Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
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Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#2What skills exactly needed here?
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#3What skills exactly needed here?
Cloud Computing experts could apply to a lot. But if any anecdotal evidence from friends is accurate, you basically need to understand how to build massively distributed highly reliable systems and that's a rather unique skill set. It's because not a lot of places actually require those skills.
Most companies mess around with tools or distributed storage systems because it's fun, not because they actually need to do it. Debugging live systems at scale is another bit of black magic. If you basically know what Brendan Gregg does then you could probably qualify for these types of jobs.
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#4What skills exactly needed here?
Cloud Computing experts could apply to a lot. But if any anecdotal evidence from friends is accurate, you basically need to understand how to build massively distributed highly reliable systems and that's a rather unique skill set. It's because not a lot of places actually require those skills. Most companies mess around with tools or distributed storage systems because it's fun, not because they actually need to do…
I think the biggest thing is that you can't get "real" cloud/systems/devops/whatever experience on your own, unless you manage to build something that attracts the kind of traffic that you'd see once you're managing instances for a mature product.
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#5What skills exactly needed here?
probably:
1. strong fundamentals of L2/L3 networking 2. software defined networking state of the art 3. linux and windows virtualization state of the art 4. distributed storage state of the art 5. familiarity with commodity 64 bit hardware of all varieties (supermicro, dell, hp, etc.) 6. kernel debugging skills (maybe not development) 7. networking debugging skills @ the packet level 8. strong understanding of http and proxying 9. strong understanding of load balancing 10. strong understanding of wide area networks 11. physical datacenter knowledge i.e. how to actually install shit and get it to work together. 12. power fundamentals
for example, solve this problem:
we have a datacenter in oregon and a datacenter in virginia. connect them physically and logically. know what the goals are, know who to call, what to ask for/buy, and how to debug it.
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#6What skills exactly needed here?
probably: 1. strong fundamentals of L2/L3 networking 2. software defined networking state of the art 3. linux and windows virtualization state of the art 4. distributed storage state of the art 5. familiarity with commodity 64 bit hardware of all varieties (supermicro, dell, hp, etc.) 6. kernel debugging skills (maybe not development) 7. networking debugging skills @ the packet level 8. strong understanding of http a…
I'd also add:
1. Formal specifications. Complex distributed algorithms are too difficult to understand without exhaustively checking a design for all possible executions that end in dead-locks or violation of some invariant. Clouds require sometimes complex orchestration between various services. Unit tests aren't going to cover you if your design isn't correct (they'll ensure that some small portion of your system is correct and scale has a funny way of revealing everything you didn't test for).
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#7> [Tom] Chavez thinks industry titans like Larry Page, the chief executive of the Alphabet holding company that includes Google, are intentionally driving up salaries. “If I was Larry, I’d do the same thing: throw a few more million at people and cut off everyone else’s oxygen.”
Cut off everyone else's oxygen? There are maybe 10 companies that hire in volume and are willing to match top tier offers. The companies that aren't willing to match top tier offers could do so by hiring fewer people and paying them better, but they choose not to. Those companies are cutting off their own oxygen.
Some companies are willing to pay more than others, often by 2x or more, and those companies have a lot more options when it comes to hiring. That's how the market works now that the wage suppressing no-poach agreement has been canceled. And frankly, that's how it should work. Companies should be able to go out and pay market rate to get the people they want. And people should be able to take advantage of that.
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cloud Computing experts could apply to a lot. But if any anecdotal evidence from friends is accurate, you basically need to understand how to build massively distributed highly reliable systems and that's a rather unique skill set. It's because not a lot of places actually require those skills. Most companies mess around with tools or distributed storage systems because it's fun, not because they actually need to do…
I think the biggest thing is that you can't get "real" cloud/systems/devops/whatever experience on your own, unless you manage to build something that attracts the kind of traffic that you'd see once you're managing instances for a mature product.
Exactly right. I love doing that kind of thing but it's hard to find an environment in which I can practice those skills. Loads of reading and simulation, very little time at-bat. That's too bad, because that's the kind of work that makes me truly happy.
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#9What skills exactly needed here?
probably: 1. strong fundamentals of L2/L3 networking 2. software defined networking state of the art 3. linux and windows virtualization state of the art 4. distributed storage state of the art 5. familiarity with commodity 64 bit hardware of all varieties (supermicro, dell, hp, etc.) 6. kernel debugging skills (maybe not development) 7. networking debugging skills @ the packet level 8. strong understanding of http a…
It's implied, but worth stating explicitly: automation of mass server deployments and operations should be on the list.
Re: Tech Companies, New and Old, Clamor to Entice Cloud Computing Experts
#10Well, I missed the cloud boat, so it's no wonder I can't be employed in this market.