DevSecOps Engineer
Part of the Cybersecurity Career Guide — This article is one deep-dive in our complete guide series.
By HADESS Team | February 28, 2026 | Updated: February 28, 2026 | 5 min read
You embed security into software delivery pipelines. Instead of bolting security on at the end, you automate it at every stage — from code commit to production deployment. You build the tooling, processes, and culture that make secure software the default, not the exception.
What You Will Do
DevSecOps is an engineering role with a security focus. You write code, build pipelines, manage infrastructure, and integrate security tools — all while keeping delivery velocity high.
Your work includes:
- Integrating SAST, DAST, SCA, and secret scanning tools into CI/CD pipelines
- Building and maintaining container image scanning and signing workflows
- Managing infrastructure as code with security guardrails — Terraform, Pulumi, CloudFormation
- Implementing policy-as-code using OPA, Kyverno, or Sentinel
- Automating vulnerability management — scanning, prioritization, and tracking
- Configuring and hardening container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, ECS)
- Building secure base images and golden AMIs for development teams
- Setting up runtime security monitoring with Falco, Sysdig, or Aqua
- Creating self-service security tools that developers can use without filing tickets
- Managing secrets securely — HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, SOPS
- Monitoring software supply chain security — dependency scanning, SBOM generation
- Collaborating with development teams to fix vulnerabilities without slowing releases
You succeed when developers can ship securely without thinking about it. If security becomes a bottleneck, you have failed at the core mission of the role.
Skills You Need
DevSecOps engineers need equal strength in development, operations, and security.
Core capabilities:
- CI/CD pipeline design — GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, ArgoCD
- Container security — Docker hardening, Kubernetes security, image scanning
- Infrastructure as code — Terraform, CloudFormation with security best practices
- Security tooling integration — SAST, DAST, SCA tool selection and pipeline embedding
- Cloud platform security — AWS, Azure, or GCP security services and architecture
- Secrets management — Vault, cloud-native secrets, rotation automation
- Programming — Python, Go, or Bash for building security automation
- Policy as code — OPA, Kyverno, Sentinel for automated policy enforcement
Develop these in the skills library and explore the role further in the career path explorer.
Certifications
DevSecOps certifications span cloud, containers, and automation:
- CKS — Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist, validates container security skills
- AWS DevOps Professional — demonstrates CI/CD and automation expertise
- GCDA — GIAC Cloud Digital Forensics and Automation
- Docker Certified Associate — container fundamentals certification
Plan your certification strategy with the certification roadmap planner.
Salary Range
DevSecOps engineers earn between $80K and $160K. This is one of the highest-paying technical security roles because it requires a rare combination of development, operations, and security skills. Engineers at tech companies and financial services firms often exceed this range. The demand consistently outpaces supply.
See current market rates with the salary calculator.
How to Get Started
1. Get strong in at least one area first — development, operations, or security — then expand into the others 2. Learn CI/CD — build pipelines that run tests, scans, and deployments automatically 3. Take the skills assessment to see where you stand across dev, ops, and security 4. Practice building secure pipelines in the labs 5. Learn Terraform and Kubernetes — they are the foundation of modern infrastructure 6. Integrate a SAST tool into a pipeline — Semgrep is free and a good starting point 7. Get CKS or AWS DevOps — plan your path with the certification planner 8. Contribute to open-source DevSecOps tools to build credibility 9. Build your resume showing both engineering and security achievements 10. Search for DevSecOps roles on the job board
If you are a developer who wants security skills or a security person who wants to build things, talk to the career coach about the fastest path into DevSecOps based on your background.
Related Guides in This Series
Take the Next Step
Start your career assessment. Go to the start your career assessment on HADESS.
Explore career paths. Check out the explore career paths.
Get started free — Create your HADESS account and access all career tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What certifications do I need for this role?
Certification requirements vary by employer and seniority level. Use the certification roadmap planner to build a sequence based on your target role and current qualifications.
What is the salary range for this role?
Salaries vary significantly by location, experience, and employer type. Use the salary calculator for your specific market rate.
How do I transition into this career path?
Take the skills assessment to identify your current strengths and gaps relative to this role. The assessment generates a personalized learning plan to close the gap.
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HADESS Team consists of cybersecurity practitioners, hiring managers, and career strategists who have collectively spent 50+ years in the field.
