A comprehensive guide to becoming a DevOps engineer

Driven by the rising need to shorten the software development cycle and accelerate delivery, the DevOps market is projected to grow at 20% CAGR up to 2032 to be worth more than $70 billion.

Add to that the fact that nearly 74% of 3200 enterprises adopted DevOps post-pandemic due to the popularity of remote working, and you get a clear picture of how in-demand DevOps engineers are.

Read on to learn about the role of DevOps engineers at Shell.

Introduction to DevOps

What is DevOps?

DevOps combines development (Dev) and operations (Ops) practices to improve the software development process. It emphasizes collaboration between development teams and operations professionals, focusing on automation and continuous delivery.

The role of a DevOps engineer involves:

Building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
Managing the cloud environment
Implementing automation for repetitive tasks
Monitoring system performance
Collaborating with technical teams

Importance of DevOps in software development

The DevOps methodology has fundamentally changed how organizations approach the software development life cycle. It automates much of the integration and deployment process, which allows developers to push updates and new features faster than ever. And with quicker release cycles, teams can promptly respond to market needs or user feedback.

It also makes it easy for teams to scale their infrastructure and codebases up or down, thanks to tools like containerization and Infrastructure as Code (IaC). When usage spikes or new features are needed, the system adapts without missing a beat.

Another reason why DevOps is important in software development is that, by bringing together development and operations teams, it knocks down silos and fosters a more collaborative work environment where different teams can combine their strengths instead of working separately.

Additionally, integrating automated testing directly into the development pipeline means that code quality is constantly checked. The result is better-performing software that provides a smoother, more reliable user experience.

Lastly, since DevOps teams take care of repetitive tasks through automation, they help cut down on wasted time and reduce human error. This saves resources and lowers costs, making teams more productive and budgets less restrictive.

Also Read: Software Engineering

Skills and qualifications

Technical skills required for a DevOps engineer

A successful DevOps engineer needs a strong technical foundation, as this role brings together different facets of infrastructure, automation, and software deployment.

Here’s a brief overview of the technical skills needed to excel in this role:

Infrastructure and systems

Linux administration and networking: Linux’s open-source nature and wide-ranging development tools make it a popular choice among developers and programmers. Not to mention that Linux is dominant in the server and data center world. Administration aside, make sure to understand networking concepts like DNS, VPNs, and load balancing.
Cloud platforms: Cloud computing is at the core of most DevOps workflows since it’s key to efficiently managing and scaling infrastructures as needed. As such, familiarity with major cloud services like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform is imperative.
Container technologies: Experience with tools like Docker for containerization and Kubernetes for orchestration allows DevOps engineers to deploy applications at scale and reduce dependencies, ensuring that software runs reliably regardless of the underlying environment—like development, testing, and production.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform by HashiCorp and other IaC tools help control virtualized resources by testing configuration files like source code files. This makes it easier to manage infrastructure in a codified, repeatable way, which in turn reduces human error.

Programming and automation

Scripting languages: Python, Ruby, or Perl are often used to create automation scripts for simplifying complex processes. Knowledge of at least one of these scripting languages is crucial for managing your workflows as a DevOps engineer.
Version control with Git: As a DevOps engineer, you should be familiar with Git commands and workflows, as it’s often used for tracking code changes and collaborating with other team members for smooth project versioning and source code management.
Shell scripting: Shell scripting provides direct access to the system command line, making it ideal for quick automations and optimizations. Bash is commonly used on Linux, while PowerShell is the go-to for Windows-based environments (available for Linux and macOS as well).
CI/CD pipeline implementation: DevOps engineers build and manage Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to automate testing and deployment. Experience with tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI helps streamline code delivery and reduce manual intervention.

Monitoring and security

Performance monitoring: Understanding application and server performance metrics is key to ensuring reliable system behavior. Tools like Prometheus, New Relic, and Grafana come in handy here.
Log management and analysis: Proficiency in tools like Splunk, ELK Stack, or Datadog for log management helps DevOps engineers detect anomalies and gain insights from application logs.
Security best practices: Knowledge of best practices, from secure coding and access control to vulnerability scanning, helps safeguard the infrastructure and applications that DevOps is responsible for.

Non-technical skills and qualifications

A degree in Computer Science or Information Technology can be a huge push for anyone looking to work as a DevOps. But the great thing about this role is that it’s about what you can do, not what qualifications you have. As a matter of fact, some of the best DevOps engineers in the field are self-taught, with little in the way of formal higher education.

As long as you have the above-listed technical DevOps skills, along with core non-technical skills such as problem-solving, clear communication, project management, and a continuous learning mindset, it should be relatively easy for you to land a job as a DevOps engineer.

Learning resources

Online courses and tutorials for DevOps

Getting started with DevOps requires a structured learning approach. Here are some of the most effective certification programs and learning platforms that will help you familiarize yourself with DevOps principles:

Certifications:

Recommended learning platforms:

Books and publications to enhance DevOps knowledge

Supplement your technical knowledge of DevOps practices with these books:

Continuous Delivery: Reliable Software Releases through Build, Test, and Deployment Automation, by Jez Humble and David Farley
Infrastructure as Code: Dynamic Systems for the Cloud Age, by Kief Morris
The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win, by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford

Other resources to check out include official tool documentation (Terraform, Jenkins, etc.), cloud provider whitepapers, and tech blogs from leading organizations.

Familiarize yourself with key technologies and tools

Key tools and concepts that you must be familiar with as a DevOps engineer include:

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools

Jenkins for automation and pipeline management
GitLab CI for integrated development and deployment
CircleCI for cloud-native CI/CD
Azure DevOps Server for Microsoft-centric environments

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Terraform for multi-cloud infrastructure
AWS CloudFormation for AWS environments
Puppet for system configuration
Ansible for configuration management

Containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)

Containerization with Docker enables application consistency across different environments. It reduces configuration drift and eliminates the classic “It works on my machine” nodus by encapsulating all dependencies and configurations within the container.

Meanwhile, Kubernetes orchestrates containerized applications, handling scaling, load balancing, and failover. Moreover, it offers self-healing capabilities through which it automatically restarts containers that fail and stamps out containers that don’t respond to user-defined health checks.

The future of DevOps

Emerging trends and technologies

The world of DevOps is experiencing significant growth, with the market expected to expand to $25.5 billion in 2028 compared to $10.4 billion in 2023.

Several key trends that are shaping the future of DevOps culture include:

Microservice architecture: Organizations are breaking down applications into smaller, independently deployable components to improve agility and scalability.
Cloud-native technology: This approach leverages microservices, containers, and immutable infrastructure to enable faster iteration and reduced dependencies.
AI/ML integration: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to automate repetitive tasks and optimize resource allocation.
Low-code applications: This trend is helping organizations automate business processes and increase the speed of the software delivery process while reducing IT costs through drag-and-drop tools.
GitOps adoption: A new approach to managing infrastructure and code in DevOps pipelines, offering improved agility, security, and stability.
DevSecOps (Agile security): Short for development, security, and operations, this is an extension of the DevOps practice that focuses on security being an intrinsic part of the development process.

Shell’s approach to innovation in DevOps

At Shell, we’ve developed a unique DevOps model through our “Edge” framework.

“At Shell, we are not using the term Agile, we are using the term ‘Edge.’ Edge is a wrap-up around Scrum and DevOps.”

Gregory Dubus, Business IRM Manager at Shell

We use “Edge” as an umbrella term for embedding Agile and Lean principles across the organization, implementing it based on specific criteria:

Projects where speed to market is crucial
Prototypes and proofs of concept
Non-business-critical applications
Projects requiring 6-8 team members or fewer
Situations with unclear business requirements

We still maintain a bi-model methodology where we choose between Agile and Waterfall:

Agile, which allows for changes to be made after the initial planning, for projects requiring uncertainty management and quick decisions.

Waterfall, which stresses meticulous record keeping for projects that prioritize safety, accuracy, and control.

How to apply for a DevOps position at Shell

Application process overview

Here’s a step-by-step overview of our application process:

Explore current vacancies and click “Send your application online” for suitable roles.
No suitable vacancies at the moment? We recommend creating a personal profile and joining the Shell Talent Community to receive updates on future opportunities.
You’ll receive a confirmation email after submitting your application. You’ll also be able to monitor the status of your application by logging on to Candidate Home.
If your application is successful, a telephone interview will be arranged within 2 weeks. This interview will last anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes.
Successful phone interviews lead to an assessment within 3 weeks. The assessment may include scenario-based exercises, presentations, or interviews.

Please note that:

Timelines are indicative, and high application volumes may result in delays.
Shell doesn’t request payments from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process
All successful candidates must go through Shell’s formal recruitment process.

Tips for a successful application

Consider the following tips for a successful application:

Tailor your resume to the job description, highlighting relevant achievements and experiences.
Research Shell and its values before applying and be sure to read the job description thoroughly.
Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method for interview answers.
Have 2-3 examples of your work achievements ready (include numbers/results when possible).
Don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and growth opportunities.

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FAQs

Jumpstart your journey in tech

At Shell, DevOps is more than just a technical role; it’s an opportunity to develop your expertise across multiple domains, collaborate with different teams from around the world, and contribute to transformative projects.

Interested in a dynamic and fulfilling career in DevOps? Discover the opportunities and pathways Shell offers for aspiring DevOps engineers. Join our DevOps team to innovate and lead in the technology sector.

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