Azure is the Italian word for blue, which is often associated with depth and stability. That’s precisely what Microsoft Azure is all about.
Over the years, Microsoft Azure has been advancing in the software development world and is now one of the best cloud computing platforms worldwide. As the next wave of technology is expected to be all about data, most business organizations are starting to rely on Microsoft Azure to help them reach their goals.
Therefore, it comes as no shock that the phrase Azure jobs is one of the most searched terms online, as more and more companies are interested in hiring Azure developers.
What Do Azure Developers Do?
Azure developers build, run, and manage cloud applications across multiple Microsoft-managed data centers. They do so with Azure, a cloud computing platform that has solutions such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) that can be used for analytics, virtual computing, storage, and networking.
Like all Azure standard jobs, Azure developers replace or enhance the on-premise servers. They have a great understanding of security, development, testing, deployment, and more.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Consulting clients on how to reach their cloud computing-related goals.
Cloud computing enables storing computer data without direct active management by the user. Azure developers are tasked with advising their clients on potential security breaches and providing access data on the cloud with ease.
- Understanding client projects, defining, and designing DevOps processes.
Azure web jobs require the ability to combine software development with information technology operations to minimize a system’s development life period and maintain continuous delivery and software quality. Azure developers identify, explain, design, and define the best solutions and processes for a client or company.
- Using DevOps in Microsoft technologies.
As mentioned above, Azure is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft. The primary role in all Azure jobs is to know how to use end-to-end Azure practices and implement DevOps practices through application planning, development, delivery, and operations.
- Working with multiple teams.
Professionals have the opportunity to work with multiple teams of specialists that cover the whole Microsoft stack when employed in Azure developer jobs. Together they work on some of the best and most exciting IT programs globally; all built on Microsoft.
- Identifying the accelerators that can assist with DevOps implementation and adoption.
Azure accelerators are designed to cover up to ten days of professional services to deliver an onsite Cloud Value Workshop. With Azure accelerators, developers can control the product’s security and enable security features that can protect a company’s intellectual property.
- Managing and maintaining DevOps processes throughout a project’s lifecycle.
Considering the benefits of DevOps, it’s no wonder the number of users and developers who use DevOps continues to increase. Any Microsoft Azure job requires an Azure developer to implement the DevOps on cloud-native applications. Azure developers must maintain and manage the project’s lifecycle, including development, integration, testing, feedback, monitoring, deployment, and operations.
- Staying up to date with the latest technologies and methodologies.
To advance in any Azure careers, it takes everyday research and figuring out new ways to improve your development skills. As things move fast in the tech world, Azure developers must learn all the latest technologies and methodologies and translate them into practical, reliable solutions to solve all kinds of problems.
Types of Azure Developers
Microsoft Azure Administrator
Microsoft Azure administrator jobs entail implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Microsoft Azure solutions, including primary services related to computing, storage, network, and security.
Azure administrators are often used as a bridge between Azure users and technical teams. Among others, this means they need to communicate well with users with different experience backgrounds.
That’s why Azure admin jobs are currently in high demand and relatively well-paid, too.
Microsoft Azure Security Engineer
An Azure security engineer’s primary duties and responsibilities are related to enforcing and managing security controls. Like all web jobs within Azure, security engineers need to protect data, applications, and networks in the cloud or other environments as part of an end-to-end infrastructure.
Microsoft Azure AI Engineer
Azure AI engineers use machine learning, cognitive services, and knowledge mining to plan and implement Artificial Intelligence solutions. They mostly work with data scientists, data engineers, and software developers to build and improve end-to-end solutions.
This role is essential for a company’s success, which explains why the AI Azure engineer salary is the highest among all Azure professionals.
Microsoft Azure Data Scientist
Azure data scientists use their data science knowledge to run machine learning workloads. They are tasked with designing data models that focus on business issues. To achieve these tasks, Azure data scientists must use the Azure Machine Learning Service.
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect
Azure solutions architects offer solutions that run on Microsoft Azure, and they are the second most highly paid professionals among all Azure jobs.
These solutions often translate into creating gathering requirements, determining a suitable infrastructure, designing, and configuring applications. Therefore, Azure solutions architects need to be proficient in computing, networking, and security.
Microsoft Azure Consultant
When a company wants to take its first step towards a cloud service, they need first to approach an Azure consultant. Consultants are among the most significant Microsoft Azure job roles, as they chat with companies on what they have to gain or lose if they switch to the cloud. They’re also tasked with coming up with the best possible solutions for everybody.
Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer
One of the best Azure careers is the Azure DevOps engineer. Being an Azure DevOps engineer means you must have specific expertise in working with people, processes, and technologies to bring a company success.
That means architecting, designing, implementing Microsoft Azure Solutions, and working in areas like machine environments, storage, and network architecture.
Microsoft Azure Data Engineer
Data engineers must know how to implement rational and non-rational storage solutions, design and develop processing solutions, and optimize cloud data stores. They need to ensure that data is being accessed efficiently and protect it from damage or theft.
Work Environment
Like all Microsoft jobs, an Azure developer’s work environment is mostly in-office. Azure developers have to cooperate with other developers on multiple projects, which explains why they usually work in an office environment.
However, many remote Azure jobs can be found online. All these remote positions offer a flexible schedule and work-from-home options.
Work Schedule
Azure developers typically work for 40 hours per week. However, there is always some flexibility since all Azure developers work with a development team. If you plan to land one of the many Azure jobs that are remote, you can expect further flexibility regarding your work schedule and working hours.
How to Become an Azure Developer?
If you aspire to become an Azure developer and pursue a successful Azure career, you must have specific skills and qualifications. Here are some of the essential skills and qualities that an excellent Azure developer needs to possess.
Important Skills and Qualities
- Proficient with PowerShell
Azure developers must understand the shell framework that was developed by Microsoft for configuration management and automotive jobs. Azure developers need to know how to execute commands and script language that goes along with the framework.
- Proficient with Azure frameworks
One of the most critical factors to succeed in Azure jobs and become an exceptional Azure developer is knowing Azure and its features. The Azure framework consists of five pillars: Cost Optimization, Operational Excellence, Performance Efficiency, Reliability, and Security. Therefore, Azure developers must know how Azure frameworks operate and how to handle all five pillars.
- Able to develop for unpredictability
Unpredictability and rarity go hand in hand. Azure cloud jobs are always evolving, and an Azure developer needs to think outside the box to make a company stand out.
- Able to develop with costs in mind
An Azure developer is required to know how to manage a company’s budget. Similar to all other developers, Azure developers have a fund set up for them by companies. An accomplished Azure developer must know how to manage a said budget while bringing success to the company.
- Able to scale data
Scaling data means that developers in Azure jobs have to make data fit into a particular scale. The most common scalings are Normalization and Standardization. Depending on which scaling method you use, you can figure out the difference between a weak learning model machine and a strong one.
- Able to scale applications
Azure developers have to ensure that applications can serve more users at once. Scaling applications is one of the best qualities required in a typical Microsoft Azure job description.
- Able to develop resilience
Azure developers must know how to recover systems and make them stronger and continually functional. Using compensating transactions, they can implement resiliency design patterns to isolate critical resources.
- Able to create monitoring and diagnostic pipelines
By using the Azure Monitor, Azure developers can provide base-level infrastructure metrics and logs for most Azure services. The Azure Monitor helps developers keep their applications up and running in a healthy state. With the Azure Monitor’s help, developers can avoid potential problems, and, if problems come up, they can troubleshoot them.
Education
To be hired at one of the many Azure jobs in the USA, you don’t need a Bachelor’s degree. However, you do need an Azure developers’ certification. Many companies look for a certified developer rather than a professional who has experience developing on cloud platforms.
Certifications
Microsoft Azure certifications are organized into four levels: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Speciality, while there are at least nine types of exams with corresponding certificates:
- Exam AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (Fundamentals level)
This is the first level, and it only validates that the candidate possesses general knowledge of Microsoft’s Azure cloud service. With this certificate, you can mostly get Azure jobs at entry level.
- Exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator (Associate level)
This certificate confirms that the candidate knows the computing process and the security and networking services provided by Microsoft Azure. With this certificate, you can land one of many Azure administrator jobs.
- Exam AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (Associate level)
The Microsoft Azure developer certificate is specially made for developers who look for an advanced job role within Azure. With this certificate, you can work on any web Azure jobs.
- Exam AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies (Associate level)
This Microsoft Azure certificate proves that the candidate knows how to manage and secure cloud-based solutions. You must have specific skills in automation, virtual networking, and scripting to acquire this certificate.
- Exam AI-100: Designing and Implementing an Azure AI Solution (Associate level)
This is the perfect certificate for people who want to analyze Artificial Intelligence requirements, implement Microsoft solutions to Artificial Intelligence, and, eventually, land one of the best-paid Azure jobs.
- Exam DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure (Associate level)
With this certificate, you attest that you know how to design and implement data science solutions on Microsoft Azure.
- Exam AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (Expert level)
This certification is perfect for people who are good at using the cloud computing system to find business solutions. The Microsoft Azure solutions architect is one of the best and most popular Microsoft Azure jobs in the USA.
- Exam AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design (Expert level)
To acquire this certification, candidates must have in-depth knowledge of all Microsoft Azure aspects and expertise in data management, virtualization, networking, security, and recovery.
- Exam AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions (Expert level)
Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer is the ultimate certification that a candidate can get. With this certificate, candidates prove they can deliver cloud services using all the features and components Microsoft Azure offers.
Pay
Azure developer salaries range from $95,500 to $200,000 per year. The average Azure jobs salary in the US is about $138,264, earning around $66 per hour. However, as outlined above, there are different types of Azure developers, so there is a separate salary for every one of them. The average annual Azure salary goes as follows:
- Microsoft Azure Developer- $138,264
- Microsoft Azure Administrator- $105,035
- Microsoft Azure Security Engineer- $136,500
- Microsoft Azure AI Engineer- $172,000
- Microsoft Azure Data Scientist- $135,000
- Microsoft Azure Solution Architect- $157,880
- Microsoft Azure Consultant- $134,901
- Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer- $100,362
- Microsoft Azure Data Engineer- $148,333
Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, web and software developers, including all Azure jobs, are in high demand. Between 2019 and 2029, there will be a growth of up to 22%, higher than any other occupation in the United States. Furthermore, Microsoft Azure has received official accreditation from the UK government, demonstrating how much Microsoft Azure is valued.
Job Prospects
As more and more businesses turn to Microsoft Azure, the demand for skilled cloud Azure developers can only increase. The best thing about pursuing one of many Microsoft Azure careers is that there are different types of developers, so you can choose which path to take according to your skillset.
Summary
Serverless computing is the latest trend, and those who equip themselves with valued skills will soon be irreplaceable. Azure jobs are perfect for highly motivated professionals who want to be a part of game-changing technology and the opportunities that go with it.
Overall, this article explained just how much Microsoft Azure has developed over the years, and hopefully, it will help you become a successful Azure developer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azure in demand?
Job opportunities for certified Microsoft Azure developers have remarkably multiplied over the last years. Companies are starting to rely more and more on Microsoft Azure, so it’s no surprise that there are many Microsoft Azure job openings.
Microsoft reported that over 1,000 new customers sign up for Azure every day and that Azure is used by 57% of Fortune 500 companies, which is very impressive. Therefore, it’s no wonder there are also so many Azure remote jobs posted online.
How do I get a job at Azure?
The first and most crucial step is to get one of many Azure developer certifications. With a Microsoft Azure certification, you can apply for a job as a solutions architect, developer, or cloud architect.
Next, you have to obtain specific skills and qualities, such as being proficient with PowerShell and Azure frameworks, knowing how to scale data and applications, and, finally, knowing how to develop resilience and create monitoring and diagnostic pipelines, before you can land one of many Azure developer jobs.
Is Azure hard to learn?
Microsoft Azure services are divided into 13 categories. It takes up to one month to learn each category by spending a minimum of four hours a day learning Azure. The Azure categories are:
– Computing
– Networking
– Storage
– Web Mobile
– Containers
– Database
– Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Services
– Internet of Things
– Enterprise Integration
– Security and Identity
– Developer Tools
– Monitoring and Management
You can also take a Microsoft Azure certification course that offers instructor-led training, hands-on exercises, and job assistance if you’re serious about landing a Microsoft Azure job.
What is Microsoft Azure used for?
Azure is a public cloud computing platform that was developed by Microsoft. It offers services in analytics, virtual computing, storage, networking, and many more. Finding one of many Azure jobs is optimal, as Azure is very popular among companies, especially in the United States.
Microsoft Azure’s primary function is to build, manage, and deploy applications and services through Microsoft data centers. Overall, Microsoft Azure is one of the best cloud platforms online, as it’s swift, flexible, and affordable.
Is Azure a good career?
Microsoft Azure and cloud computing have a bright and promising future. According to the American Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2019 to 2029, software developers’ jobs will see a 22% growth.
Suppose you choose to walk the Azure career path. In that case, you need to acquire specific skills and qualities like creating and monitoring diagnostic pipelines, scaling data and applications, developing resilience, and many more. Finally, you should have one of many Microsoft Azure certifications to start your career as an Azure developer.
Which Azure certification is best?
There are at least nine types of Microsoft Azure certifications that can help you land one of many Azure jobs. Depending on your qualities and skills, you should be able to choose the best one for you.
The ideal certificate for beginners is the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification. The latter addresses candidates who want to explore the cloud computing system and use it for business solutions. One of the most exciting certifications is the Microsoft Azure Artificial Intelligence Engineer certificate, perfect for people who wish to explore and work with AI.