How to Become a Cloud Engineer: A Complete Guide

Cloud engineers are critical members of an organization’s technology infrastructure. As more companies move their processes to the cloud,  there has been growing demand for those with the skills to implement and maintain the complex components in the cloud. As we explore in a separate guide, they often have great starting salaries with an average of $127,126 base.

Cloud engineers bridge the gap between traditional IT and cloud infrastructure. They ensure that organizations can harness the full potential of cloud computing while maintaining efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.

The rapid growth of interest in cloud engineers is due to how cloud computing has changed the IT landscape. While traditional on-prem IT requires costly hardware upgrades to grow and more hands-on management, cloud computing offers easy scalability, reduced hardware costs, and improved operational resiliency.

There are plenty of large cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure paving the way. Each of these are capable of handling large global infrastructures such as Netflix and Spotify. These complicated ecosystems require expertise that completely aligns with a cloud engineer’s skill set.

What Does a Cloud Engineer Do?

Cloud engineers are at the heart of the organization’s cloud environment. The main tasks of a cloud engineer are: designing cloud architecture, security management, DevOps, and programming cloud tools. The architecture design focuses on performance and cost efficiency. A good cloud engineer must be able to create an environment that not only scales and performs well but also manages costs as much as possible.

A lot of cloud security is handed off to the cloud provider, but a cloud engineer must monitor suspicious activity and user access. They often are in charge of addressing potential security issues, hiding sensitive data, and monitoring the movement of information. Each environment has its unique security requirements but resources like Understanding Microsoft Azure Architecture and Services and AWS Security and Cost Management cover many of the foundational concepts.

DevOps principles guide a cloud engineer's work for deploying applications. They leverage tools like Docker and Kubernetes for streamlined application deployment and management, bridging the gap between development and operations. This integration enables faster, more reliable software delivery and infrastructure management.

Programming skills are essential for creating custom tools, and developing cloud-optimized applications. Languages like Python and Bash are amongst the most common for cloud engineers. Cloud engineers often collaborate with software developers to deploy applications and so need to be able to understand code so that it can be implemented properly in the cloud.

Pathways to Becoming a Cloud Engineer

There are two main routes to becoming a cloud engineer - through a degree or through self-directed learning. Let’s explore both: 

Traditional path: Degree in computer science

The traditional pathway to becoming a cloud engineer often begins with a degree in computer science. You’ll want to take courses focusing on the core computing principles essential for cloud engineering. 

Some key coursework may include networking courses where they learn about protocols and network security crucial for managing complex cloud infrastructures. Programming courses are also important for skills like automation and application development. Database management and cybersecurity are also critical since cloud computing is often data-centric and security-focused.

Many universities now offer specialized courses in cloud fundamentals that cover these topics. These classes often provide hands-on experience with major cloud platforms. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience prepares graduates for the multifaceted challenges of cloud engineering in today's digital landscape.

How to become a cloud engineer without a degree

A computer science degree is helpful but not always required. Many successful professionals in this field do not have a technical degree but learned through self-study, certifications, and hands-on projects. You can start by using free online resources, like free courses, tutorials, and documentation from major cloud providers. 

Platforms like DataCamp offer structured learning paths in cloud computing, such as a complete guide to GCP’s BigQuery. You can choose courses based on your platform of interest, like some resources linked above.

Building a strong portfolio of practical projects is crucial as it proves you have some hands-on experience with the technology. They can help demonstrate real-world skills to potential employers and provide valuable experience. 

Many self-taught engineers also contribute to open-source projects or participate in hackathons to gain exposure and build their professional network. Look at this blog about cloud computing projects for some ideas!

Cloud certifications are another key part of validating your expertise and opening doors to career opportunities. 

Certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Professional Architect, or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals are highly regarded in the industry, and you can find other popular ones in our article on cloud certifications. 

There are plenty of online resources like our Microsoft Azure Fundamentals track and Google Cloud Certification blog to get you started.  While certifications alone don't guarantee success, they definitely boost your credibility without a traditional degree. 

Since many of these exams require very practical and in-depth knowledge of the cloud platforms, they are often seen as equivalent replacements for a traditional degree.

How to Become a Cloud Engineer With No Experience

Getting your first job can be daunting, but there are plenty of ways to make yourself stand out. Start with your fundamental skills and build up your resume with certifications and portfolio projects.

Building foundational skills

A good first step is making sure you have the foundational skills necessary to be a cloud engineer; you can do this with education and projects!  

If you have a degree, you may already have the fundamental cloud knowledge to start applying for jobs. If you do not have a degree or feel like brushing up on the fundamentals, take some beginner-friendly courses on to flesh out those skills! 

A great beginner resource is our course on Understanding Cloud Computing.

Developing skills in key areas

Once you get the basics down, it’s time to grow your skills in more intermediate and advanced technologies. Start expanding into new tools like other cloud platforms. Focus more on certain aspects such as efficiency, security, or data integration. 

Start understanding the integration between multiple products more effectively and different layers of application. For instance, understanding something like AWS Kinesis and Lambda for streaming data is a great entry into more advanced cloud implementations.

Work on projects and build your portfolio 

Once you feel comfortable with the beginner concepts, start with some personal projects to showcase those skills. These personal projects are important to show you not only know about the skills, but also how to apply them in a practical way. 

If you are unsure about where to start with projects, there are plenty of guides on that can help you get started. You can also start using DataLab to build your portfolio of projects.

On your journey in personal projects, you will inadvertently run into open-source tools. If you find that these tools have issues or missing features you would like, then consider contributing to these open-source projects. Not only does this greatly improve your technical skills, it also showcases a few key things: 

• The ability to solve problems
• Understanding how to work on projects with multiple developers
• Documented work through pull requests

Networking and mentorship

Being part of a larger community is a great way to start getting insight into the industry and build connections. Joining an online community like DataCamp, Reddit, LinkedIn, or Discord is a great way to start your network. Attending in-person meet-ups is also a wonderful way to meet folks. Finding others in the community can provide you with resources and motivation to work through problems.

On top of these communities being a great support for resources, it is a great opportunity to find a mentor. Finding a mentor can give you more concrete support from someone who is more experienced and can tell you what to expect on the job. They can also provide support for building resumes, interview tips, and support.

Applying for jobs

When applying to jobs, you’ll need to make sure you have a strong resume and interview skills. Make sure to look at resources like our AWS interview questions article and our GCP interview questions article. These can helo you prepare for the interview ahead of time, and each has tips on how to give a good account of yourself. 

How Long Does It Take to Become a Cloud Engineer?

The timeline for becoming a cloud engineer depends on your path. A more traditional path requires a 4-year degree, which can take longer than certifications but offers the opportunity to get a job more quickly. With some IT experience, transitioning to a career as a cloud engineer becomes easier. 

If you are taking a non-traditional pathway requiring coursework and certifications, it can take six months to a year to really get the foundational knowledge necessary to pass the exams. You need to take courses, build up your knowledge, and take practice exams. After finishing the certifications, it can take a little bit of time to find a job.

Becoming an AWS Cloud Engineer

One area of focus could be an AWS Cloud Engineer. This means you specialize in the AWS cloud environment. Make sure you have a solid understanding of key AWS services like EC2, S3, Lambda, and Glue. A great way to do this is the introduction to AWS course on DataCamp. Afterward, make sure you continue to deepen your knowledge with other courses.  Build a portfolio of some of the top AWS projects to showcase this expertise!

Additionally, you should get a certification in AWS. A great first certification to get is the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification called CLF-C02. Follow an AWS Cloud Certification track to get guidance on the knowledge necessary to pass the exam. By obtaining a certification, you’ve shown dedication to the platform and the ability to focus on your goals.

Conclusion

Ultimately, there are many ways to become a cloud engineer. Whether you follow a traditional or non-traditional pathway, there are many opportunities for success. The main focus should be on building your understanding of cloud foundations, portfolio projects, and obtaining certifications. Make sure to leverage the multitude of resources available at DataCamp to get started:

• Understanding Cloud Computing
• AWS Cloud and Technology Services
• Introduction to GCP
• Understanding Microsoft Azure and Service