How to write a DevOps engineer job description

Hiring top-tier DevOps engineers is essential for modern software development companies to thrive, but achieving this can be challenging. 

As a recruiter, you want to publish a perfect DevOps engineer job description to attract suitable candidates who clearly understand the role. 

If the job description isn’t clear and accurate, you could receive hundreds of emails from candidates who aren’t the right fit. Even so, most recruiters leave out important information when writing job descriptions, making their job listings ineffective.  

However, due to the increasing competition for top talent and the fact that it takes candidates about 14 seconds to decide whether they want to apply based on the job description, you need to ensure you craft an impeccable job description.

Therefore, our aim in this article is to show you how to craft an effective DevOps engineer job description that will enable you to make the best hires for your organization.

What is DevOps?

DevOps is coined from two words, “development” (software development) and “operations” (IT operations).

It’s an umbrella term that refers to practices that combine software development and IT operations to improve and shorten the software development process.

Often, people refer to DevOps as a shift in IT culture. This is because it combines tools and philosophies that increase a team’s chance to produce optimum results, meet customers’ needs, have confidence in their applications, and achieve business goals.

What does a DevOps engineer do?

DevOps engineers develop software applications using tools, technical processes, and development methods. They work to understand customers’ expectations and build software that improves the customer experience while reducing user errors.

Usually, they play a key role in every stage of the development process, from coming up with ideas to implementing and maintaining software. 

What are job descriptions, and why are they important?

Job descriptions are part of the marketing strategy you use to advertise vacancies at your company. They lay out the responsibilities and duties of the role and the skills necessary to perform the job adequately. 

Writing a great job description will help produce the following results:  

• Attract the right employee

• Help gauge performance

• Provide a guide for training new employees 

• Communicate the job requirements clearly to the recruiter and the employee

How to write a DevOps engineer job description

Writing a DevOps engineer job description to attract top talent isn’t rocket science. Your focus should be on catching your applicants’ attention. Essentially, you want to keep your description concise yet clear and informative.

Below, we have outlined a step-by-step guide to writing the perfect DevOps engineer job description. Furthermore, each step also covers a vital component of any job description. 

1. Specify the job title

The job title is the first thing candidates see when they come across your listing. Therefore, you should write a title that will hook them from the get-go.

The job title shouldn’t be a mini-paragraph, but you must ensure it gives enough information to make your listing attractive. “CI/CD DevOps Engineer – Front-End (Fully Remote)” is more informative and interesting than “DevOps Engineer.”

If you’re looking for a senior DevOps engineer job description, check out our in-depth guide.

2. Craft a compelling “about us” section 

This is an opportunity to sell your business to prospective employees. An “about us” section enables candidates to identify your company’s goals, ideals, and culture and see how they align with their careers.

Although it’s critical to market your firm, remember that there are other components of the DevOps engineer job description, so it’s best to be brief. You can also consider including a link to your website’s “about us” page to provide additional information.

3. Draft a summary of the role

No two companies have the same exact needs. That’s why it’s critical to include a brief outline that describes the expectations for the role. You should summarize what working as a DevOps engineer would look like in your job description. For a clear-cut example on defining the role, dive into our DevOps manager job description guide.

4. Outline the job’s duties and responsibilities

Your job description should give applicants an idea of their day-to-day lives in the company. This provides them with insight into what the role specifically requires and helps them evaluate if they are up to the task.

5. Determine the necessary skills, experience, and education

First, identify the minimum skill, education, and experience requirements of the role. Then, include these requirements in your DevOps engineer job description so that prospective hires can identify if they qualify for the job.

6. State your preferred qualifications

In this section, describe the qualifications your ideal candidate should have.

You can include some special DevOps skills and qualifications that would give applicants extra points in securing the job (for example, a certification like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional).

7. Specify the working hours and job location 

It’s a good practice to specify the working hours in your DevOps job description. You should also mention if there are extra working hours. Also, clearly state the nature and location of the job, including whether it is an online, in-person, or hybrid position.

This way, you can also clarify that your organization only hires candidates with legal authorization to work in specific companies and whether visa sponsorships come with the role.

8. Include the compensation, job perks, and benefits 

If you’re using specific compensation metrics like working hours, performance targets, or quality of performance to determine the remuneration, you should specify this in the job description. 

Also, consider the average salary of a DevOps engineer to know what applicants expect.

Some companies prefer not to divulge the accrued salary and benefits. Try to avoid such practices since applicants are more motivated to apply when you publicly state the job’s benefits.

9. Let candidates know how to apply

In the DevOps engineer job description, give a detailed guide of your application process. This will save you and the candidates time and effort and help make the entire recruitment process seamless.

10. Give some insight into the screening process

Your candidates should be aware of any pre-employment assessments, drug tests, or other screening tests you might want them to take. The aim is to give them an overview of what working for you entails, right from the application to the first day on the job. 

Try something unique

A good DevOps engineer job description can positively impact the quality of your hire. Therefore, you should pay close attention to the job listings you publish. However, an excellent job description does not guarantee a good hire. 

To bolster the quality of the applications you receive, you can incorporate a DevOps pre-employment test in your recruitment process. This will enable you to easily filter out prospective candidates who don’t actually have the skill set they claim to.

Combining a skills test with your DevOps engineer job description eliminates bias in the hiring process. This will maximize your chances of hiring a technical expert with the right DevOps skills for your organization.

Get started by registering with TestGorilla for free, and you’ll be onboarding a DevOps engineer in no time.