Cloud computing professionals are in high demand. According to SoftwareOne, 95% of companies are currently experiencing a cloud and IT skills gap that they’re desperate to fill, making cloud computing a lucrative career to explore.
In this article, we’ll look at the different types of cloud computing careers you could choose. But first, let’s discuss why cloud computing has become so important for modern businesses.
The Importance of Cloud Computing in the Modern Workplace
The modern business workplace is growing increasingly dynamic and challenging against the backdrop of big data, globalization, rapid technological innovations, saturated competitiveness, and evolving trends.
To keep up, businesses are embracing the cloud. Cloud computing enriches modern workplaces with flexible communications, enhanced scalability, organizational innovation, and more.
But there’s a problem.
Cloud computing requires comprehensive expertise. This has created a significant and disruptive skills gap, felt by 95% of companies.
Security and compliance challenges, application performance issues and outages, and missed KPIs limiting innovation were deemed the most taxing repercussions, as per the aforementioned SoftwareOne study.
The solution to this problem is to close the skills gap by hiring cloud computing professionals.
7 Cloud Computing Careers Businesses Seek Out
Are you considering beginning a career in tech or expanding into a new tech path? We’ve compiled a list of different cloud computing careers you could look into, including their responsibilities and education/experience requirements.
Cloud solutions architect
A cloud architect is responsible for designing, deploying, and overseeing an organization’s cloud infrastructure.
They typically work with businesses in the early stages of cloud transformation to develop a secure and scalable cloud infrastructure that meets organizational objectives. This encompasses a wide range of duties that require comprehensive technical expertise and understanding.
Here are some duties that you might undertake as a cloud solutions architect:
Perform comprehensive needs analysis to evaluate the most effective cloud providers and solutions.
Design and implement relevant cloud strategies, such as cloud adoption, migration, integration, or cloud application design.
Work with software developers and DevOps engineers to develop architecture solutions, including cloud-based applications and software.
Monitor cloud application, software, and hardware integrity.
Address technical issues.
Work with IT security teams to implement robust cloud security.
How to become a solutions architect: While a computer-related degree is certainly beneficial, you don’t need a degree to start your tech career anymore. There are so many different ways to learn—free online courses, bootcamps, self-teaching, and more. Certifications, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, also demonstrate your knowledge.
Cloud software engineer
Cloud software engineers build and maintain an organization’s computer software, business applications, operating systems, and more. They combine programming language knowledge with engineering principles to build solutions and systems that are reliable, scalable, intuitive, and high-performing.
Key tasks of cloud software engineers include:
Identifying and analyzing user requirements.
Designing and maintaining software systems and apps in alignment with user specifications.
Writing, testing, and refining code.
Integrating new software with existing software and verifying platform compatibility.
Optimizing software for speed and scalability across devices and platforms.
Recommending and implementing software upgrades.
How to become a software engineer: Some entry-level software engineer roles may require you to have, or to be working towards, a computer-related bachelor’s degree. That said, for a long time employers have valued experiences and skills more than education.
Employers look for candidates with programming language proficiency and experience designing interactive applications.
Cloud security specialist
Cloud security specialists are responsible for protecting cloud systems against security threats. As well as designing and implementing security measures, they continuously monitor their employer or client’s cloud-based systems to identify and quickly resolve threats.
A cloud security specialist has several key responsibilities:
Creating and deploying a strategic cloud security plan.
Evaluating existing cloud infrastructure to identify potential risks.
Designing and implementing new cloud security features and policies, such as password controls, authentications, and encryptions.
Keeping up-to-date with threat intelligence and cybersecurity best practices to continuously implement enhanced security measures.
Detecting threats and assisting with incident response and resolution.
While cloud security specialists are needed in every industry, they’re particularly crucial for industries that handle vast volumes of sensitive data, such as finance and health. Finance industries in particular are a prime target for attacks, ranking #1 as the industry most impacted by data breaches.
So, cloud security specialists are highly sought after. They help businesses select and utilize security-first financial services software, paying close attention to whether they deliver features such as AI-powered fraud detection, centralized documentation, and audit controls.
How to become a cloud security specialist: To become a security specialist, you’ll need several years of experience in both computer science and cybersecurity. Additional certifications will increase your desirability (for example, CISSP, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional).
Cloud systems administrator
A cloud systems administrator collaborates with other IT professionals, engineers, and architects to design and maintain the smooth operation of network connections and computer systems. Their main goal is to make sure that all cloud services work optimally for clients and businesses.
Cloud administrators perform a variety of admin tasks. For example, they:
Install and configure computer systems in alignment with client specifications.
Troubleshoot and resolve cloud system and application issues.
Monitor and improve network performance to make sure it meets clients’ needs.
Assist with the continuous deployment of cloud security tasks such as patching, permissions, and server configuration updates.
How to become a cloud systems administrator: Obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or a closely related field, such as electronics. Or, complete online courses or bootcamps, and gather experience as a junior cloud systems administrator or help-desk technician. A master’s degree and certifications are also beneficial.
As a cloud systems administrator, you’ll need to know how to navigate different operating systems and use a range of different tools, specifically cross-platform network traffic monitoring and analysis tools that give you full visibility into your network.
Cloud project manager
A cloud project manager is primarily tasked with implementing and coordinating large-scale cloud projects. They oversee the execution of projects from planning to completion, managing scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, and resources.
A cloud project manager leverages a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure and computer science to guide projects to completion.
Their duties are to:
Define the scope of a project in alignment with wider strategic goals.
Conduct a comprehensive project plan that details schedules, deadlines, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocations.
Perform risk assessment and management.
Monitor project progress and conduct continuous quality assurance.
Motivate and incentivize teams.
A cloud project manager will leverage advanced tools including professional services automation platforms to aid success. These platforms use AI to provide real-time and predictive workflow and availability insights. This allows cloud project managers to accurately evaluate team performance, quash bottlenecks before they strike, reallocate resources in alignment with needs, and more.
How to become a cloud project manager: This role requires professional project management experience along with a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure. Some people major in project management and do a master’s degree in a computer-related subject. Others might gain a computer-related bachelor’s degree and obtain project management skills through further education or on-the-job experience.
Cloud DevOps engineer
A cloud development operations (DevOps) engineer specializes in developing, deploying, and managing code releases for cloud-based applications and infrastructure. They work with development and operations teams, validating that applications can be deployed and upgraded at high velocity while remaining stable, efficient, and secure.
DevOps engineers have a wide range of responsibilities. Common daily duties may include:
Planning and developing new code, development tools, and infrastructure.
Developing continuous integrations using programming languages such as Java and Python.
Implementing and utilizing automation tools and strategies to streamline development and release processes.
Testing and evaluating written code.
Fixing bugs in code and troubleshooting issues.
How to become a cloud DevOps Engineer: DevOps engineers typically have a computer science, programming, or engineering bachelor’s degree along with substantial and diverse knowledge of different operating systems, programming languages, and DevOps frameworks.
But again, there are alternative routes, including bootcamps and professional courses.
Data scientist with cloud expertise
A data scientist extracts, analyzes, and interprets data to uncover actionable insights and communicate them to companies to drive pivotal improvements.
Armed with cloud expertise, data scientists can leverage cloud-based tools and technologies, such as data mining, AI, and machine learning, along with various other technical, statistical, and analytical skills.
The primary responsibilities of a data scientist are as follows:
Mining and analyzing data to extract useful insights.
Cleaning and validating data to improve data accuracy.
Uncovering data patterns and relationships that may illuminate solutions.
Understanding and implementing statistical learning models to develop new algorithms, tests, and predictive solutions.
Leveraging automated data systems, machine learning applications, and statistical methodologies to streamline processes.
Communicating findings to stakeholders via reports.
How to become a data scientist: Along with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in data science or data analytics, a data scientist role typically requires several years of experience. You’ll need to hone excellent data analysis, data mining, mathematics, machine learning, programming, and statistical skills and knowledge.
But you can still launch a thriving career without a degree. Ironhack’s Data Analytics Bootcamp can give you the skills and portfolio gold you need to kickstart your career and land entry-level roles.
Discover Your Future in Tech Today
With so many different paths to explore—and so many businesses eager to fill their cloud skills gap—a cloud computing career has plenty to offer. If you have what it takes, why not take the plunge and supercharge your career? Enroll in one of Ironhack’s bootcamps today.
