Making your option choices in school? Get inspired and pick the future you want

DevSecOps developer

Create software applications that outsmart hackers - by making security a priority from the very start.

Also known as: software developer, devops developer

About skills Getting in

About the job

Salary

Source: National Careers Service

Weekly

£500

Entry level

£1,346

Experienced

Monthly

£2,167

Entry level

£5,833

Experienced

Yearly

£26,000

Entry level

£70,000

Experienced

32,800

people are currently employed

High growth

1,800 more jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

What it's like

DevSecOps is short for development, security and operations. The difference between this and other types of development is a focus on security from the start of a project. By including security planning and testing in your initial development process, you avoid having to make major changes to resolve security flaws later.  

You’ll generate ideas, bring them to life with your development skills, and then test the results in a secure environment to make sure there are no defects or bugs that could be exploited. This is a fast-paced role that will continually challenge your technical skills and push you to find creative new approaches to development.  

What you’ll do

  • Write secure code – usually in short, highly focused phases known as 'sprints' 

  • Forensically analyse short segments of code to try and find weak points 

  • Check code using cybersecurity tools such as Codacy, GitLab or Aqua 

  • Update code to remove any vulnerabilities 

  • Design automated security functions to flag up any security concerns 

  • Quickly react to feedback and data to make sure any changes don’t derail the wider development schedule 

  • Contribute to creating the technical specification 

  • Follow news of emerging cybersecurity threats so you know what to protect your code against 

Hours

Most DevSecOps Developers work 9-5 office hours as part of a team. You might need to work longer hours in the lead up to a big product or service launch.

Environment

You'll probably work in an office or creative studio alongside a full development team.

Explore more information about this job

Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:

Like the sound of this career?

Browse courses in Scotland related to 'DevSecOps developer'

Select qualification level(s)

Show me courses

Other careers that you might like

  • Games developer
  • Software developer
  • App developer
  • Machine learning engineer
  • Software engineer
  • Game designer
  • AR/VR programmer
  • Blockchain developer
  • DevOps engineer
  • Audio programmer
  • Lead game engineer
  • Project analyst
  • Robot programmer
  • Artificial intelligence engineer
  • Data solution architect
Browse all job profiles

Related industries

Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.

  • Financial services
  • Engineering and manufacturing
  • Digital technologies
  • Construction and built environment
View all industries

Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

  • taking responsibility
  • developing a plan
  • attention to detail
  • researching
  • questioning
  • problem solving
  • written communication
  • working with technology
  • building relationships
  • adaptability

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

Discover skills

Getting in

Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.

You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.

Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Computing Science

  • Mathematics

  • Physics

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Hardware and Systems Support

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development

  • Applications of Mathematics

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on  Apprenticeships.scot.

You can develop the necessary skills for this role through a variety of routes.

Many DevSecOps developers will have studied at degree level in a technical subject, such as:

  • Software development

  • Software engineering

  • Computer science

  • Information systems

Others will have qualifications in a scientific or numerical subject such as maths or physics.

Employers may consider graduates from non-computing subjects if they can demonstrate essential technical knowledge. There are also postgraduate IT conversion courses available to graduates with a non IT background, who need to strengthen their technical skills.

Apprenticeships

You can gain skills and qualifications in the workplace through options such as:

Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) are chosen as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 but include hands-on learning at a local employer or college. They are the same level as a Higher.

You might want to consider an FA in areas such as:

  • Software development

  • IT: Hardware and system support

Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.

You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:

  • IT and telecoms - technical

  • Information security - technical

  • Digital applications

​​​​​​​Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni or college. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.

You might want to consider a GA in areas such as:

  • Cyber security​​​​​​

Not all employers list specific qualification requirements but they might ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that shows a range of transferable skills.

You'd usually be expected to demonstrate up to date in-depth knowledge of software design, coding and programming developments as well as an understanding of testing and auditing software in order to anticipate potential security threats.

There are a variety of certifications and training courses available to gain further knowledge in cyber security, including Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), Certified Professional (CCP) scheme and Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), depending on your level of experience.

Find the right course for you

Browse courses in Scotland related to 'DevSecOps developer'

View all courses

Search jobs and apprenticeships

View work opportunities