System Engineer → Infrastructure Automation Engineer

A realistic transition from System Engineer to Infrastructure Automation Engineer: transferable skills, the gaps to close, a step-by-step learning plan and alternative routes. Estimated skill overlap 55%. Difficulty: Medium.

Difficulty: Medium7 stepsDuration: 9 to 13 monthsOverlap: 55%

Transition from System Engineer to Infrastructure Automation Engineer.

Transferable skills

  • Ansible
  • Linux
  • Networking

Skills to learn

  • Terraform
  • CI/CD
  • GitOps basics

Step-by-step learning plan

  1. 1. Build on your System Engineer experience

    2–4 weeks

    Leverage

    • Ansible
    • Linux
    • Networking

    Map transferable skills — Ansible, Linux, Networking — against what an Infrastructure Automation Engineer needs.

  2. 2. Close the partial gaps toward Infrastructure Automation Engineer

    3–6 weeks

    Improve

    • Cloud provisioning
    • Python / Bash

    Raise Cloud provisioning, Python / Bash to the level an Infrastructure Automation Engineer relies on.

  3. 3. Learn the core of the Infrastructure Automation Engineer role

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Terraform
    • CI/CD

    Technologies

    PulumiGitLab CIGitHub Actions

    Cover the biggest gaps first: Terraform, CI/CD.

  4. 4. Master advanced Infrastructure Automation Engineer skills

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • GitOps basics

    Technologies

    GCPVaultCloudFormation

    Handle the advanced topics: GitOps basics.

  5. 5. Get productive with the Infrastructure Automation Engineer toolchain

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    PulumiGitLab CIGitHub ActionsGCPVaultCloudFormationNginx

    Be hands-on with Pulumi, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions and the rest of the target stack.

  6. 6. Practise Infrastructure Automation Engineer work in real conditions

    4–8 weeks

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

  7. 7. Get certified and position yourself as a Infrastructure Automation Engineer

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    Terraform AssociateRed Hat Certified EngineerAWS SysOps Administrator

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

Alternative routes