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Demand for DevOps engineers is growing considerably faster than supply, and the IT skills shortage is set to worsen in the years ahead: more than 80% of CIOs in Germany expect the strategic importance of IT in their organisation to increase over the next five years, because it is, or is becoming, part of the core business. (Roth & Heimann, 2022)
This development is well supported by the figures. While around 54,000 vacancies in IT occupations were recorded across Germany at the end of 2021, the industry association Bitkom reported almost 96,000 vacancies in Germany alone at the beginning of 2022. (Bitkom e.V., 2022)
And in the future, too, the IT skills shortage will worsen massively owing to demographic change and despite rising numbers of IT students: BCG forecasts that Germany will be short of around 1.1 million IT specialists by 2030. (Specht, 2022)
In general, many IT occupations are young and often closely related. On the one hand, this means that there is often considerable confusion about job titles and responsibilities; on the other, it means that there is a great deal of mobility at both horizontal and vertical levels.
But now to DevOps engineers: what are their core tasks, and what requirements must a DevOps engineer meet?
First of all, DevOps describes the merging of two sub-disciplines: “Development = Dev” and “IT Operations = Ops”. A DevOps engineer works in all areas of a company where software supports daily business processes. (Klasen, n.d.)
DevOps engineers are tasked with making the workflows of software development, operation and quality management efficient. They draw on the approaches of so-called agile software development while also being familiar with classic system administration. They work across departments and collaborate with managers, developers and administrators to improve a software product.
Typical tasks of a DevOps engineer include:
- Cloud administration activities
- Development of hybrid cloud applications
- Planning and carrying out software releases and tests
- Development, automation and optimisation of operational processes, and much more
DevOps engineers are specialised IT experts – but are nevertheless able to focus on other areas later on, whether in cloud computing, as a data visualiser, a data scientist or even in management leadership roles. A DevOps engineer can in principle be found in every industry that supports its business processes with software – which is another reason why they are in such demand. (Klasen, n.d.)
Which qualifications should a DevOps engineer have?
A DevOps engineer has often successfully completed a degree in (business) informatics, engineering or mathematics and/or a vocational qualification as an IT specialist (Fachinformatiker). Internships and proven professional experience with in-depth knowledge of IT administration, software development, programming and scripting are an advantage. (Klasen, n.d.)
Sources:
Bitkom e.V. (3 January 2022). https://www.bitkom.org. Retrieved from https://www.bitkom.org/Presse/Presseinformation/IT-Fachkraefteluecke-wird-groesser
Klasen, F. (n.d.). techminds.de. Retrieved from https://techminds.de/jobprofile/devops-engineer/#DevOps_Engineer_Definition_Key_Facts
Roth, D. L., & Heimann, T. (March 2022). https://www.capgemini.com/. Retrieved from https://www.capgemini.com/de-de/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/08/Studie-IT-Trends-2022.pdf
Specht, F. (7 February 2022). handelsblatt.com. Retrieved from https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/arbeitsmarkt-fachkraefteluecke-in-den-it-berufen-so-gross-wie-nie/28046062.html
