I've been working as the sole senior DevOps engineer at a small to medium-sized company with about 60 employees (10 developers), and I handle a range of responsibilities. This includes overseeing Azure services, managing AKS clusters, and maintaining on-premise Kubernetes servers. I also work with Terraform for project management, set up CI/CD processes, ensure security measures, and help developers with technical setups related to their configurations, especially when it involves Linux issues. I'm responsible for backups and managing crises when services go down, plus pretty much anything that isn't direct service development. While I have almost 15 years of IT experience, including three years in a dedicated DevOps role, I often feel overwhelmed by the variety of tasks and the constant need to switch contexts. I'm curious about what the typical responsibilities of a DevOps engineer are, and if my workload seems excessive or standard for the profession.
5 Answers
It's definitely not normal to be the only DevOps person managing so much alone. In larger setups, there's often a ratio like 1 DevOps engineer for every 7-12 developers. Maybe consider recruiting or getting further support, especially if you're feeling burnt out. Scaling down complexity could also help reduce the workload!
From my experience, handling all that by yourself isn't typical, especially with compliance and security on top of DevOps tasks. In my company, I've seen engineers juggle fewer projects but with a higher focus on specific areas. It's critical to reach out for some help ASAP before burnout becomes a real issue!
Right? My role is pretty similar too, and it becomes tough without having someone to share the load. We need to communicate the need for more resources - conference calls and explanations can help!
The role description almost matches my experience! While you begin solo at small firms, it’s customary to shift towards team training and delegation once the groundwork is laid. You should ask for help to lighten the load and focus on getting the team involved!
Your experience mirrors mine pretty closely! I've been in DevOps for years managing everything from infrastructure to CI/CD. When it gets too hectic, pushing back on new projects and prioritizing tasks is essential—especially if you're feeling burned out. Not everything needs immediate attention!
Sounds like you’re managing quite a lot! In my case, the responsibilities expand as projects scale, and I often work with a designated team. It's a lot to juggle! Sometimes, a solid ticketing system helps track tasks and manage the workload better.
I totally see where you're coming from! It's vital to have help, especially with the diverse tasks involved. Even in startups, effective scaling means sharing responsibility to keep everyone sane.