In this article, we will explore the Cloud Engineer role responsibilities and opportunities in STX Next. Based only on the job title, we can tell the role focuses on setting up, maintaining, and optimizing cloud infrastructure on platforms from various cloud providers. But in a rapidly changing environment, especially with the rise of AI, Cloud Engineers' scope of duties is not limited to just this. If you’d like to learn more, let’s dive together into the details!
Who’s the customer of our Cloud services?
The customers of the STX Next Cloud services typically include Tech Startups, E-commerce Platforms, Healthcare Providers, Fintech Companies, Logistics, and Supply Chain Firms. However, rather than focusing on a specific industry, we aim to identify and address our client’s business requirements efficiently.
If it comes to the infrastructure configuration, with the help of orchestration tools, we care about ensuring reliability and scalability. When our customers are struggling with manual, repeatable tasks, we propose and implement automation. We want to help them to overcome the challenges of fast delivery and the best quality by optimizing CI/CD processes and improving the visibility of test results for their products. For security challenges, we are implementing solutions based on best practices. Occasionally we are responsible for cloud migrations or optimization in the cost management area - broadly known in the industry as FinOps. In addition to the mentioned duties, we provide on-call support working 24/7. Moreover, we advise our customers in their DevOps journey with the knowledge drawn from our extensive experience.
Cloud Engineer’s tech stack
Tech stack strongly depends on the scope of the project and individual needs and requirements, but typically it covers topics like containerization (utilizing Docker, Kubernetes), infrastructure as code (using Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, AWS CDK, Azure Bicep), CI/CD (sky's the limit in the range of tools we are utilizing; worth mentioning GitHub Actions, Gitlab CI, Jenkins), databases management, serverless computing and monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana and cloud provider’s tools like AWS CloudWatch or Azure Monitor). We work primarily with three major cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Also, as participants of the AWS Partner Network, our Cloud Engineers can continuously enhance their skills through exclusive training and certifications, and leverage AWS resources to further improve our customers’ cloud journey.
Day-to-day work of STX Next’s Cloud Engineer
Typically, one or more Cloud Engineers are assigned to the client, but sometimes - especially for consulting types of projects - we are assigned on precisely designated hourly ranges. Depending on the project’s area, focus, and level of commitment, there are four stages of cooperation.
Design and planning
The first step in this phase is to make sure clear objectives and specifications match the project’s overall vision. The Cloud Engineer works with the client to create a comprehensive plan for building and deploying the application. We look out for priorities to cover the most important parts first. Besides, we also help in setting up a roadmap that guides the project as it continues. Finally, but not least, infrastructure design is underway. This is an important technical part that supports the requirements of an application and its future scalability. Depending on the scope of the project, this step could be executed by Cloud Architects, but on most of the occasions our Cloud Engineers are able to comfortably handle this task.
Development
This is the phase where actual creation occurs. Automating scripts, tools and other processes that are important in building, testing, and deploying applications make up the development stage. One of its major features includes the implementation of infrastructure as code, which allows automated management and provisioning of the infrastructure via definition files. In addition, this automation speeds up the development process while at the same time improving uniformity, minimizing human faults and provides additional transparency. The key objective in this case is to build strong, efficient systems that support continuous integration and development, ensuring that the application grows effortlessly with every release.
Deployment and release
Once the development is over, the project moves into the deployment and release stage. The most crucial phase is the delivery of the application to end users. This entails automation of the deployment process to minimize manual interventions and eliminate errors. An important activity in this stage is establishing CI/CD pipelines. These are used to automate testing and deploying code changes that guarantee new features come faster and are stable. Also, it’s essential to monitor the release process for any emerging issues, thus ensuring that an application will operate as expected under production conditions.
Operations and monitoring
Operations and monitoring, which form the last stage, focus on post-deployment maintenance of project stability and reliability. Continuous monitoring of infrastructure as well as application performance ensures optimal system health. Understanding performance metrics alongside costs can help identify possible improvements aimed at increasing efficiency within a system. Troubleshooting problems as they arise, and providing ongoing support are steps necessary for keeping the project stable. Moreover, general maintenance activities should be undertaken in this stage to ensure smooth operations of the system and implement any updates or patches. In summary, operations and monitoring help to keep projects strong enough to meet users’ ever-changing needs.
On-call
Some of us are a part of the on-call Cloud Engineers team. In this case, we are also accountable for being responsive if any emergencies arise. Being on-call means that we are the first line of defense when technical problems occur, ensuring systems stay up and minimizing downtime. This function is essential for maintaining cloud service reliability and performance. To achieve this objective effectively, a rotation schedule is employed. Such rotation guarantees even distribution of on-call duties among team members, thereby preventing burnout while allowing them to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Being on call demands high levels of alertness and preparedness, as well as the ability to quickly diagnose and resolve issues under pressure. An important part of an on-call process is preparation of so-called playbooks and keeping them up-to-date with the changes introduced to the system.
Can I be a Cloud Engineer at STX Next?
STX Next often looks for experienced professionals to fill this position to guarantee robust cloud operations and infrastructure continuity. For many years, we have been developing custom-made cloud solutions catering both to start-ups and enterprises. We welcome individuals who believe they can contribute to our mission. If you are ready to make an impact, we encourage you to apply!
