Are you currently considering a career in cloud computing?
The growth in popularity of cloud computing jobs is brought by the need for companies and organizations to digitize and efficiently handle enormous amounts of data. Garner reports that by 2025, 95 percent of new digital workloads will utilize cloud-native platforms. Cloud revenue was also estimated to surpass non-cloud revenue bringing forth the need for skilled cloud computing professionals in the IT industry.
Through this data we see the significance of cloud computing as essential technology that has become critical in the growth and development of many businesses. CEOs and other leaders have invested heavily in the products and services derived from cloud computing technology.
Cloud computing provides users with direct access to cloud services without needing laptops or desktops. It aims to enhance the safety of various enterprises, makes projections, and analyzes emerging trends in technology, while hosting a slew of business applications and services on the cloud.
Cloud computing is a critical component of industry 4.0, its products and services have reached a certain level of ubiquity, thus driving the need for more professionals skilled in cloud computing.
The current cloud computing jobs in the market call for tech professionals who possess a keen understanding of the needs of today’s global economy and can provide solutions to address these needs.
This article covers three of the top cloud computing jobs for 2023, what each role entails, and what skills a tech professional should have to succeed in these roles.
Top Cloud Computing Jobs of 2023:
1. Cloud Architect
Good cloud architecture naturally calls for a good cloud architect.
An ideal cloud architect thoroughly understands various technologies across all cloud brands. Cloud architects are known to not present any biases towards any technology. This is because they need to know the ins and outs of various legacy, cloud, and edge technologies utilized in cloud computing, and having bias will affect their ability to do their job efficiently.
A cloud architect typically trains on the job by leading a team of tech professionals on various projects. This is why it is essential that a good cloud architect displays knowledge in other aspects of cloud computing, such as cloud engineering, cloud development, data engineering, computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and any other related fields.
The latest data revealed that as of January 2023, the average annual salary of a cloud architect is pegged at USD 200,000.
2. Cloud Engineer
The cloud computing industry also has a strong need for cloud engineers right now.
A cloud engineer is responsible for maintaining the health and functionality of cloud computing services. Should problems arise, a cloud engineer is responsible for troubleshooting and restoring normal operations.
A cloud engineer typically oversees the development, testing, and deployment of cloud functions and services. Additionally, being knowledgeable in operating public clouds via single or even multiple deployments is a great advantage. Since this is a rather broad role, a company typically hires more than one cloud engineer to perform different cloud computing roles.
Similar to the role of a cloud architect, an ideal cloud engineer needs in-depth knowledge of the many aspects of cloud computing. Cloud computing roles are usually complex but demand a unique combination of technical skills. It is great to have certifications, but like a cloud architect, a cloud engineer learns on the job and has in-depth knowledge of more than one brand.
The average yearly salary of a cloud engineer as of December 2022 is USD 113,056.
3. Cloud Security Engineer
Cloud computing jobs should always have cloud security at the forefront of all their operations. Cloud developers can only call themselves successful if they succeed in cloud security.
The cloud security engineer is tasked to design, implement, operate, update, and maintain the cloud’s security system. The tech professional suitable for this role should have in-depth knowledge of cloud security and security in general. This involves network security, data and storage security, identity management, and multifactor authentication.
Malicious actors are increasingly causing cloud breaches. A cloud security engineer needs to be able to handle the latest threats in a single or multi-cloud system.
While each cloud provider claims to offer the best cloud security, a cloud security engineer identifies and understands the best form of cloud security offered by major providers such as Google cloud, CompTIA cloud, Amazon Web Service, IBM Cloud, and other cloud environments.
Moreover, the ideal cloud security engineer knows how to design, operationalize, and maintain cross-cloud security to solve problems across organizations and businesses.
According to the latest end of year data for 2022, a cloud security engineer’s annual average salary is between USD 89,000 to USD 111,000.
All other cloud computing jobs will primarily be iterations around the functions and qualifications of a cloud architect, cloud engineer, or cloud security engineer. These include cloud computing roles such as cloud administrator, cloud support engineer, cloud security analyst, cloud software engineer, cloud automation engineer, cloud network engineer, and cloud data scientist.
Cloud Computing Jobs: How to Get Started
If you are someone looking into jumpstarting a career in cloud computing, here is a checklist of cloud computing skills and qualifications which you should possess:
1. Computer Programming Competency
Currently, the top three programming languages most in demand in any cloud platform are Python, Java, and Javascript, and knowing these languages is essential for automating tasks, creating custom tools, and adapting to new technologies and features as the field evolves.
2. Database Management and Programming
Those knowledgeable in SQL, NoSQL, and Linux often have an easier time transitioning to learning cloud skills for a cloud job. In short, having knowledge of database management and programming skills allows you to efficiently store, retrieve, and query large amounts of data in a cloud environment and to create custom scripts and applications that interact with the data stored in the cloud.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Competencies
Professionals who have received training in data science often find themselves at an advantage when applying for cloud computing jobs. This is because data scientists have a thorough knowledge of these two technologies, which are nothing short of transformative in helping businesses and organizations become more agile and efficient in analyzing patterns, extracting insights from big data, and making more accurate and data-driven decisions.
4. In-Depth Knowledge and Experience with Various Cloud Technologies
There is wisdom in gaining cloud computing experience across various providers instead of focusing only on one. It allows you to move more confidently across these providers and to be flexible enough to work with whatever provider your employer uses.
Ready to jumpstart your career as a cloud specialist?
At the onset, you will find yourself at an advantage if you have had formal training or work experience in computer science or any information technology field. This makes you an ideal candidate for entry-level positions in cloud computing.
As for tech professionals who still need formal training in computer science or information technology, the next best thing is to start gaining training related to cloud computing. You can get as many certifications as possible from various cloud providers such as IBM cloud, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
Moreover, you should also create an excellent technical portfolio to show potential employers and garner testimonials from your network that attest to your cloud computing expertise.
These steps will help you maximize your chances of penetrating this challenging but equally lucrative world of cloud computing professionals.
STAY ON TOP OF YOUR CLOUD COMPUTING CAREER WITH DAVIS COMPANIES
As a candidate, you need to work with a competent and reputable staffing firm such as Davis Companies that can push you towards exceptional opportunities.
With the help of Davis Companies and their honest team effort, compassion, personal integrity, and willingness to go above and beyond the expected norms for our industry. You will land a rewarding role in the cloud computing world. Take that step and talk to the Davis Companies today!