Application Security Engineer → DevSecOps Engineer

Transferable skills

• IaC security (Terraform)
• Container & Kubernetes security
• Policy-as-code (OPA)
• Scripting (Python/Go)
• Cloud security
• SAST/DAST integration

Skills to learn

• Secrets management

Step-by-step learning plan

1. 1. Build on your Application Security Engineer experience

   2–4 weeks

   Leverage

   • IaC security (Terraform)
   • Container & Kubernetes security
   • Policy-as-code (OPA)
   • Scripting (Python/Go)

   Map transferable skills — IaC security (Terraform), Container & Kubernetes security, Policy-as-code (OPA) — against what a DevSecOps Engineer needs.

2. 2. Close the partial gaps toward DevSecOps Engineer

   3–6 weeks

   Improve

   • CI/CD security

   Raise CI/CD security to the level a DevSecOps Engineer relies on.

3. 3. Learn the core of the DevSecOps Engineer role

   6–10 weeks

   Learn

   • Secrets management

   Technologies

   TerraformOPAVault

   Cover the biggest gaps first: Secrets management.

4. 4. Get productive with the DevSecOps Engineer toolchain

   4–8 weeks

   Technologies

   TerraformOPAVaultTrivyFalcoGitHub ActionsArgoCDAWS

   Be hands-on with Terraform, OPA, Vault and the rest of the target stack.

5. 5. Practise DevSecOps Engineer work in real conditions

   4–8 weeks

   Ship a portfolio project or take on DevSecOps Engineer tasks at work.

6. 6. Get certified and position yourself as a DevSecOps Engineer

   4–8 weeks

   Technologies

   CISSPCCSPCKS (Certified Kubernetes Security)Terraform Associate

   Update your CV and LinkedIn around DevSecOps Engineer, then apply to target roles.

Alternative routes

• DevOps Engineer → DevSecOps Engineer