What Does a Cloud Engineer Do?

Cloud computing is a relatively new technology that has quickly become an essential part of the modern digital world. Cloud computing allows companies to store and access their data remotely, rather than on local servers or hard drives. This makes it easier for businesses to scale up or down as needed without having to worry about maintaining expensive hardware or software.

Cloud engineers are responsible for building and maintaining cloud-based systems. They may work with clients to determine which applications should be moved to the cloud and then build out those applications accordingly. They may also maintain existing applications by troubleshooting issues and making sure everything runs smoothly.

Cloud Engineer Job Duties

Cloud engineers have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Maintaining the security of the company’s data by enforcing security policies and procedures
• Monitoring the performance of networks, servers, and storage devices to ensure performance standards are met
• Providing support to end users regarding the use of company software or hardware systems
• Training staff on the use of new applications or technologies as they are implemented
• Building and managing virtual computing environments using virtualization software such as VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V
• Researching new technologies and recommending upgrades to existing systems
• Installing, configuring, and troubleshooting new computer equipment, software, and networks
• Working with network engineers to design and implement new computer networks based on company needs
• Diagnosing and resolving issues with existing computer systems or networks

Cloud Engineer Salary & Outlook

Cloud engineer salaries vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the company they work for. They may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses.

• Median Annual Salary: $125,000 ($60.1/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $203,000 ($97.6/hour)

The employment of cloud engineers is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for cloud engineering services and solutions is expected to increase as organizations continue to move their operations to the cloud. Cloud engineering will be needed to ensure that applications and data are secure and can communicate with each other across multiple platforms.

Related: 25 Cloud Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Cloud Engineer Job Requirements

To become a cloud engineer, you will likely need to have the following:

Education: Cloud engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering or a related field. Some employers prefer candidates who have a master’s degree in computer science or a related field.

Many employers prefer candidates who have a doctoral degree in computer science or a related field. A doctoral degree takes four to six years to complete and includes coursework and a dissertation.

Training & Experience: Cloud engineers typically receive on-the-job training once they start working for a company. This training may include learning the company’s specific cloud computing systems and procedures. It may also include instruction on how to use the company’s specific cloud computing software.

Cloud engineers can also receive training through internships or entry-level positions. During these experiences, they can learn more about cloud computing and how it can be used in different industries. They can also learn more about the different components of cloud computing and how they work together.

Certifications & Licenses: Cloud engineers can acquire several certifications that demonstrate their expertise in different types of cloud services, systems and protocols.

Cloud Engineer Skills

Cloud engineers need the following skills in order to be successful:

Programming languages: Cloud engineers use a variety of programming languages to build and maintain cloud computing systems. They may use languages like Python, Java, Go and C++. Familiarity with multiple programming languages can help cloud engineers learn new skills and advance in their careers.

Cloud computing platforms: Cloud computing platforms are the software and hardware that cloud engineers use to build and maintain cloud computing systems. Having knowledge of cloud computing platforms can help cloud engineers understand how to build and maintain cloud computing systems.

Database systems: Cloud engineers work with a variety of database systems, including relational, NoSQL and cloud-based databases. Understanding the differences between these systems and how to use them is an important skill for cloud engineers.

Communication skills: Cloud engineers communicate with clients, other cloud engineers and other IT professionals. They also communicate with vendors and suppliers to understand the technology they use and how it works. Effective communication skills can help cloud engineers explain technical concepts to clients and colleagues.

Problem-solving: Cloud engineers use problem-solving skills to troubleshoot issues with cloud computing systems. They may also use these skills to help clients understand complex technical information. Cloud engineers may also use problem-solving skills to help their organizations save money by identifying the most cost-effective cloud computing solutions.

Cloud Engineer Work Environment

Cloud engineers typically work in an office environment during regular business hours, although some employers may require on-call work or work during off-hours. They may also be required to travel to client sites or data centers. Cloud engineers typically work with a team of other engineers and may be required to collaborate with other departments within the company, such as sales, marketing, and product development. Because cloud engineering is a relatively new field, cloud engineers must keep up with new technologies and developments in the field. They may do this by reading industry publications, attending conferences, or taking continuing education courses.

Cloud Engineer Trends

Here are three trends influencing how cloud engineers work. Cloud engineers will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Cloud Migration Will Become More Mainstream

As cloud computing becomes more mainstream, cloud migration will become a more common trend among businesses. This means that cloud engineers will be in high demand as they are needed to help migrate data and applications to the cloud.

Cloud engineers who are able to understand the latest trends in cloud computing will be in the best position to take advantage of this trend and help their clients make the transition to the cloud. They will also need to be well-versed in cloud security and compliance in order to ensure that their clients’ data is safe and secure.

More Focus on DevOps

The trend of increasing focus on DevOps is being driven by the need for faster software development cycles. By combining the roles of developer and operator, teams can work together to create and deploy new features more quickly.

Cloud engineers can capitalize on this trend by becoming experts in cloud infrastructure and automation. This will allow them to help teams develop and deploy software faster and with fewer errors. In addition, cloud engineers can also focus on improving communication between developers and operators in order to create a more collaborative environment.

Greater Use of Automation

As cloud computing becomes more popular, businesses are starting to use automation tools to manage their cloud resources. This is leading to an increased demand for cloud engineers who have expertise in these tools.

Cloud engineers who are able to utilize automation tools will be in high demand as businesses look for ways to save time and money. By understanding how to use these tools, cloud engineers can help businesses optimize their cloud usage and reduce costs.

How to Become a Cloud Engineer

A cloud engineer career path can be a great way to start your tech career. It’s a field that’s growing rapidly, and there are many opportunities for growth and advancement. As a cloud engineer, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of both the technical and business sides of the industry. This means having a good grasp of cloud computing technologies, as well as the business models and strategies used by cloud providers.

To become a cloud engineer, it’s important to have a solid foundation in computer science and engineering principles. You should also have experience working with cloud platforms and applications.

Advancement Prospects

There are many ways to advance your career as a cloud engineer. One of the best ways is to get more education and training in cloud computing. There are many online and offline courses available that can help you learn more about the cloud and how to use it effectively. You can also get certified in cloud computing, which will show potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge to do the job.

Another way to advance your career is to move into a management position. As a cloud engineer, you will have the skills and knowledge to manage a team of engineers and help them to effectively use the cloud to achieve their goals. You can also move into a sales or marketing position, where you can help to promote cloud products and services to potential customers.

Cloud Engineer Job Description Example

As a Cloud Engineer at [CompanyX], you will be responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of our cloud infrastructure and services. You will work closely with our Development, Operations, and Security teams to ensure that our systems are scalable, reliable, and secure. The ideal candidate will have experience with AWS or Azure, and will be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of distributed systems, networking, and security. You will be a key member of our team, and will have the opportunity to work on a variety of challenging projects.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work in tandem with our engineering team to identify and implement the most optimal cloud-based solutions for the company
• Define and document best practices and strategies regarding application deployment and infrastructure maintenance
• Provide guidance, thought leadership, and mentorship to development teams to build cloud competencies
• Ensure application performance, uptime, and scale, maintaining high standards of code quality and thoughtful design
• Managing cloud environments in accordance with company security guidelines
• Develop and implement technical efforts to design, build, and deploy AWS applications at the direction of lead architects, including large-scale data processing, computationally intensive statistical modeling, and advanced analytics
• Participate in all aspects of the software development life cycle for AWS solutions, including planning, requirements, development, testing, and quality assurance
• Troubleshoot incidents, identify root cause, fix and document problems, and implement preventive measures
• Educate teams on the implementation of new cloud-based initiatives, providing associated training as required
• Employ exceptional problem-solving skills, with the ability to see and solve issues before they affect business productivity
• Understand how to optimize cloud architecture for cost, performance, and availability
• Keep abreast of latest industry trends and developments and share knowledge with team members

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field
• 3+ years experience in cloud engineering, DevOps, or a related role
• Proficient in at least one major public cloud platform (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• In-depth understanding of distributed systems, networking, and security
• Strong scripting and automation skills
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field
• 5+ years experience in cloud engineering, DevOps, or a related role
• Certifications in AWS, Azure, or GCP
• Experience with big data technologies (Hadoop, Spark, Hive, etc.)
• Experience with serverless architectures (AWS Lambda, Azure Functions)