DevOps Skills for 2026: From CI/CD to Platform Engineering
Updated on December 11, 2025 11 minutes read
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important DevOps skills for 2026?
The most important DevOps skills for 2026 include strong CI/CD knowledge, solid experience with at least one cloud provider, comfort with containers and Kubernetes, and practical use of Infrastructure as Code. Observability, security awareness and collaboration skills are also essential as systems become more complex.
Do I need a computer science degree to become a DevOps engineer?
A computer science degree can help, but it is not a strict requirement. Many DevOps engineers come from backgrounds such as support, operations, QA or even non‑technical roles. What matters most is your ability to demonstrate practical skills through projects, portfolios and clear explanations in interviews.
How long does it take to learn DevOps skills?
Most career changers can reach a junior‑ready level in about 6–12 months of consistent study and practice. The exact time depends on your starting point, how much time you can invest per week and whether you use structured learning options such as bootcamps alongside self‑study.
What’s the difference between DevOps and platform engineering?
DevOps is a culture and set of practices that aim to improve collaboration between development and operations to deliver software faster and more reliably. Platform engineering focuses on building internal platforms and tools that make it easy for development teams to adopt those practices through self‑service, standardised workflows, and strong developer experience.