Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA, United States
QS #1Full need-based aid
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science · Mechanical Engineering · Economics
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
All careers
Technology
Cloud / DevOps Engineer
Builds and runs the cloud infrastructure that applications and data live on.
What this career is
Cloud engineers design, automate and monitor systems on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud, so software can be deployed quickly and reliably.
What professionals do
- Automate infrastructure with code
- Set up deployment pipelines
- Monitor cost, reliability and security
- Help developers ship faster
Outlook: High demand as companies move to the cloud; certifications are widely used in hiring.
Official occupation data
- Computer Network Architects$134,050
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects$116,580
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators$99,130
- Database Architects$139,500
Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key skills
Cloud computing
technicalMost companies now build on the cloud, so cloud skills appear in software, data, security and even product roles.
Start with
- · Create a free-tier account on one cloud provider
- · Deploy a small website or database
Software development
technicalThe core skill of software engineering roles and a strong advantage for founders and product managers.
Start with
- · Learn a language and data structures
- · Use Git and GitHub daily
Python
technicalPython is the default language for data analysis, machine learning and scripting, and a common first language for engineers.
Start with
- · Complete an introductory course with exercises
- · Automate a small task you do weekly
Cybersecurity
technicalSecurity talent is in short supply worldwide, and every sector — banks, government, telecoms — needs it.
Start with
- · Learn networking and Linux basics
- · Practise on free labs like TryHackMe or picoCTF
Education paths
- 1Bachelor's in computer science or engineering
- 2Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- 3Projects deployed on a free cloud tier
Universities strong in Computer Science
Stanford University
Stanford, CA, United States
QS =2Full need-based aid
Computer Science · Management Science & Engineering · Economics
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom
QS #2Merit scholarships
Computing · Electrical & Electronic Engineering · Mathematics
- Tuition
- Est. £38,000–£50,000 per year for international students
- Deadline
- Typically late January
Typical entry-level roles
Junior Cloud EngineerDevOps InternSite Reliability Engineering Intern
Build your profile
Recommended extracurriculars
- · Deploy personal projects to the cloud
- · Open-source contributions
- · Hackathons
Recommended internships & programmes
PaidIn person
- Location
- Google offices worldwide
- Deadline
- Many summer internships open in early autumn of the previous year
PaidIn person
- Location
- Microsoft offices worldwide
- Deadline
- Summer roles often open in early autumn
PaidIn person
- Location
- Multiple countries
- Deadline
- Summer roles mostly open in autumn
Fully fundedHybrid
- Location
- Online / regional
- Deadline
- Varies by country
Certifications that help
Cloud
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services
Entry-level proof that you understand cloud concepts, core AWS services, security and pricing.
- Cost
- US$100 exam
- Time
- 4–6 weeks part-time
Cloud
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
Microsoft
Foundational cloud concepts and Azure services.
- Cost
- Exam fee varies by country; free Microsoft Learn path
- Time
- 2–4 weeks part-time
Cloud
Google Cloud Digital Leader
Google Cloud
Business-level understanding of cloud and Google Cloud products.
- Cost
- See official page for current fee
- Time
- 3–5 weeks part-time
Cybersecurity
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA
The baseline security certification for entry-level cybersecurity roles.
- Cost
- Exam voucher several hundred US$ — see CompTIA for your country
- Time
- 2–3 months part-time