# DevOps Engineer Pathway
## Role Overview
**For**: Infrastructure engineers automating WordPress deployment
**Purpose**: CI/CD, infrastructure as code, WordPress at scale
**Time**: 300-400 hours (sysadmin/dev background)
**Outcomes**: DevOps/SRE; $85K-150K+
## Progression
### 1. Entry: WordPress hosting, Linux, automation, CI/CD, monitoring
### 2. Mid: Infrastructure as code, Docker, Kubernetes, scaling
### 3. Specializations: Cloud (AWS/GCP/Azure), containers, monitoring, security
### 4. Senior: Infrastructure architecture, SRE, platform engineering
### 5. Staff/Principal: Infrastructure Director, Platform Architect
## Key Skills
Linux admin, automation, containers, CI/CD, cloud, WordPress deployment, monitoring
## Related: [[Engineer Pathway]], [[Multisite Super Administrator Pathway]]
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## Prerequisites
### Required Foundation Skills
- [[Linux System Administration]] - Command line, server management
- [[Developer Pathway]] or system administration experience
- [[Networking Fundamentals]] - TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS
- [[Version Control with Git]] - Infrastructure as code
### Recommended Background
- 2+ years sysadmin or development experience
- Experience with web hosting environments
- Understanding of WordPress deployment
- Basic scripting (Bash, Python)
- Cloud platform familiarity
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## Learning Resources
### Official WordPress Resources
- [WordPress Hosting Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/hosting/handbook/)
- [WordPress Security](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/hardening-wordpress/)
- Make WordPress Hosting team blog
- WordPress Core Performance documentation
### DevOps & Infrastructure
- "The Phoenix Project" by Gene Kim
- "Site Reliability Engineering" by Google
- "Kubernetes: Up and Running"
- "Infrastructure as Code" by Kief Morris
- DevOps Handbook
### Cloud & Automation
- AWS/GCP/Azure documentation
- Docker and Kubernetes docs
- Ansible, Terraform documentation
- CI/CD platform guides (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins)
### WordPress-Specific
- WordPress VIP infrastructure docs
- WP Engine technical articles
- Kinsta DevOps resources
- ServerPilot and RunCloud guides
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## Assessment & Portfolio
### How You'll Be Evaluated
- Infrastructure reliability and uptime
- Deployment automation efficiency
- Security implementation
- Performance optimization results
- Cost optimization achievements
- Documentation quality
### Portfolio Requirements
- [ ] Automated WordPress deployment pipelines
- [ ] Infrastructure as code repositories
- [ ] Monitoring and alerting setup examples
- [ ] Security hardening implementations
- [ ] Performance optimization case studies
- [ ] Disaster recovery procedures
- [ ] Documentation and runbooks
### Certification Options
- AWS/GCP/Azure architect certifications
- Kubernetes (CKA, CKAD)
- Docker certifications
- Security certifications (CISSP, Security+)
- CI/CD platform certifications
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## Related Pathways
### Complementary Roles
- [[Engineer Pathway]] - Advanced WordPress engineering
- [[Developer Pathway]] - Development background
- [[Quality Assurance Pathway]] - Testing automation
- [[Multisite Super Administrator Pathway]] - WordPress administration
### Alternative Paths
- [[Freelancer-Solopreneur-Agency Pathway]] - DevOps consulting
- [[Make Team Contributor Pathway]] - Hosting team contribution
- Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) roles
- Platform Engineering positions
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## Success Stories
[Placeholder for real success stories - examples to collect:]
- Sysadmin to DevOps Lead at WordPress hosting company
- Building scalable infrastructure for major WordPress sites
- Automating deployment for WordPress agency
- SRE at Automattic managing WordPress.com infrastructure
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## Community & Support
### Connect with Others
- **Slack**: #hosting-community, #core-performance on [WordPress Slack](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/)
- **Make Blog**: [Make WordPress Hosting](https://make.wordpress.org/hosting/)
- **Events**: WordCamp DevOps and infrastructure tracks
- **Communities**: DevOps communities, SRE groups
### Getting Help
- WordPress Hosting team
- DevOps communities (DevOps subreddit, Stack Overflow)
- Cloud provider communities
- Infrastructure engineering groups
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*Last Updated: 2025-11-07*
*Version: 1.0 - Enhanced with full template*
*Status: ✅ Complete*
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## Quick Links
- [[00 - START HERE - Navigation]] - Main navigation
- [[Foundation Skills]] - Core competencies
- [[Career Progression Framework]] - Understanding levels
- [[PATHWAY-STATUS]] - Track curriculum development