Being in the field of DevOps/cloud for 20+ years, there is one question that I am constantly being asked- how to hire the right DevOps engineer?
There is no one short answer to this question and this requires a comprehensive view. In this article I’ll share all factors, aspects and qualities that you need to consider when hiring a DevOps engineer.
What qualities should you consider in a DevOps engineer?
It’s important to carefully consider several qualities to ensure the success of DevOps role. I’ve categorized them into soft and hard skills and will go through them one by one.
Hard skills
First, you should start with hard skills because the skill level later defines the quality of work done. Below are some of the key ones.
1. Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
DevOps engineers need to have a solid understanding of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) practices. CI/CD is a set of practices that enable developers to build, test, and deploy code changes quickly and reliably. A DevOps engineer should be proficient in tools such as Jenkins, Travis CI, and CircleCI that enable automated build, test, and deployment of code changes.
2. Automation
Automation is a critical component of DevOps practices. A DevOps engineer should have hands-on experience with automation tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Bamboo. These tools enable the automation of infrastructure provisioning, configuration management, and application deployment processes.
3. Coding and scripting
A DevOps engineer should be proficient in coding and scripting languages such as Python, Ruby, and Bash. They should be able to write code to automate processes, integrate different tools and systems, and create custom tools and scripts to solve unique problems.
4. Cloud technologies
In today’s cloud-first world, a DevOps engineer should have a deep understanding of cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). They should be proficient in using these platforms to deploy, manage, and scale applications in the cloud.
5. Configuration and release management
Configuration and release management are critical components of the DevOps process. A DevOps engineer should be proficient in using tools such as Git, SVN, and Mercurial to manage code changes and version control. They should also be able to manage the release process, ensuring that the code changes are deployed to production with minimal disruption to the end-users.
6. System administration
A DevOps engineer should have a solid understanding of system administration, including Linux and Windows server administration. They should be able to manage servers, configure network settings, and troubleshoot issues related to infrastructure and applications.
7. Support and maintenance
DevOps engineers’ job is not limited only to the development environment. They are responsible for supporting and maintaining the infrastructure and applications. They should be able to monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure that the software is running smoothly.
Soft skills
Having the right pack of technical skills is definitely important, but for successful hiring you need to go beyond that. Soft skills are no less important when it comes to working in a team and striving for common goals. Let’s explore the essential ones below:
1. Analytical and problem-solving skills:
A DevOps engineer should be able to analyze complex problems, troubleshoot issues, and develop effective solutions quickly.
2. Collaboration and communication skills:
DevOps engineers work closely with different teams, including developers, operations, and security teams. They should have excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
3. Continuous learning:
Technology is constantly evolving and a successful DevOps engineer must keep up-to-date with the latest tools, technologies, and best practices. They should be committed to continuous learning and professional development.
4. Adaptability:
DevOps engineers work in fast-paced and dynamic environments. They should be able to work in changing situations and adapt accordingly.
5. Attention to detail:
DevOps professionals should have a keen eye for detail to ensure that systems and processes are configured correctly and to detect any issues that arise.
6. Strategic thinking:
A successful DevOps engineer must be able to think strategically and make decisions that align with the organization’s goals.
What factors influence successful hiring?
It’s not only about hiring a DevOps engineer, it’s about hiring the RIGHT one. That’s why I emphasize this so many times in this article.
Determine your needs
Before you begin your search for a DevOps engineer, it’s important to evaluate your organization’s needs. This includes determining what skills and expertise you require, what specific tools and technologies you use and what type of work environment you have. With this information in hand, you can more effectively communicate your requirements to candidates.
Look for relevant expertise
When evaluating DevOps candidates, look for those with relevant experience in your industry and with your specific technologies. Ideally, they should have experience working with clients similar to yours.
Look for a cost-effective solution
If you’re looking for a proven track record of success in your target industries, then it’s unlikely to find one or two engineers who fit in. It would be more beneficial to outsource it to specialized DevOps companies who have industry-wide experience.
Outsourcing allows you to get access to extensive experience and large technology stack without having to pay the high salaries associated with in-house hires. If you want to see how high those costs are reflected in real numbers, then check out this article for detailed info.
What’s the best option for hiring a DevOps engineer?
Let me state once again that by outsourcing, you can take advantage of the expertise of professionals without the time and expense of conducting your own search. Here, at Das Meta we help companies to reduce costs 2 times and get the work done 3 times faster. We achieved these results due to our standardized components and automated processes.
If you want to know how this time saving and cost reducing practices can be applied to the growth of your company, schedule a free consultation with me and we will discuss all specifications.
Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash
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