The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Junior Cloud Engineer / Associate Cloud Engineer
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering core cloud services (compute, storage, networking), basic IaC execution, troubleshooting common issues, and understanding cloud security fundamentals.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully deployed and managed multiple cloud resources following existing designs.
- Consistently resolved L1/L2 support tickets independently.
- Obtained at least one associate-level cloud certification.
- Demonstrated ability to write and modify basic IaC templates.
- 2
Traditional Infrastructure Engineer (with cloud upskilling)
3-4 years (including upskilling period)Skills to master
- Transitioning from on-premises infrastructure management to cloud-native paradigms, learning IaC, cloud networking, and specific cloud provider services. This often involves self-study and certification.
You're ready to move on when
- Completed significant cloud training (e.g., a bootcamp or multiple online courses).
- Achieved at least one associate-level cloud certification.
- Built personal cloud projects demonstrating hands-on experience with IaC and core services.
- Strong foundational knowledge of Linux/Windows administration and networking.
- 3
DevOps Engineer (with cloud focus)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Deepening cloud platform knowledge, especially around CI/CD, containerisation, and observability, while retaining strong scripting and automation skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Extensive experience designing and managing CI/CD pipelines in a cloud context.
- Strong proficiency with container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Demonstrated ability to automate infrastructure and application deployments.
- Good understanding of monitoring and logging best practices in the cloud.