines (VMs) on physical hardware.

  • Understand how VMs work on virtual networks.

  • Be proficient with both Windows and Linux operating systems.

• Security and disaster recovery:

  • Protect data, applications, and infrastructure from cybersecurity threats.

  • Ensure systems are backed up regularly to prevent data loss.

• Web services and DevOps:

  • Understand cloud computing as a centralized platform for testing, deployment, and production.

  • Know the synergy between operations and development for effective DevOps automation.

Building professional connections #

As you study and gain experience in cloud applications, building a strong network is crucial. Connect with other professionals on LinkedIn to stay in touch and expand your network. Join online communities for cloud computing enthusiasts to meet like-minded people and discover potential opportunities. Attend conferences and meetups, both offline and online, to connect with industry experts. During your education, build relationships with professors who can provide insights into internships and job opportunities. Collaborate with fellow aspiring cloud engineers on projects to invest in your future professional growth. This is an excellent way to find opportunities and advance your career as a cloud engineer. 

Preparing for jobs—interview prep #

To start working in the cloud engineering field, start your job search early. Customize your resume to match specific job roles, and create personalized cover letters for each application to show employers you’ve researched their company. Prepare thoroughly for interviews by understanding the job and company, and practice your responses to common cloud computing interview questions. Conduct mock interviews to build confidence and improve your performance. Remember, cloud engineers can pursue various career paths like front-end/back-end developer or cloud developer. 

Cloud engineering jobs you can aim for #

The cloud computing sector offers numerous opportunities, making roles like front-end/back-end developer, data engineer, cloud developer, security engineer, and solutions architect highly in demand. With a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, you can land an entry-level AWS cloud engineer position. Many start in IT roles such as systems engineer or network engineer before transitioning to cloud-specific roles and eventually advancing to specialized positions like cloud architect. 

Find the right resources to start your cloud engineer career path#

Now is the perfect time to start. To succeed in this field, gain hands-on experience with database services, cloud platforms, monitoring, and deployment. Educative offers project-focused learning to help you master cloud engineering skills.

With 80% of organizations using cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, opportunities for cloud engineers are abundant, though there’s a notable skill gap. Follow the steps outlined earlier, earn relevant certifications, and consider enrolling in programs like Navigating Cloud Engineering as a Career Path. These courses provide hands-on experience and certifications. So, what are you waiting for? Start your journey in cloud computing today!