Hey everyone! I'm looking for guidance as I shift my career toward DevOps and Cloud roles. I come from a unique background: I spent about a year as a development engineer, but I've also been a university lab professor for nearly 8 years, teaching networking, Linux systems, security, and infrastructure. While I'm really comfortable with configuring networks, managing Linux servers, and all things security, I feel like my academic experience might not convey my practical skills to recruiters effectively. I've been working to bridge this gap through hands-on projects like Infrastructure as Code with Terraform, CI/CD with GitHub Actions, containerization with Docker, and Cloud deployments on AWS. I'm also AWS Certified as a Cloud Practitioner and have a solid grasp of Linux and networking basics. I'm struggling to get noticed for DevOps roles, mainly because many job ads filter out candidates without specific DevOps titles. I'm seeking advice on: 1. Which certifications to pursue next, specifically if the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification is a good fit based on my background? 2. If personal projects can compensate for the lack of official DevOps experience, and what kinds of projects really stand out? 3. Whether starting in roles such as SysAdmin, Cloud Engineer, or Platform Engineer might be more effective to eventually land a DevOps position. Any tips, personal experiences, or insights would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!
4 Answers
Your resume already screams 'DevOps Engineer'—you just need to tweak the wording a bit. Change 'lab professor' to something like 'Infrastructure Automation Specialist' and you’ll definitely see more callbacks. The AWS Solutions Architect cert is solid, but what really matters is building something public—like a GitHub portfolio with real Terraform projects, not just sample ones. Apply for Cloud Engineer or Platform Engineer roles, especially at smaller companies that don't have strict title requirements. Focus on depth instead of collecting certs!
You're really well-positioned with your networking, Linux, and security skills! I recommend focusing on one cloud (AWS with the Solutions Architect Associate is a great choice), keep working on end-to-end projects that resemble production environments, and target roles like Cloud Engineer or Platform Engineer as stepping stones. The main challenge is just how you present your experience, not the skills themselves.
I believe you can totally apply for DevOps roles! Just so you know, Cloud Engineer, SRE, and Platform Engineer are all considered part of the DevOps umbrella. From what I’ve seen, many companies have moved away from specifically calling it a DevOps Engineer role.
Keep in mind that DevOps isn’t strictly a cloud role. Many organizations work with hybrid environments too. The key thing is understanding the processes and culture around DevOps, not just the tools or platforms. Your SysAdmin background will help since a lot of DevOps Engineers start there, but it’s more about being involved in product development instead of traditional IT. You’ll need to get more into the Ops side to make that shift.
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