In the world of cloud computing, there are two main roles: cloud architect and cloud engineer.

Much like architects and engineers in the world of construction, their roles are distinct. Cloud architects are the blue-sky thinkers who design cloud infrastructure to meet the requirements of their clients.

Engineers, on the other hand, are deep down in the details. They build and configure architecture, armed to the teeth with specialist knowledge.

Cloud computing is big business – end-user spending on public cloud services is expected to hit $591.8 billion in 2023. So it's no surprise that cloud engineers are well-remunerated. In the UK, salaries start at around £45,000 a year, rising to £77,000 for experienced engineers.

This combination of deep skills with a decent paycheck is one reason why cloud engineering can be an attractive option to people in computing. But what exactly do cloud engineers do – and how can you get into the field?

What do cloud engineers do?

There are many different job roles for cloud engineers, but what they all have in common is responsibility for building, configuring and maintaining cloud infrastructure. 

This is true whether you're a cloud developer, security engineer, DevOps engineer, solutions architect or full-stack developer.

Cloud engineers are detail-oriented. To succeed, they need to know how cloud services work like the backs of their hands – from uses and life cycles to hardware and software to operating systems and programming languages.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building and configuring cloud infrastructure
• Deploying cloud servers
• Overseeing security and maintenance of a company's data, apps and infrastructure
• Road-testing software

These responsibilities are underpinned by specialist knowledge of both cloud infrastructures and programming languages. It's this specialisation that can give cloud engineers an advantage when looking for jobs.

How to become a cloud engineer

The first port of call for a wannabe cloud engineer is to become proficient in using a major cloud platform. The three market leaders are Microsoft Azure, AWS (Amazon web services) and Google Cloud Platform.

Both Azure and AWS offer a free tier of services – including hands-on workshops – that you can use to gain skills. Google is unique among the Big Three for offering these services only at a price in the form of its Google Cloud Skills Boost programme.

Alongside these official platforms, there's a wealth of articles, YouTube tutorials and virtual and physical classrooms dedicated to deepening your cloud computing knowledge.

With all of these, there's the option to become certified. You don't need to be certified to get a job as a cloud engineer, but it can confer some advantages.

First, it shows prospective employers that you have the right skills for the job. Cloud computing is a field that's constantly changing and growing in complexity. It can be difficult for employers to know what an expert looks like – so certification is a clear way to demonstrate your skill set.

Second, it has the potential to improve your job prospects and earning potential. Like any other certification, this isn't a given – but the potential is there to make you a more competitive candidate.

Finally, certification develops your skills and keeps you abreast of the latest advances in cloud computing. This can be both stimulating and beneficial for your professional development.

What certifications are there?

There's a range of certifications available. In this article, we're looking only at those offered by the Big Three.

AWS offers a range of "associate" certificates. Like Scout badges, these correspond to particular skills – Solutions Architect, Developer and SysOps Administrator, for instance. They also offer more specialised certifications. These include Advanced Networking, Data Analytics, Database, Machine Learning, Security and SAP on AWS.

Azure's certifications focus more specifically on job roles. Junior engineers can be certified as Administrators and Developers – later on, they can become Engineers and Security Engineers. This level of expertise ramps up to high-level certification as Solutions Architects and DevOps Engineers.

Google Cloud offers an Associate Cloud Engineer certification. This gives you the rubber stamp to put on your CV skills like app deployment, operations monitoring and solution maintenance.

Again, it's important to emphasise that certification alone won't get you a job and that it's possible to do so without one of these badges. But they do give you a deep grounding in the world of cloud engineering.

The importance of programming languages

Cloud computing requires knowledge of at least one programming language. There are many languages out there, but popular ones include JavaScript and Python. Fluency in one of these is essential for automating tasks and provisioning cloud resources.

There are many free resources available that teach these languages. Without them, you're at a disadvantage when looking for work as a cloud engineer.

Choosing your niche

Certification and fluency in programming languages are important things for cloud engineers to have. Beyond these, you can choose your niche and deepen your knowledge of a particular aspect of cloud computing. For example:

Storage and networking. This deals with how data is stored and how it can be accessed from different places.

Virtualisation and operating systems. This drills down into virtual networks and how they emulate core computing processes.

Security and disaster recovery. In the age of GDPR, this is more important than ever. This area of expertise centres on security capabilities and how data, apps and infrastructure can be protected against malware, ransomware and other cyber threats.

Web services and DevOps. This focuses on APIs and web services.

The exact responsibilities of cloud engineers differ depending on their employers' requirements. But what they all have in common is a deep technical understanding of how cloud services work – whichever route they choose to get there.

Are you looking for a cloud computing job in Ireland? Here at Ascend Cloud Solutions, we're always happy to connect with budding VMware virtuosos. Get in touch or look at our careers page to learn more.