My doubt began when I started exploring new career opportunities in the tech industry. I was drawn to roles labeled “DevOps Engineer” and “Cloud Engineer,” but the job descriptions often left me puzzled. Both seemed to involve cloud platforms, automation, and infrastructure, but the specifics were hazy. I wondered: what truly distinguishes a DevOps engineer from a cloud engineer?
As I read through various job postings, a clearer picture emerged. Cloud engineer roles consistently emphasized expertise in AWS, Azure, or GCP, focusing on designing, securing, and optimizing cloud infrastructure. The emphasis was on networking, storage, scalability, and cost management. DevOps engineer roles, meanwhile, highlighted automation, CI/CD pipelines, configuration management, and close collaboration with development and operations teams. The overlap was evident, but the focus differed: cloud engineers were about the platform, while DevOps engineers were about the process.
One moment that stood out was during an interview with a senior engineer. He explained that cloud engineers are responsible for the foundation—ensuring environments are secure, scalable, and efficient. DevOps engineers, on the other hand, automate the delivery pipeline, making deployments faster, safer, and more reliable. Both roles use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, but their approach varies. Cloud engineers often use Terraform for provisioning resources, while DevOps engineers integrate Terraform into CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments.
Reflecting on my experiences, I realized the critical importance of these roles. Cloud engineers ensure the backbone of digital transformation is robust and secure. DevOps engineers drive efficiency and innovation, enabling organizations to deliver software faster and with higher quality. Their skills are not just in demand—they are foundational for the future of technology.
As I continued my journey, I saw how these roles are evolving. The lines between DevOps and cloud engineering are blurring, with more professionals expected to master both domains. Staying ahead means embracing continuous learning, mastering tools like Terraform, Ansible, and CI/CD platforms, and adapting to new technologies. Whether you’re a DevOps engineer, a cloud engineer, or aspiring to be one, the path is about shaping the future of technology through real-world experiences and ongoing growth.
A company posts two openings at the same time: one for a DevOps Engineer and one for a Cloud Engineer.
They receive exactly one application from Pushyanth, who:
- Writes Terraform modules to create VPCs, subnets, and load balancers in AWS.
- Builds a GitHub Actions pipeline that runs tests and then uses those same Terraform modules to deploy to multiple environments.
The recruiter looks at Pushyanth’s resume and says, “You’re clearly only a DevOps Engineer or only a Cloud Engineer, but not both.”
Who is actually wrong here – Pushyanth, the recruiter, or the job titles – and why?
Top comments (1)
Thank you for laying out your perspective. From a DevOps standpoint, your explanation aligns well with how I approach my work. I focus on improving the flow of changes across the environment through automation, repeatable processes and strong operational visibility. Your description of cloud engineering as the team that builds and governs the underlying platform matches how I depend on that foundation to deliver reliable pipelines and scalable deployment patterns.
I agree that both roles are becoming more interconnected. Modern delivery requires engineers who can collaborate across the platform and the pipeline while keeping security, efficiency and resilience in mind. Your insight reinforces the value of strengthening cloud skills while continuing to advance automation and CI/CD practices.