How to Become a Cloud Engineer

According to A Cloud Guru, the average salary of a cloud engineer is $131,409 per year. The pay goes as high as $210,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and company. This doesn't include bonuses that various companies provide; bonuses average $10,000 each year. Developing more skills and earning more certifications make it possible to earn a higher salary and become more qualified for the role.

What can you do to increase your salary options as a cloud engineer?

There are many different opportunities available to become more experienced and grow as a cloud engineer and earn a higher salary. Cloud engineers employed by large corporations in major cities are typically the highest-paid professionals in their field. Some of the highest-paying companies include JPMorgan Chase, Adobe, and IBM. The three leading companies in the industry include Google, AWS, and Azure. Technology and accounting are the main industries that hire these professionals. There are many ways to become more competitive as a cloud engineer and stand out to recruiters:

• Have at least a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in computer science or a similar field
• Obtain graduate certification
• Enroll in courses that allow you to gain hands-on experience
• Gain relevant experience and build new connections to have more exposure in the field
• Stay updated on the latest cloud-based trends

Many cloud engineers work in the accounting and technology industries. Other industries and organizations that hire these professionals include:

• Banking and finance
• Professional services
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Hotel and hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Automotive

Do you enjoy coding and working in IT departments? Do you feel challenged and stimulated by solving problems and managing requests for new technology? A cloud engineer position will allow you to develop new policies for cloud services and manage the security of the cloud software. 

What are the responsibilities of a cloud engineer?

Working as a cloud engineer requires managing multiple responsibilities, which include:

• Designing and deploying multiple applications on the cloud
• Maintaining the cloud services and implementing different cost-effective strategies to save companies money
• Migrating complex multi-tier platforms on the cloud
• Designing and deploying scalable operations on different cloud platforms
• Creating a support system to secure the cloud-based infrastructures
• Developing and implementing a disaster recovery plan to reduce the risk of significant loss
• Interconnecting the devices within the system by creating a support system
• Programming code for the system in different languages, including Python and Java

What type of equipment do cloud engineers use?

There are many tools cloud engineers rely on for cloud infrastructure automation when carrying out their roles. These include AWS CloudFormation, Chef, and Puppet. Cloud engineers also use Terraform, Ansible, and Google Cloud Deployment Manager to match the needs of each project and manage infrastructures.

What is the work environment of a cloud engineer?

As a cloud engineer, you will typically work full-time in the information technology department at companies and technology corporations. You focus on cloud applications and work with upper management to suggest new cloud computing technologies and provide answers about cloud storage within the company. The work environment is fast-paced and can be stressful at times, mainly when security breaches occur. There is not a lot of manual labor involved in this role, but it requires a high level of mental aptitude. Many cloud engineers have the ability to work remotely, depending on the employer and the industry.

Who are your colleagues as a cloud engineer?

Cloud engineers work closely with upper management to answer questions regarding the cloud and propose new ideas to implement. You also discuss ways to save the company money while managing or developing the cloud. Cloud engineers work closely with other IT professionals in the department to find new ways of strengthening the software and increasing the security measures that are in place. Cloud engineers also interact with other employees in the company if any issues arise or data breaches occur. Some of your colleagues include IT managers, software engineers, and systems engineers.

What is the work schedule of a cloud engineer?

If you work as a cloud engineer, you will likely work an average of nine hours each day, or 45 hours each week. Some cloud engineers also work part-time. This position doesn't require a lot of travel, especially for individuals who are starting out in their careers. The duration of certain assignments will also cause the schedule of a cloud engineer to fluctuate. On busy days, cloud engineers will often work 12 or more hours a day to complete projects and assignments.

The demand for cloud engineers continues to rapidly increase. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field will grow by 5% through 2030. The current market for this type of position is 371.5 billion dollars, which, according to geeksforgeeks.com, will continue to increase. Those who are knowledgeable about the main cloud segments, such as platform as a service (PaaS), software as a service (SaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS), will be sought-after by different companies. This type of role has always been in demand since it began to emerge and has a low rate of unemployment. The increase in enterprise customers and cloud computing vendors guarantees the cloud computing market will continue to be strong. This role has the lowest supply of available talent, making the demand for cloud experts incredibly high and promising.

What are the advantages of working with Spherion as a cloud engineer?

As an established leader in the industry, Spherion has an excellent reputation for connecting businesses with qualified IT professionals in all industries. The team at Spherion provides cloud engineers with different networking opportunities to quickly find a company that is the right match. If you want to work from home or for a large corporation, the team at Spherion is qualified to help you become matched with the right organization. Working via Spherion provides you with many options. Additional benefits include:

• Flexible scheduling options
• Receiving your pay each week
• Training opportunities to strengthen your skillset as a cloud engineer
• Connecting with a personal contact responsible for assisting you in your job search
• A quick and easy interview process

To become a cloud engineer, you will typically need a bachelor's degree in information technology or computer science. Some corporations require cloud engineers to have a master's degree. The degrees need to focus on computing and the technical aspects of software infrastructures. Obtaining additional certifications is also common to become skilled in specific areas and provide more value to companies in various industries.

To become a successful cloud engineer, there is a long list of technical skills you need to carry out the responsibilities of this position. They include:

• Data analysis skills
• Data security skills
• Knowledge of HTML and additional computing fundamentals
• Knowledge of service agreements, integration, and risk management
• Team leadership
• The ability to handle a lot of data and extensive knowledge of network security
• Strong analytical skills 
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Database skills
• Networking integration aptitude

Cloud engineers play an increasingly important role in the function of companies across many industries. Read through the following frequently asked questions to learn more about what this job entails.