CourseFinder logo – Australia’s leading course comparison site

How to Become a DevOps Engineer: Australian Careers in IT

0 Course

On this page

What is a DevOps Engineer?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a DevOps Engineer?

A DevOps Engineer links software development and IT operations to make software delivery faster and more reliable. They automate the steps between writing code and putting it live. This role suits people who enjoy solving problems and working closely with tech teams.

DevOps Engineers build and run CI/CD pipelines that move code from development to production. They manage cloud setups, configure systems, and track app performance. Their work cuts manual errors and helps teams ship updates more often with greater confidence.

Teamwork is central to the role. DevOps Engineers work alongside developers, ops staff, QA testers, and managers. They help teams share goals, fix processes, and respond fast when issues arise in production.

Demand for DevOps Engineers in Australia is growing strongly. SEEK (2025) projects 27% job growth over five years, with a typical salary of around $130,000 per year. This is a well-paid, in-demand career for people who enjoy tech work and team problem-solving. Search for DevOps courses on CourseFinder to get started.

Icon

Career snapshots For DevOps Engineers

DevOps Engineers in Australia enjoy strong job prospects and competitive pay. SEEK (2025) reports a typical salary of $130,000 per year and a projected 27% job growth over five years. Around 2,092 roles are currently listed nationally, reflecting steady employer demand.

Most DevOps Engineers work full-time in permanent roles. Based on ABS 2021 Census data for software engineers, about 92% in this group work full-time. The average working week is 41 hours (ABS, 2021). The median age in this occupational group is 37 years. Primary industries include financial services, information technology, and professional and technical services.

What will I do?

DevOps Engineers keep software delivery running smoothly. They build the tools and processes that move code from development into production quickly and safely. This role sits at the heart of any organisation that needs to release software reliably and often.

  • CI/CD pipeline management – building and maintaining automated pipelines that test and deploy code changes without manual steps.
  • Infrastructure as code – managing infrastructure using tools like Terraform and Ansible for consistent, repeatable deployments.
  • Cloud infrastructure management – provisioning and managing cloud resources on platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • Monitoring and alerting – setting up tools to track system health and alert teams when performance drops or errors occur.
  • Configuration management – keeping system settings consistent across development, testing, and production environments.
  • Security integration – embedding security checks into the development pipeline to find and fix vulnerabilities early.
  • Incident response – helping teams quickly find and fix outages or performance problems.
  • Collaboration and documentation – working with developers and QA teams and keeping clear process records.
  • Automation – replacing manual steps in workflows with automated scripts and tools.
  • Ongoing learning – staying current with cloud services and DevOps practices to improve team capabilities.

What skills do I need?

DevOps Engineers need a strong mix of technical and interpersonal skills. On the technical side, proficiency in at least one scripting language such as Python, Go, or Bash is key. Familiarity with CI/CD tools and cloud platforms like AWS or Azure is essential. Knowledge of containerisation tools such as Docker and Kubernetes is also highly valued.

Beyond technical skills, clear communication and collaboration are vital. DevOps Engineers work across multiple teams every day. Strong problem-solving skills and a calm approach to incidents will help you succeed in this fast-moving field.

Skills/attributes

  • Understanding of software development and IT operations
  • Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Go, or Bash
  • Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions
  • Knowledge of cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
  • Familiarity with containerisation tools such as Docker and Kubernetes
  • Ability to automate processes and workflows
  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Clear communication and collaboration skills
  • Experience with version control systems, especially Git
  • Knowledge of monitoring and logging tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK
  • Understanding of Agile and Lean methodologies
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments
  • Commitment to ongoing learning and improvement

CourseFinder makes every effort to ensure the information we provide is correct at the time of publication. We welcome your input to help keep our career profiles as accurate and up to date as possible. All queries and feedback will be taken into consideration as we conduct periodic reviews of our content. Add your voice to the conversation!

Related Careers

About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.