AWS Engineer: Job Roles, Salaries, Career Path and More

For cloud engineers, this means setting up automated workflows that test, build, and deploy applications in the cloud. By writing scripts or templates, cloud engineers can automate repetitive tasks and avoid manual errors. In traditional IT systems, managing user identities and permissions typically meant managing accounts in directories like Active Directory or similar on-premises solutions. Virtualization has been the driving force behind cloud computing’s rapid growth and adoption. This allows organizations to scale their cloud infrastructure dynamically and with efficiency while also reducing hardware costs. For example, you might configure IAM policies to give developers access to cloud development tools but restrict access to production environments.

Building a portfolio is an effective way to showcase your talents to potential employers, whether you’re just starting in your career or switching fields. Access to a curated library of 250+ end-to-end industry projects with solution code, videos and tech support. With how to become an aws cloud engineer personalized coaching and a structured curriculum, we ensure you’re prepared for career growth.

• Many cloud providers offer free tiers, allowing you to practice without incurring costs.
• You’ll need proficiency with both Linux and Windows operating systems, as cloud environments often use both.
• AWS Cloud Institute is your path to an exciting cloud career—no tech background required!

Unlike a software engineer, your day job won’t involve heavy coding, but you will still need to dive into code to automate certain features or to debug performance issues. As an engineer, your focus will be on a smaller portion of popular services. AWS is the frontrunner compared to the other cloud implementations, and as such, any cloud network engineer will need to understand AWS. Job growth in the next 5 years is expected to be up 28%, and over the next 10 another 11%.

What will you learn?

A cloud engineer must understand how cloud services operate and the advantages they offer. Anyone who’s delved into cloud engineering quickly finds out how much of it is networking. You want to have a strong understanding of networking concepts, including DNS, TCP/IP, VPN, CDN, and firewall management. Make sure you understand how to set up and manage virtual networks in the cloud.

And while a lot of companies are already operating in the cloud, there’s still a lot of opportunity out there. According to Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is projected to reach $723.4 billion in 2025, up from $595.7 billion last year, reflecting a 21.5% increase. You might be doing a bit of architecture, a bit of writing code, and a bit of administering and troubleshooting things like cloud networks. Along with understanding the nuances of a provider, you’ll also want a general understanding of virtual machines (VM). While a formal degree in computer science or a related field can be beneficial, it’s not always a requirement. However, obtaining relevant AWS certifications can significantly boost your career prospects.

These engineers generally operate during traditional business hours, although they may need to be available for emergencies or system problems off-hours. AWS Cloud Engineers typically work in an office environment, but given the virtual nature of their role, many can also work remotely, from home or co-working spaces. It may also be beneficial to leverage your network during the job search. Begin by thoroughly researching potential employers and understanding their requirements. This step is crucial in transitioning into the role of an AWS Cloud Engineer. This not only helps you stay current but also gives you the opportunity to experiment with new services and features.

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Career Paths start with ensuring you know the foundations from scratch. But they go far beyond by teaching you advanced topics and non-technical skills that are essential for your career but aren’t taught in Computer Science Degrees or Coding Bootcamps. Find 5 companies/jobs that you REALLY want to work for and make a serious effort applying to these jobs based on the tips you learned in the previous lessons. Don’t take no for an answer and see if you can land an interview at one of these companies you chose. The work of an AWS Cloud Engineer is highly technical and requires constant updating of skills to keep up with the rapid development of cloud technologies. They often work within a team of software engineers, IT professionals, and project managers, under the direction of an IT supervisor or manager.

• It starts with education like a bachelor’s degree in information technology or a degree in computer science.
• To become a cloud engineer, you need proficiency in operating systems (Linux/Windows), networking, security, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), automation tools, and scripting.
• IAM also plays a role in compliance, as organizations must ensure that access to sensitive data is properly controlled and auditable.
• They handle the management and deployment of applications in the AWS cloud environment.

Prepare for Liftoff

It also serves as the stepping stone for obtaining AWS certification, which is often a requirement for many AWS Cloud Engineer roles. However, this is not a requirement for most AWS Cloud Engineer positions, and many successful professionals in the field do not have a Master’s degree. To start a career as an AWS Cloud Engineer, you should first obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, IT or a related field. So, whether you’re a tech novice or an IT professional seeking to enhance your skills, stay tuned. AWS also offers security features such as IAM authentication and encryption that you need to understand in order to use them effectively. Familiarizing yourself with these concepts will help you better support your clients’ needs.

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Knowing how to program helps you automate tasks, which is really important for managing things well in the cloud. Programming languages provide us with a set of instructions that make cloud management easier and faster. You may also need to communicate technical information to clients who aren’t familiar with technology. Strong communication skills can help ensure that everyone understands what’s happening and why it’s happening that way. By continuously monitoring costs and optimizing resource usage, you can ensure that the cloud infrastructure remains cost-effective while still supporting the platform’s growing needs. Working as a cloud engineer is a varied, fascinating, and rewarding occupation.

Cloud engineers need to know how to automate infrastructure deployment, configure services, and integrate cloud resources through APIs. In the context of cloud engineering, virtualization refers to the process of creating virtual versions of physical hardware, such as servers, storage devices, and networks. It involves managing and provisioning cloud infrastructure using code rather than manual processes. IaC allows cloud engineers to automate the setup of infrastructure, such as creating virtual machines, storage systems, and databases, using code that is repeatable, version-controlled, and easy to manage.

Don’t forget to continually enhance your skills, both technically and soft skills, and be persistent in your job search, showcasing your enthusiasm for cloud technology during interviews. With dedication and continuous learning, you can successfully embark on a career as a cloud engineer, even without prior experience. In conclusion, venturing to become a cloud engineer is exciting and rewarding. This roadmap to cloud engineering provides a clear path for anyone looking to enter this dynamic field, regardless of their experience.

Most AWS cloud engineers start by getting at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, or some other related technical major. Then, you’ll need to supplement your education by spending some time in the software development field, generally three to five years. Note that some corporations expect a total of 10 years of related systems engineering experience. Explore core cloud services by learning about key cloud tools like computing, storage, databases (organized data storage), and networking (connecting computers). Once you know how these services work, you can create customized solutions for organizations.

You’ll need to configure subnets, route tables, and internet gateways to create secure and scalable environments. Access courses on AI, cloud, data, security, and more—all led by industry experts. Choose a structured learning path on Pluralsight, such as the Cloud Engineer Learning Path, and stick with it.

The particular job requirements can change depending on the company and the specific cloud platform they use. Usually, they do a lot of different tasks like planning, setting up, and keeping an eye on the cloud systems and services. They make sure everything in the digital cloud is designed well, works smoothly, and stays in good shape over time.

Being proactive like this improves your chances of getting a cloud engineering role. Make sure you have a solid understanding of the basics of computer stuff like networking, security, and virtualization. These are like the key building blocks you need for good cloud management.

It is essential to pay close attention to the foundation while using the cloud architecture framework. Some open standards, including XML, SOAP, UDDI, and WSDL, describe, tag, and transfer data. You can navigate the cloud more effectively if you have a solid understanding of these foundational concepts. In other words, a cloud engineer builds and maintains the cloud infrastructure in any big data project. These include tasks such as design, maintenance, monitoring, and deployment of cloud systems.

As a result, excellent security architecture is an essential skill for a successful cloud engineering career. As steep as the learning curve is in the beginning, once you’ve learned a few services—and start having those “Aha! Also, compared to other high-paying professions like medicine or traditional engineering, cloud engineering is more accessible.