Infrastructure Engineer vs. Devops: What Are the Differences?
Learn about the two careers and review some of the similarities and differences between them.
There are many different types of engineers, each with their own unique skills and responsibilities. Two common engineering roles are that of an infrastructure engineer and a DevOps engineer. Though these positions share some similarities, there are several key differences between them.
In this article, we discuss the differences between an infrastructure engineer and a DevOps engineer, and we provide additional engineering professions you may be interested in pursuing.
What is an Infrastructure Engineer?
Infrastructure Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the systems that keep an organization running. This can include everything from the network and server infrastructure to the physical buildings and equipment. Infrastructure Engineers work with a variety of teams to ensure that the systems they are responsible for are up to date and can handle the demands of the organization. They also create and maintain documentation for the systems they manage.
What is a Devops?
A Devops is a software development professional who specializes in developing and managing software development tools and processes. Devops work with software developers and other IT professionals to streamline software development and deployment. They help to automate tasks, improve communication and collaboration between teams, and optimize processes. Devops also often work with cloud-based technologies to provide scalable and efficient software development and deployment solutions.
Infrastructure Engineer vs. Devops
Here are the main differences between an infrastructure engineer and a Devops.
Job Duties
Both infrastructure engineers and devops professionals have similar job duties. They both design, build and maintain computer systems. The primary difference is that an infrastructure engineer specializes in the physical components of a system, while devops focuses on the software elements. For example, an infrastructure engineer might design and install servers, evaluate new technologies for use in computing systems and troubleshoot issues with existing hardware. A devops professional might then use those servers to develop software, test it and deploy it for customer use.
Another key difference between the two roles is that infrastructure engineers often work more independently. They may spend most of their time in offices or cubicles working on computers alone. Devops professionals tend to work more collaboratively. They often work in teams with other software developers, programmers and IT professionals.
Job Requirements
Infrastructure engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering, though some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree. Additionally, many infrastructure engineers pursue certifications through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) or the International Society for Measurement and Control (ISMC). These organizations offer training programs that teach professionals how to use various tools and technologies they might need on the job.
DevOps specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering, though some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree. Additionally, many DevOps specialists pursue certifications through the Linux Foundation or the Cloud Credential Council. These organizations offer training programs that teach professionals how to use various tools and technologies they might need on the job.
Work Environment
Infrastructure engineers typically work in an office setting, but they may also travel to client sites. They spend most of their time working on computers and using software programs to design and implement infrastructure systems.
Devops professionals often work in an office environment, but they may also travel to client sites. Their job requires them to use a variety of computer programs and tools, including programming languages and databases.
Skills
Both infrastructure engineers and devops professionals use technical skills to perform their jobs. Infrastructure engineers need to have a strong understanding of computer systems, networking and software development, as they are responsible for designing, building and maintaining the systems that support an organization’s applications and services. Devops professionals also need to have a deep understanding of computer systems and networking, as they are responsible for automating and managing the deployment and operation of those systems.
In addition to their technical skills, both infrastructure engineers and devops professionals need to have strong problem-solving skills. They often are called upon to troubleshoot issues with systems or find ways to improve the efficiency of the systems they manage. Communication skills also are important for both roles, as they need to be able to work with other members of the IT team, such as developers and system administrators, to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the systems they are responsible for are running smoothly.
Salary
The average salary for an infrastructure engineer is $105,075 per year, while the average salary for a DevOps engineer is $122,203 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the engineer has.