I'm looking to transition into a DevOps role and I have a background primarily in operations. I hold a degree in Operations Management and Information Systems and have three years of experience in high-velocity enterprise infrastructure support, mainly for a major airline. I've worked with a range of technologies, from IoT gate readers to IBM MVS mainframes.
Recently, I built a 3-node bare-metal Kubernetes cluster using Talos Linux and GitOps principles, specifically ArgoCD. This setup included things like MetalLB and Traefik for networking, Longhorn for distributed block storage, and a VictoriaMetrics K8S stack for observability. Additionally, I developed an open-source Python CLI with a focus on maintainability.
I've also dealt with significant responsibilities, such as enforcing business continuity during a major CrowdStrike issue, which ended up saving the airline hundreds of millions in regulatory fees. Now I'm wondering, do I have what it takes to make the move into DevOps? This is the direction I really want to pursue, aiming to engineer resiliency rather than just manage it. I'm feeling a bit anxious since I lack a traditional software engineering background.
5 Answers
Don’t let the job market concerns hold you back. It’s never going to be the perfect time to jump in. You’ve got a good base and impressive projects to back it up. Consider looking for opportunities at early-stage startups; they often need infrastructure support and can be more flexible with backgrounds. Building relationships during interviews can also be key. If you’re eager to learn and have a positive attitude, you’ll do well.
Honestly, I suggest looking for a role that's more business-oriented instead of jumping straight into a technical position. It might be a smoother transition for you.
Absolutely, you've got a solid foundation! Your operational experience combined with your recent projects makes you a strong candidate. Teaching you Python will be much easier than teaching a software engineer the nuances of infrastructure and operations. Your hands-on work with Talos and ArgoCD shows you're familiar with the modern tech stack, and your experience with resilience in high-stakes environments really sets you apart. I’d recommend sending out your applications; focus on showcasing your GitHub projects in interviews.
Don’t get discouraged; many successful DevOps engineers come from systems administration backgrounds like yours. Just keep in mind that the current job market can be tough; some highly skilled engineers have faced long periods of unemployment. If you're in the Chicagoland area, though, you might have better luck due to the local industry.
I respectfully disagree. Those without tech skills will find it just as difficult in the long run. A balance of business acumen and technical knowledge is really valuable.