DevOps Engineer roadmap
Automate the path from commit to production, and keep systems observable, recoverable and secure.
At a glance
- Stages6
- Steps25
- Core steps15
- Optional or alternative10
- Linked courses3
How to use this roadmap
Work through the stages in order. Core steps are the ones everyone on this path needs; optional steps add depth when you have time, and alternatives are other ways to the same skill, so pick one. Steps with a course link to a free course from LearnerMap Academy.
Members of LearnerMap Academy can mark each step as learning, done or skipped, and see how far along the path they are.
Operating systems
Linux fundamentals
CoreManage files, users, permissions and packages on a Linux server.
Shell scripting
CoreAutomate repetitive tasks with scripts that fail loudly and are safe to rerun.
Processes and services
CoreRun long-lived services under a supervisor with restarts, limits and logs.
Windows Server
AlternativeAdminister Windows hosts where the workload or organisation needs them.
Networking
TCP/IP and ports
CoreUnderstand addresses, ports and connections well enough to trace where traffic stops.
DNS
CoreManage records, time-to-live values and the delays they cause during changes.
TLS and certificates
CoreServe everything over HTTPS and automate certificate renewal.
Reverse proxies and load balancing
OptionalPut a proxy in front of services for TLS, routing and spreading load.
Containers and orchestration
Images and containers
CoreBuild small images and run them with the right limits, volumes and networks.
Kubernetes basics
CoreDeploy, scale and update workloads declaratively on a cluster.
Helm charts
OptionalPackage Kubernetes manifests with values for each environment.
Managed container platforms
AlternativeRun containers without operating a cluster yourself.
Delivery pipelines
Branching workflows
CoreAgree how changes flow from branch to main so releases stay predictable.
Continuous integration
CoreBuild and test every change automatically, and keep the pipeline fast.
GitLab CI/CD
AlternativeThe same ideas expressed as GitLab pipelines.
Deployment strategies
OptionalRoll out gradually with rolling, blue-green or canary releases, and roll back quickly.
Supply chain security
OptionalPin and scan dependencies, and prove where each artefact came from.
Infrastructure as code
Terraform
CoreDescribe infrastructure in versioned files and apply changes with a reviewed plan.
Pulumi
AlternativeDefine infrastructure in a general-purpose programming language.
Configuration management
OptionalKeep servers in a known state with repeatable playbooks.
Secrets management
CoreStore credentials outside code, rotate them, and grant access narrowly.
Running production
Metrics and alerting
CoreCollect the signals that matter and alert on symptoms people feel, not every blip.
Logs and traces
CoreCorrelate a single request across services with structured logs and traces.
SLOs and incident response
CoreSet service level objectives, run calm incidents and learn from them without blame.
Cloud architecture
OptionalApply a provider’s well-architected guidance to cost, reliability and security trade-offs.
AWS Well-Architected FrameworkAzure Well-Architected Framework
Learning with LearnerMap Academy
LearnerMap Academy runs its learning on LearnerMap, a free platform for organisations. Every course here is free for members of LearnerMap Academy: sign in with the email address LearnerMap Academy knows you by, or with a passkey, and the course opens in your own plan.
Your plan holds at most 3 courses in progress at a time, so you finish what you start before pulling in the next one. Lessons open in order, your progress is saved as you complete each one, and every course ends with a quiz; passing it adds a certificate to your record.
Not a member yet? Ask LearnerMap Academy to invite you. Lesson content, quizzes and everyone’s progress stay private to members; these public pages show only what LearnerMap Academy chose to publish.