What is the job of Cloud Engineer and why is it essential?
Cloud Engineers play a key role in the digital transformation of businesses, as they are responsible for designing, deploying and maintaining IT infrastructures and services in the cloud. Faced with the growing complexity of digital environments and the diversity of IT business needs, these professionals can specialise in a variety of areas, ranging from DevOps and security to architecture and data management.
Increasingly sought-after in Switzerland and elsewhere in the world, Cloud Engineers need to demonstrate solid technical skills, a great ability to adapt and an understanding of issues linked to the costs and security of the Cloud. In this article, you’ll discover the different facets of this forward-looking profession, the essential skills you’ll need to acquire, the recommended training and qualifications, salary levels, career prospects and the sectors that are actively recruiting.
There are two main types of cloud: public and private. The public cloud is based on shared infrastructures accessible via the Internet, offered by suppliers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and IBM Cloud, which are world leaders in this field.
The private cloud, on the other hand, is dedicated to a single organisation, and offers enhanced monitoring of security and conformity. Among the most widely-used private cloud solutions are VMware and OpenStack.
The main specialisations in Cloud engineering
The field of Cloud engineering encompasses several specialisations, each meeting specific needs.
Cloud DevOps Engineer
The Cloud DevOps Engineer automates application development, testing and deployment processes. They combine skills in system administration, software development and CI/CD. They use tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform and Jenkins to optimise the application lifecycle.
The Cloud DevOps Engineer plays a central role in bringing the development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams together within cloud environments. They are responsible for automating the development, testing, integration and deployment processes to make software delivery faster, more reliable and more continuous. They set up automation pipelines that enable code to be deployed on various environments (DEV, TEST or PROD) with a minimum of manual intervention.
They work closely with developers, to ensure that applications are designed in such a way as to be easily deployed and scalable, and also with operations teams, to guarantee the stability, supervision and performance of cloud infrastructures. They play an active role in implementing a DevSecOps culture, by incorporating automated security tests into the build and deployment processes.
In terms of tools, the Cloud DevOps Engineer uses technologies such as Docker for containerisation and Kubernetes for orchestration. But above all they will use cloud services linked to these technologies, such as ECS (Elastic Container Service) or EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service). They can also use Terraform for Infrastructure as Code, and Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD or ArgoCD for workflow automation. But above all they will be using cloud services linked to these technologies, such as ECS (Elastic Container Service) or EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service).
They also manage monitoring (via Prometheus, Grafana), logs (ELK stack, Fluentd) and resource scalability. This role is essential within organisations adopting the cloud, as it allows for greater agility, reliability and operational efficiency in the IT systems.
Cloud Security Engineer
The Cloud Security Engineer guarantees the security of cloud infrastructures and the protection of sensitive data in transit. Their role is to ensure and guarantee the company’s security posture (CSPM) in cloud environments. They implement appropriate security policies, control access to resources, encrypt sensitive data and ensure that the entire cloud environment complies with current standards and regulations, such as the GDPR, CIS Benchmark, ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
On a day-to-day basis, they work closely with the IT and DevOps teams, and sometimes the legal team, to define a coherent and effective global security strategy. They monitor the evolution of threats and constantly adapt the organisation’s defences using tools provided by cloud platforms such as AWS Shield, Azure Security Center or Google Cloud Armor, as well as specialised solutions developed by firms such as Palo Alto Networks, Checkpoint or Sysdig.
At present, the job of Cloud Security Engineer is in particularly high demand in all business sectors. It’s an increasingly important and significant job.
Cloud Solutions Architect
The Cloud Solutions Architect is responsible for the overall design of cloud architectures in response to specific business needs. They act as the interface between the technical and business teams, translating the company’s strategic objectives into concrete, high-performance technological solutions. Their job is to analyse functional requirements, then design a cloud infrastructure capable of satisfying them while guaranteeing scalability, security, resilience, cost optimisation and the constraints imposed by the business.
They select the right cloud services (storage, compute, database, network, etc.), ensure they are seamlessly integrated into the existing systems – whether on-premises or in other cloud environments – and see to it that the architecture is robust in the face of scalability, incidents and future developments.
The Cloud Solutions Architect works closely with the development, DevOps, security and sometimes even business stakeholders to ensure that the solution proposed is aligned with the company’s objectives. This is a strategically important position, and one that is often key in cloud migration projects or in the implementation of new digital services.
Cloud Data Engineer
The Cloud Data Engineer is an expert in the management and processing of data in cloud environments. They play an essential role in making reliable, structured and accessible data available for analysis, reporting and machine learning. Their main objective is to design, build and maintain efficient data pipelines, i.e. processes that collect, transform, store and distribute data from different sources to analysis tools.
They work with cloud databases (relational, unstructured, real-time, etc.) and use analytical platforms such as Google BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, Snowflake and Azure Synapse. These technologies enable them to process massive volumes of data in a fast and scalable manner.
Cloud Data Engineers work closely with data scientists, business analysts and sometimes cloud architects to understand data requirements, guarantee data quality and optimise performance. They play a key role in organisations where data is a strategic lever, particularly in the financial, e-commerce, healthcare and industrial sectors. They enable businesses to exploit their data assets in a way that is secure, agile and efficient.
What skills and technologies does a Cloud engineer need to master?
Knowledge of cloud platforms
A Cloud Engineer must master at least one of the major cloud platforms on the market, with a marked preference depending on the sector and country. In Europe, the most common environments are:
- Microsoft Azure: particularly used in France and Switzerland, especially in the public and banking sectors, because of its good integration with the Microsoft ecosystem (Active Directory, Office 365, etc.).
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): still very popular with large technology companies, fintechs and start-ups. AWS remains the most mature platform, with an abundant range of services and strong take-up in Europe, particularly among large groups.
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP): though less dominant, GCP is gaining in popularity in the data and artificial intelligence sectors, thanks to powerful tools such as BigQuery and good integration with open source solutions.
- Private / hybrid cloud (Openshift, OpenStack, VMware): still widely used by organisations with legacy infrastructures that need to be migrated or maintained on site, particularly in the banking, hospital and administrative sectors.
A Cloud Engineer in Europe must not only master the fundamentals of one or two major cloud providers, but also understand the issues of sovereignty, regulation (such as the GDPR) and the technological preferences specific to each sector and country.
Mastery of automation and orchestration tools
Automation is at the heart of cloud engineering. The Cloud DevOps Engineer must master:
- Infrastructure as Code technologies for Cloud components such as Terraform or Infrastructure as Code cloud services such as BICEP or CloudFormation.
- Cloud services relating to containerisation and computation (ECS/EKS, ACA/AKS, etc.)
- Mastering CI/CD deployment chains to the cloud.
The main objectives are to automate the creation, updating and monitoring of infrastructures, while guaranteeing the consistency, security and performance of cloud environments, in order to optimise the lifecycle of large-scale applications.
Security and compliance in the cloud
Security and compliance are major challenges for any cloud environment. A Cloud Security Engineer needs to master several key areas to guarantee the protection of data and infrastructure. Identity and access management (IAM) is essential: it involves defining precisely who can access which resources, by implementing strict authentication and authorisation policies. Encrypting data, whether stored or in transit, ensures that information remains inaccessible to unauthorised persons.
In addition, continuous monitoring of threats means that any suspicious activity or attempted intrusion can be detected quickly, thanks to analysis and alert tools. Access management also involves implementing enhanced controls, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or the principle of least privilege.
Finally, the Cloud Security Engineer must ensure that the environment complies with the standards and regulations in force, such as the GDPR in Europe, ISO 27001 or specific sector requirements (finance, health, etc.). This involves regular audits, compliance checks and the implementation of best practices, to guarantee the traceability and security of operations.
Securing a cloud environment requires a comprehensive approach, combining technology, processes and governance, to protect sensitive data while guaranteeing regulatory compliance and service continuity.
Programming and scripting
Programming and scripting are essential for automating and managing cloud infrastructures. By mastering scripting languages such as Python and Bash, you can create scripts to automate common tasks. Configuration languages such as YAML and JSON are also essential for defining CI/CD infrastructures and pipelines. Depending on the project, knowledge of Go, Java or TypeScript may be a plus, especially when working with development teams or adapting cloud applications.
How can you become a Cloud Engineer?
Training
- Diploma in computer science, IT engineering
- Specialist courses in Cloud infrastructure management offered by engineering schools and universities
- Self-training via online platforms (Coursera, Udemy, temptraining, etc.)
Useful certifications by field
Cloud Architect:
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (advanced level)
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (advanced level)
DevOps/Automation:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
- Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Terraform Associate (HashiCorp Certified)
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer
These certifications validate practical skills and facilitate access to positions as a Cloud Engineer, particularly in Europe, where large cloud providers are widely used.
How much can a Cloud engineer expect to earn?
Salaries vary depending on experience, location, skills and the type of company the Cloud engineer works for.
What are the career prospects for a Cloud engineer?
Cloud Engineer DevOps
- Specialist in automation and continuous integration
- Oversees CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure orchestration
Cloud Security Engineer
- Responsible for the security and compliance of cloud environments
- Implements security policies and manages audits
Cloud Solutions Architect
- Designs cloud architectures that are tailored to business needs
- Ensures that the solutions deployed are consistent and perform well
Cloud Consultant / Freelance
- Helps companies with their cloud projects
- Offers technical and strategic advice
Trainer / Technical Evangelist
- Shares expertise through training courses and events
- Promotes the adoption of cloud best practice
Thanks to the high demand in the market, a Cloud Engineer can also consider moving into other specialist roles or management functions, offering great flexibility in his or her career path.
Sectors and companies that recruit Cloud engineers in Switzerland
In Switzerland, several sectors currently have a particularly strong demand for Cloud Engineers:
- Banking, finance and insurance
- Health and biotechnology
- Industry and watchmaking
- Telecommunications
- IT services and consultancies
Among the major players in the market, Qim info stands out as a Swiss IT consultancy specialising in the field of IT. Renowned for its expertise and personalised approach, Qim info supports its customers in the design, migration and optimisation of their cloud infrastructures.
We regularly recruit Cloud Engineers to join our teams and take part in a wide range of innovative projects, offering great career opportunities in a dynamic, fast-growing environment.
Boost your career as a Cloud engineer with Qim info
At Qim info, we know that talent is the key to success in the cloud. That’s why we support Cloud Engineers at every stage of their career. By offering stimulating technical assignments and access to high-quality ongoing training, we create an environment that’s conducive to personal fulfilment and skills development.
Our people-focused corporate culture encourages collaboration, sharing and innovation. If you want to take on new technical challenges in an environment that’s dynamic and caring, join Qim info and give your career in the cloud a real boost.
