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Now is the perfect time to get into cloud engineering. It’s a relatively new area to work in thanks to the cutting-edge technology, and more and more businesses are looking to move towards cloud-based solutions to data management and storage. If building and managing cloud infrastructure for businesses sounds like it appeals to you, then this is the perfect career.
What does a cloud engineer do?
You day-to-day tasks will vary depending on your exact job title and the company you work for, but you can expect to have some of the following responsibilities:
- Transferring companies’ computer systems to the cloud
- Creating applications and databases to perform on the cloud
- Monitoring and managing cloud data storage
- Configuring cloud infrastructure components
- Developing strategies for data recovery and issue management
What’s it like to work as a cloud engineer?
This is a complex field to work in, and you’ll often need to collaborate with several different teams to design, implement and manage cloud-based solutions. You’ll typically work within a larger team of engineers, though you may have to take on multiple areas of the process if you’re working in a smaller organisation.
You’ll often be working in an office environment, and you’ll typically work Monday to Friday with normal working hours for this role being roughly 9am to 5pm.
What skills do you need to be a cloud engineer?
Some of the skills you’ll need to succeed in this role include:
- Understanding of coding and different coding languages
- Problem-solving skills
- System design
- Information security and relevant laws
- Good communication skills
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Analytical thinking
- Technical knowledge
How much does a cloud engineer earn?
A junior cloud engineer can expect to earn between £25,000 and £30,000. By being promoted from junior to engineer to senior or lead engineer you could see your salary jump to around £50,000 to £70,000. Cloud engineers at larger companies or those based in London can expect higher salaries, especially in more senior positions.
How to become a cloud engineer
Study an undergraduate degree
The most relevant undergraduate degree is probably cloud computing, but there are lots of other relevant degrees on offer such as computer science, software engineering and information technology which will teach you the required skills to succeed in this role. These courses usually last for three years unless you extend them by adding a year in industry or a foundation year.
Degree apprenticeship
This route allows you to learn on the job, and offers more hands-on, practical experience than a traditional degree. A Level 6 apprenticeship is equivalent to an undergraduate degree. As a degree apprentice, you’ll work for an employer and earn a salary, and you’ll spend on average one day per week studying at university. Your employer will pay your tuition fees. It may be difficult to find a degree apprenticeship in cloud engineering, but you could opt to do a related subject such as software engineering or computer science and move into cloud engineering after completing your apprenticeship.
Postgraduate degree
While not necessary to secure a graduate position, a postgraduate degree is useful with regards to career profession, for example if you want to become a senior cloud engineer. It also allows you to specialise further. These degrees take one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study to complete normally.
