Cloud Engineering is a field that merges software development, IT operations, and cloud infrastructure management to enhance and automate the software development process. It has emerged as a highly sought-after skill set in the tech industry, leading us to introduce a new Cloud Engineering Course for beginners looking to acquire the necessary skills to become proficient cloud engineers.

What is a Cloud Engineer?

A Cloud Engineer (also known as a Cloud Platform Engineer) is responsible for automating and optimising the software development process within cloud environments. They collaborate with software developers and IT operations staff to design, deploy, and maintain software applications in the cloud.

Cloud engineers use a variety of tools and techniques to automate the software development process and ensure that software applications are delivered swiftly and reliably.

Their roles and responsibilities may include:

• Automating the software development process using various tools and techniques
• Collaborating with software developers and IT operations staff to design and deploy software applications in the cloud
• Ensuring that software applications are delivered swiftly and reliably
• Designing and implementing Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines for cloud-based applications
• Monitoring and maintaining software applications to guarantee their availability and reliability
• Troubleshooting and resolving issues with software applications and cloud infrastructure, ensuring that security and compliance requirements are met

How to become a Cloud Engineer

To become a cloud engineer, you need a strong understanding of software development, IT operations, and the tools and techniques used in cloud environments. The Northcoders Cloud Engineering Course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of principles and practices, as well as hands-on experience with the tools and technologies used in the field.

The course covers a variety of topics, including:

• Cloud computing: Students will learn about cloud computing concepts and how they relate to servers and cloud providers like AWS. They will gain awareness of cloud services, interaction choices, and key concepts.
• Infrastructure as code: Using infrastructure as code tooling, students will learn to create servers and infrastructure within cloud environments. They will write code to create servers and services and learn considerations for designing for the cloud, such as regions, availability zones, and designing for failure.
• Application deployment: Students will understand and create their own Kubernetes cluster. They will operate this cluster and deploy applications in the form of Docker containers. The course also covers automating the deployment through Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) tools and monitoring and observability of those applications.
• Project week: This is where students apply everything they have learned to deploy a set of applications in their cloud environment. Using all the previous skills, they will create servers and services, build and deploy applications, and set up monitoring for when the applications are running.
  

Cloud Engineer Career Paths

It's a rapidly growing field, and there are many career paths available for those who wish to pursue a career in this area. As a cloud engineer, you could find yourself working for a variety of different companies in a range of industries, including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and technology.

One of the most common career paths for cloud engineers is to start as a junior cloud engineer or cloud engineering intern, working under the supervision of more experienced engineers. From there, you can work your way up to a senior cloud engineer or cloud architect role, which typically involves leading cloud engineering projects and managing teams of engineers.

Another potential career path for cloud engineers is to specialise in a specific area of cloud engineering, such as infrastructure as code, containerisation, or continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD). This can involve developing expertise in a specific tool or technology, such as Kubernetes or Docker, and becoming a subject matter expert in that area.

Overall, the career opportunities for cloud engineers are varied and exciting, and the demand for skilled engineers is only going to grow in the coming years. With the right training and experience, you can build a successful and rewarding career in this field.

What industries need Cloud Engineers?
In terms of industries, nearly every company can benefit from Cloud Engineer practices, from small startups to large enterprises. The financial sector, for example, relies heavily on technology to manage their operations, and Cloud Engineers can help them to ensure the smooth and secure delivery of their services. In healthcare, Cloud Engineers can help to ensure the reliability and security of medical software and systems. E-commerce companies can use Cloud Engineers to improve their website and app performance and increase their online sales.

In the technology industry, Cloud engineering is already widely adopted and is becoming an essential part of software development and delivery. Tech companies of all sizes, from startups to global giants like Amazon and Google, rely heavily on it to deliver their software products quickly and efficiently.

Becoming a Cloud engineer requires a strong understanding of software development, IT operations, and the tools and techniques used, and the Northcoders Cloud Engineer Course is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to kick start their careers. See our Cloud Engineer bootcamp page for more information