What’s Expected from a DevOps Engineer in 2025
Let’s be real for a second — being a DevOps engineer in 2024 isn’t what it used to be. The expectations are higher, the toolset is wider, and the pressure to keep up is constant. It’s not just about being able to use a few tools here and there. You’ve got to know how to make everything work together seamlessly, troubleshoot problems on the fly, and keep your systems running like a well-oiled machine. So, let’s talk about what’s really expected from you this year.
Automation & Deployment Tools
Alright, first things first. You’re expected to have a solid handle on automation and deployment tools. We’re talking Ansible, Terraform, Jenkins, or GitLab Actions — basically, whatever the job needs. I’ve worked with them all, and you need to know these inside and out. Throw in some AWS Pipeline for cloud-native CI/CD, and you’re golden.
Testing tools? You better be familiar with JUnit and Selenium to make sure everything is working as it should before you push anything to production. Oh, and don’t forget Docker and Kubernetes — those two are pretty much standard now. If you can’t deploy and manage containers, you’re already behind.
Know Your Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP)
It’s not enough to just dip your toes in the cloud anymore. Whether it’s AWS, Azure, or GCP, you need to be able to handle cloud infrastructure. Like, really handle it — deploy it, maintain it, troubleshoot it. General AWS knowledge is expected, especially when it comes to managing resources, IAM roles, and setting up solid pipelines. If you’re not comfortable working in the cloud by now, you need to be.
Networking Skills (Don’t Skip This!)
Here’s something people forget way too often — networking. Everyone wants to talk about containers and automation, but the real unsung hero of a good DevOps setup is networking. You need to understand subnets, traffic flows, and DNS. And not just on the surface level — I’m talking TCP state, stateful firewalls, and BGP filtering. Being the DevOps engineer who can troubleshoot a networking issue puts you in a league of your own.
Trust me, most teams don’t have someone who can handle private networking at scale. And when things go south, guess who they’re calling? You. So, get good at it.
Containerization & Pipelines
Containerization isn’t going anywhere. If you’re not already comfortable with Docker and Kubernetes, you need to be. But it’s not just about spinning up containers — you’ve got to know how to integrate them into deployment pipelines. Whether it’s Jenkins, GitLab, or AWS Pipeline, your job is to make sure that code moves from dev to prod without any hiccups.
It’s not just about using the tools — it’s about understanding how they work together. That’s the secret sauce. If you can troubleshoot when something goes wrong, you’re already ahead of the game.
Scripting & Coding
You’re not just here to push buttons. You need to script. Python, Bash, CMD — all of it. And don’t sleep on knowing a bit of OOP, whether it’s Java or C#. You need to be able to write code that automates processes, debugs issues, and keeps things running smoothly. If you can’t code at least a little, you’re going to struggle.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Here’s where things get real. Infrastructure as Code is the backbone of modern DevOps. Tools like Terraform or CloudFormation are standard. You need to know how to build and deploy infrastructure using code, and more importantly, how to integrate that into your pipelines. This isn’t optional — it’s a must-have skill. If you’re not there yet, start learning now.
Don’t Just Know Tools — Understand Integration
Look, it’s easy to get caught up in learning the latest tools, but that’s not enough. What separates the good from the great is understanding how all these tools work together. Integration is key. You should know how to troubleshoot when something breaks during deployment or when automation doesn’t fire off the way it should.
Networked Resources at Scale
This is where you can really stand out. Most DevOps teams are lacking in this area. Sure, they can set up a VPC or some basic networking, but when it comes to scaling networked resources, they’re lost. If you can deploy networked resources at scale and really understand private networking, you’ll be a rare find.
I’ve worked with teams where no one knew more than the basics of networking, and it became a huge bottleneck. If you can master networking and still write solid code, you’ll be the MVP of any DevOps team.
The Big Takeaway
Here’s the deal — being a DevOps engineer in 2024 isn’t just about learning the hottest tools or checking off boxes. It’s about understanding how to integrate all these pieces together, troubleshoot issues, and keep everything running smoothly. You’ve got to know the tools, sure, but more importantly, you’ve got to know how to use them together.
If you can combine solid networking knowledge, scripting skills, and an understanding of automation pipelines, you’re going to be nearly irreplaceable. And that’s the goal, right?
.
