cloud engineer
Key facts
Are you fascinated by technology and eager to build the infrastructure that powers modern applications? As a cloud engineer, you'll be at the forefront of designing, managing, and maintaining cloud-based systems, playing a vital role in how businesses operate in today's digital world.
Cloud engineers are in demand as organizations increasingly move their operations to the cloud. Your day-to-day work involves a blend of technical design, hands-on implementation, and ongoing maintenance. You'll be responsible for ensuring cloud systems are reliable, secure, and scalable, often working with a variety of cloud platforms and tools. This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy problem-solving and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- • Designing and implementing cloud-based applications and infrastructure.
- • Migrating existing applications from on-premise environments to the cloud.
- • Monitoring and troubleshooting cloud systems to ensure optimal performance and stability.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Information and communications technology professionals — 75 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia and 9 more.
Longest-running shortage: Czechia, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could cloud engineer fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Analytical Thinking?
Future Outlook for cloud engineer
The outlook for cloud engineer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could cloud engineer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could cloud engineer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- respond to incidents in cloud
- automate cloud tasks
- design for organisational complexity
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- analyse business requirements
- implement cloud security and compliance
- plan migration to cloud
Tasks most exposed to automation
- manage cloud data and storage
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a cloud engineer
09 09:00 · Morning analyse software specifications
10 10:30 · Mid-morning align software with system architectures
12 12:00 · Midday automate cloud tasks
14 14:00 · Afternoon debug software
15 15:30 · Late afternoon deploy cloud resource
17 17:00 · Wrap-up design cloud architecture
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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cloud monitoring and reporting
The metrics and alarms utilizing cloud monitoring services, in particular performance and availability metrics.
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cloud security and compliance
Cloud security and compliance concepts, including shared responsibility model, cloud access management capabilities, and resources for security support.
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cloud technologies
The technologies which enable access to hardware, software, data and services through remote servers and software networks irrespective of their location and architecture.
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cyber security
The methods and best practices that protect ICT systems, networks, computers, devices, services, processes and people against unauthorised access, modification and/or denial of service of assets.
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database development tools
The methodologies and tools used for creating logical and physical structure of databases, such as logical data structures, diagrams, modelling methodologies and entity-relationships.
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ICT system integration
The principles of integrating ICT components and products from a number of sources to create an operational ICT system, techniques which ensure interoperability and interfaces between components and the system.
- computer programming
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debug software
Repair computer code by analysing testing results, locating the defects causing the software to output an incorrect or unexpected result and remove these faults.
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do cloud refactoring
Optimise application to best use cloud services and features, migrate existing application code to run on cloud infrastructure.
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develop with cloud services
Write code that interacts with cloud services by using APIs, SDKs, and cloud CLI. Write code for serverless applications, translate functional requirements into application design, implement application design into application code.
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develop software prototype
Create a first incomplete or preliminary version of a piece of software application to simulate some specific aspects of the final product.
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analyse software specifications
Assess the specifications of a software product or system to be developed by identifying functional and non-functional requirements, constraints and possible sets of use cases which illustrate interactions between the software and its users.
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design cloud architecture
Design a multi-tier cloud architecture solution, which tolerates faults and is fit for the workload and other business needs. Identify elastic and scalable computing solutions, select high-performing and scalable storage solutions, and choose high-performing database solutions. Identify cost-effective storage, computing, and database services in the cloud.
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design cloud networks
Apply cloud networking concepts and implement connectivity services of cloud. Given customer requirements, define network architectures on cloud, propose optimized designs based on the evaluation of an existing implementation. Evaluate and optimize cost allocations given a network design, its cloud resources, and application data flow.
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design database in the cloud
Apply design principles for an adaptive, elastic, automated, loosely coupled databases making use of cloud infrastructure. Aim to remove any single point of failure through distributed database design.
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respond to incidents in cloud
Troubleshoot issues with the cloud and determine how to restore operations. Design and automate disaster recovery strategies and evaluate a deployment for points of failure.
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automate cloud tasks
Automate manual or repeatable processes to minimize management overhead. Evaluate cloud automation alternatives for network deployments and tool-based alternatives for network operations and management.
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design for organisational complexity
Determine cross-account authentication and access strategy for complex organizations (for example, an organization with varying compliance requirements, multiple business units, and varying scalability requirements). Design networks and multi-account cloud environments for complex organizations.
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align software with system architectures
Put system design and technical specifications in line with software architecture in order to ensure the integration and interoperability between components of the system.
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deploy cloud resource
Identify and execute steps required to provision cloud resources, such as networks, servers, storage, applications, GPUs, and services. Define the cloud global infrastructure and remediate deployment issues.
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plan migration to cloud
Select existing workloads and processes for potential migration to the cloud and choose migration tools. Determine a new cloud architecture for an existing solution, plan a strategy for migrating existing workloads to the cloud.
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interpret technical texts
Read and understand technical texts that provide information on how to perform a task, usually explained in steps.
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solve ICT system problems
Identify potential component malfunctions. Monitor, document and communicate about incidents. Deploy appropriate resources with minimal outage and deploy appropriate diagnostic tools.
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analyse business requirements
Study clients' needs and expectations for a product or service in order to identify and resolve inconsistencies and possible disagreements of involved stakeholders.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
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Where does cloud engineer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What skills are most important for a cloud engineer?
- Strong technical skills are essential, including experience with cloud platforms (like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), scripting languages (like Python or Bash), and infrastructure-as-code tools. Problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn new technologies are also crucial.
- Is this a good career path for someone without a traditional computer science background?
- Absolutely! While a computer science degree can be helpful, many cloud engineers come from diverse backgrounds. A strong foundation in IT, coupled with relevant certifications and a commitment to continuous learning, can be just as valuable. The field values practical experience and a proactive approach to skill development.
- What does 'debugging cloud stacks' actually mean?
- Debugging cloud stacks refers to identifying and resolving issues within the complex layers of software and services that make up a cloud environment. It involves analyzing logs, monitoring system performance, and using diagnostic tools to pinpoint the root cause of problems and implement solutions to restore functionality.
- Cloud Engineer — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 13 of the 17 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia and 9 more. Czechia has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Cloud Engineer — what does it pay in the United States?
- $108,970 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $60,470 to $156,590. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.