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Devops engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Travis Mandel Ph.D.,

Travis Mandel Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical devops engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for devops engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.1% of devops engineer resumes contained python as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a devops engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 devops engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Python

Python is a widely-known programming language. It is an object-oriented and all-purpose, coding language that can be used for software development as well as web development.

Here's how devops engineers use python:

Worked in building python Automation Frameworks for Deployment of infrastructure, configuration verification, Developed File system performance characterization and certification.
Participated in installation with Java and Python Client drivers for building client-side applications interacting with Cassandra database.

2. Docker

Docker is a software that assists with application development and is used by companies such as Netflix, Verizon, Target, and PayPal. The software's claim to fame is a unique method for packaging code called a container that allows the application to adapt to the user's home operating system.

Here's how devops engineers use docker:

Developed procedures to unify, streamline and automate application development and deployment procedures with Linux container technology using Docker.
Mentored development teams on 12 factor methodology and micro services architecture to take advantage of Docker container services.

3. Java

Java is a widely-known programming language that was invented in 1995 and is owned by Oracle. It is a server-side language that was created to let app developers "write once, run anywhere". It is easy and simple to learn and use and is powerful, fast, and secure. This object-oriented programming language lets the code be reused that automatically lowers the development cost. Java is specially used for android apps, web and application servers, games, database connections, etc. This programming language is closely related to C++ making it easier for the users to switch between the two.

Here's how devops engineers use java:

Worked as Release Engineer in field of release automation for java technologies to achieve continuous integration and continuous delivery.
Maintained repository of Java codes performing all the Configuration management activities of the project with geographically distributed team.

4. Infrastructure

Infrastructure includes the organizational and physical structures needed to run an area or a society smoothly. It is a group of basic facilities required for any society or firm to run sustainably and efficiently. The infrastructural system is a high investing area and helps majorly in flourishing the economy and prosperity of a country. It is an underlying system needed for ensuring the safety and comfort of the public and to run a country smoothly. All the tasks needed to be performed for a flourishing economy and a happy and healthy public are included in infrastructure.

Here's how devops engineers use infrastructure:

Extended an existing puppet for operation tools start-up to enable seamless full infrastructure provisioning for site redundancy and staging/development environments.
Bridged the gap between application development and operations, driving cloud infrastructure deployments, continuous integration and production support.

5. Jenkins

Jenkins is an open source automation server that is free to use. It aids continuous deployment and execution by automating the aspects of product creation related to building, analyzing, and deploying. It is a system based on the server that runs in servlet containers like Apache Tomcat. Jenkins is a Java-based fully accessible automation platform with plugins designed for Continuous Integration.

Here's how devops engineers use jenkins:

Administered JENKINS, Proposed and implemented branching strategy suitable for agile/scrum development in a Fast Paced Engineering Environment.
Implemented continuous integration using Jenkins Configured security to Jenkins and added multiple nodes for continuous deployments.

6. GIT

Here's how devops engineers use git:

Worked in GIT implementation containing various Remote repositories for a single application.
Assisted developers to apply/establish labeling conventions with GIT source control.

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7. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how devops engineers use linux:

Maintained all the Linux environments for deployments and Implemented Configuration Management, Change Management policies and procedures.
Monitored Linux server for CPU Utilization, Memory Utilization, and Disk Utilization for performance monitoring.

8. Ansible

Ansible refers to a software known for its simplicity and readable automation language. Though it can be used for many IT needs, Ansible most notably assists in application management and deployment by automating much of the provisioning needed for applications. The software also offers easy device and patch management and can be written in any programming language should the user need to modify the code in a different language.

Here's how devops engineers use ansible:

Maintained high availability clustered and standalone server environments and refined automation components with scripting and configuration management (Ansible).
Automated installing the Linux packages and administering Linux service using Ansible, and automating product installation configuration with YAML scripting.

9. Kubernetes

Kubernetes is a platform that allows users to "bundle and run" a series of applications. Using this platform provides users a way to run several applications through one kind of operating system and one form of hardware while keeping all the necessary information in a "container" with the application itself.

Here's how devops engineers use kubernetes:

Integrated Kubernetes with network, storage, and security to provide comprehensive infrastructure and orchestrated container across multiple hosts.
Created and managed test environment using Docker, Kubernetes and Vagrant, initiated instances depending upon development team requirements.

10. CI/CD

Here's how devops engineers use ci/cd:

Implemented Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines in Jenkins/Hudson to accelerate Innovation.
Started process of implementing automated CI/CD pipeline using Puppet and internally created tools.

11. Azure

Here's how devops engineers use azure:

Developed an Azure based high performance compute environment to support the massive computational requirements of client congressional redistricting Azure application.
Worked on backup functionality and design using Azure and also knowledgeable in azure based disaster recovery.

12. Configuration Management

Configuration management is a technical system of management controls that includes decisions, actions, and approvals that are applied throughout the life cycle of a program or system and that maintain the consistency of its performance, functional and physical attributes from the conceptual phase to production and finally to post-production support.

Here's how devops engineers use configuration management:

Experienced with release engineering, configuration management in Tomcat web application environment and worked on issues like heap and non-heap memory.
Used configuration management tool Chef for maintaining consistency in products performance and also for deploying consistent infrastructure code across multiple environments.

13. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how devops engineers use windows:

Performed installation, configuration and administration of Git and afterwards migrated code over to GitHub in Windows and Linux environment.
Have good experience in configuring Docker for windows systems to automation deployment process for software applications.

14. Bash

The Bourne- Again Shell, or simply BASH, is commonly known as a default command interpreter of Linux and GNU systems.

Here's how devops engineers use bash:

Automated configuration management, application deployments and cluster cloning by utilizing Bash, Python and Puppet.
Developed scripts for build, deployment, maintenance and related tasks using Jenkins, Docker, Maven, Python and Bash.

15. Ruby

Ruby is a high-level programming language, versatile in its uses and tools. It might be used to design either programs and software which can be applied and used on a number of devices, other programs, and platforms. The fact that it is a high-level programming language means that it is easier to use than low-level languages, in that it automises parts of the program building process and uses natural language for some of its elements.

Here's how devops engineers use ruby:

Maintained Jenkins continuous integration tool using shell/Perl and ruby scripts for automating releases to different environments.
AndDeveloped Puppet Manifests using ruby for provisioning applications and scripts.

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What skills help Devops Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on devops engineer resumes?

Travis Mandel Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Hilo

The number one thing that employers typically look for is a project that demonstrates your ability to program something new and useful. The best projects are ones that someone undertakes independently or with a small group of others - if it is the latter, you need to clarify what you contributed. It's even better if you include a link to public code on Github so that employers can look around your Github page and get a sense of your coding style. A working demo is also very impressive. Ideally, this wouldn't be something you were forced to do for a class but rather something you took the independent initiative to do.

College GPA doesn't matter as much as people think it does - most companies care much more about what you can do than how well you did in class. Unless it is extremely low, it shouldn't be a problem. Listing courses can be useful, but even better would be listing skills you learned in classes. For instance, the class "Artificial Intelligence" means completely different things at institutions. So employers may not necessarily understand what skills you learned in that class unless you highlight them.

What soft skills should all devops engineers possess?

Travis Mandel Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Although computer science seems like a highly technical field, soft skills are really what differentiates software engineers. One of the most important qualities of any software engineer is explaining their code clearly at various levels of technical depth and explaining why certain design decisions were made. You could write code that does amazing things, but if that code consists of snippets you pasted from StackOverflow without really fully understanding them, it will be a huge headache for anyone who needs to come into the codebase later and maintain or update it.

Another one is asking the right questions. Imagine you are dropped into a huge codebase and asked to add a new feature (very common!). There's no time to understand everything that is going on, but on the other hand, you need to understand enough of the code to do your task effectively, which involves asking questions. A failure to ask questions will likely result in you wasting a huge amount of time working on something that is ultimately not useful, for instance, re-implementing a complex function that already exists somewhere in the codebase.

What hard/technical skills are most important for devops engineers?

Travis Mandel Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Being comfortable with refactoring code is definitely one of the big ones here. Absolutely no one writes perfect code right off the bat - a good software engineer should recognize that and always be open and receptive to suggestions about improving their code. Even in the absence of such suggestions, a software engineer must be able to independently recognize that "the tower is about to fall over"! Meaning, if the code is turning into a real mess, a good software engineer will be able to realize that and independently begin refactoring it into a better state, even if that takes time away from implementing new features.

Another one I'll mention briefly is designing class inheritance diagrams to solve a new problem. The right structure here can allow components to be easily re-used and extended. But the wrong structure can lead to disastrous consequences, so it requires a lot of thought about how things will likely evolve in the future.

What devops engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Galen Duree

Head of the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering and Professor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

It again depends on what the graduate sees as their next step - graduate school or a job with a company or lab. If the next step is graduate school, the graduate should investigate what they are interested in pursuing and then where the best school is to get the experience that the graduate thinks he or she wants.

General reading about technologies or reading available articles about subjects the graduate is interested in will help generate questions they can ask potential graduate schools. This time would also be a chance to improve areas where the graduate may feel weak while an undergraduate. Many online resources can help them brush up on week background topics. Do not worry about transfer credits because that is usually not helpful in graduate school, but improve knowledge and experience in areas where the graduate feels weak. If the graduate has identified a graduate school and program to study in, the graduate school might have some recommendations about what to review. All of this will help improve success in graduate school.

If the next step is a job with a company or lab, taking courses to improve communication will help. Many technically competent or even technically brilliant people struggle with effective communication. Techniques about writing reports, making oral presentations, or communicating technical information will help improve success. The gap year also provides time to investigate technologies that the graduate wants to be involved in and the companies or labs in those areas.

Once the graduate has identified areas of interest and companies or labs that the graduate might want to work for, they can be contacted to either answer questions or point the graduate in a direction for further investigation.

In either case, a gap year can provide a chance to refine the graduate's choice for the next steps and help them prepare other skills overlooked during the undergraduate years.

What type of skills will young devops engineers need?

John Ring

Director Engineering Outreach, Elon University

While our universities consistently educate engineering students with hard skills and strong engineering fundamentals, tomorrow's engineers need to be strong communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Our professional environments are filled with data and information, and the constraint is typically how much time individuals can dedicate to solving a problem. At Elon University, we educate tomorrow's engineers to have the hard skills necessary to analyze the information and situations, apply critical thinking techniques to determine ways to solve the issue, and then concisely and efficiently communicate with colleagues as solutions are being set in motion.

Do you want to know more?

List of devops engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a devops engineer resume and required skills for a devops engineer to have include:

Python
Docker
Java
Infrastructure
Jenkins
GIT
Linux
Ansible
Kubernetes
CI/CD
Azure
Configuration Management
Windows
Bash
Ruby
SQL
Terraform

Database
PowerShell
Jira
Continuous Delivery
Amazon Web Services
Maven
GitLab
Web Services
Containerization
Microservices
Cloud Security
Unix
Version Control
Source Control
Perl
Amazon Web
Debugging

Provisioning
S3
VMware
Production Environment
Elasticsearch
Splunk
Confluence
Bitbucket
Elk
Virtualization
Source Code
IAM
DEV
Cloud Computing
RDS

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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