DevOps Engineer
Technology & Computing · Engineering
DevOps Engineers streamline software delivery by building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines, container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes), infrastructure as code and monitoring systems. Key tools include Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Terraform, Ansible and cloud platforms.
Salary (Nigeria)
₦2,000,000 – ₦14,000,000 / year
Salary (International)
$20,000 – $140,000 / year
Exam requirements
Career pathway
Secondary School Education
6 years
Build a strong foundation in Mathematics, English, Computer Studies, Physics, and other relevant subjects.
Bachelor's Degree
4-5 years
Earn a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Programming Fundamentals
2-6 months
Study programming languages such as Python, Bash, Go, or JavaScript to automate tasks and build scripts.
Master Linux Administration
2-4 months
Learn Linux commands, shell scripting, user management, networking, file systems, and server administration.
Learn Networking Concepts
1-3 months
Understand networking fundamentals such as TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, firewalls, VPNs, and load balancing.
Version Control (Git)
2-4 weeks
Understand Git workflows, branching, merging, pull requests, and collaboration using GitHub or GitLab.
Cloud Computing
3-6 months
Gain practical experience with AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, including compute, storage, networking, and security services.
Containers (Docker)
1-2 months
Learn how to create, deploy, and manage containerized applications using Docker.
Container Orchestration (Kubernetes)
2-4 months
Understand Kubernetes architecture, deployments, services, scaling, and cluster management.
Study Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
1-2 months
Learn Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, or similar tools to automate infrastructure provisioning.
Learn Configuration Management
1-2 months
Use Ansible, Puppet, or Chef to automate server configuration and software deployment.
Master CI/CD Pipelines
2-3 months
Build automated software delivery pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or Azure DevOps.
Learn Monitoring and Logging
1-2 months
Monitor infrastructure using Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, or similar observability tools.
Gain Internship or Entry-Level Experience
6-12 months
Work as a System Administrator, Cloud Support Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), or Junior DevOps Engineer to gain practical experience.
Build a Professional Portfolio
1-3 months
Publish DevOps projects, automation scripts, and documentation on GitHub to demonstrate practical skills to employers.
Apply for DevOps Engineer Roles
1-6 months
Prepare a strong CV, practice technical interviews, and apply for DevOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Platform Engineer, or SRE positions.
Common challenges
Steep Learning Curve
DifficultDevOps combines software development, system administration, networking, cloud computing, security, and automation, making it challenging for beginners.
How to handle: Follow a structured learning roadmap, focus on one topic at a time, and practice consistently.
Learning Linux
ModerateMost DevOps environments use Linux, which can be unfamiliar to users accustomed to Windows.
How to handle: Use Linux as your primary operating system or in a virtual machine and practice daily.
Mastering Cloud Platforms
ModerateCloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud offer hundreds of services that can be overwhelming.
How to handle: Start with core services (Compute, Storage, Networking, IAM) before exploring advanced services.
Understanding Networking
DifficultNetworking concepts like DNS, routing, firewalls, and load balancing are essential but often difficult to grasp.
How to handle: Study networking fundamentals and build small network labs using virtualization tools.
Learning Multiple Tools
DifficultDevOps engineers work with many tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Terraform, Git, and Ansible.
How to handle: Learn one tool at a time and understand its purpose before moving to the next.
Collaboration Across Teams
ManageableDevOps requires close collaboration between developers, operations, QA, and security teams.
How to handle: Improve communication skills and use collaboration tools such as Jira, Slack, and GitHub.
Certification Costs
ManageableProfessional DevOps and cloud certifications can be expensive.
How to handle: Use free learning resources first and pursue certifications when financially ready or employer-sponsored.
See your match score
Register free to take the career quiz and get a personalised match % for this career, including subject gaps and university options.
Key skills
Resources
Minimum qualification
B.Sc. Computer Science or related field