What does a successful career path for a DevOps engineer look like?

While getting certifications like CKA and AWS can be beneficial, experience is often more valuable. Instead of chasing titles, aim to develop broad technical skills to solve infrastructure problems. Many companies recognize the need for robust Ops roles and will pay well for talent that can manage those areas efficiently. Consulting is definitely a viable path once you establish credibility.

A successful DevOps career often starts with being in an environment with skilled colleagues. It’s important to learn from others—not just about tools, but also about soft skills. Being in a challenging tech environment will help you grow more than just focusing on one specific tool. The real learning happens when you ship projects and understand how to manage complex systems in production.

You've got the right mindset by focusing on coding and automation. If you enjoy Go and are keen to learn more about CI/CD and infrastructure management, you can eventually earn a lucrative salary as you gain experience. Just remember to keep improving your technical and communication skills, as they will aid you in any entrepreneurial ventures you explore.

DevOps is a vast field that includes areas like infrastructure, networking, observability, and security. As you're just starting, focus on finding a team that launches real products and learn what makes systems tick. Salaries for experienced DevOps engineers can be high—think six figures at established companies. Entrepreneurially, there are many options like consulting or building niche tools, but soft skills are key in those roles.

The path can vary greatly based on your background and the network you build. Great DevOps engineers often come from software engineering or sysadmin backgrounds, developing a comprehensive skill set over time. You might find opportunities to move into roles like Site Reliability Engineer or even start your own consultancy as you gain more experience.