DevOps Engineer Interview Prep
Module Overview
Build and automate the CI/CD operations for dev, test & prod environments, for a new application.
- AWS + Terraform + Terragrunt — Secure, repeatable infrastructure
- CI/CD (Jenkins)Pipeline — Java build & test, Docker image creation, ECR push
- Kubernetes (EKS) — 3-tier deployment with Ingress, scaling, storage, & secrets
- Observability — Prometheus metrics, Grafana dashboards, & alerts
Who Should Take This Module?
DevOps Engineer / Platform Engineer
This is the best fit.
Why:
- Heavy emphasis on CI/CD, IaC, Kubernetes, and observability
- Clear ownership of build → deploy → operate
- Demonstrates automation, reliability, and production readiness
- Aligns directly with DevOps and SRE interview expectations
Interviewers will read this and think:
“This person can run a real production platform.”
The Learning Experience
This project is primarily for DevOps Engineers, strongly suitable for Cloud Infrastructure Engineers, and adaptable for Cloud Solutions Architects with architectural framing.
How interviewers subconsciously classify this
- DevOps hiring manager: “Yes, this is production-level.”
- Infra lead: “Good Terraform discipline.”
- Solutions Architect panel: “Where are the business constraints and trade-offs?”
- Security team: “Nice baseline, but not security-led.”
Full Module Curriculum
1. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) — Development Environment
- Provisioned AWS development environment using Terraform
- Implemented reusable, version-controlled Terraform modules
- Deployed:
- VPC with public and private subnets
- EC2 instances
- RDS database
- Security groups and IAM roles
- Ensured repeatability, traceability, and safe infrastructure changes
Key focus: consistency, security, and environment parity
2. CI/CD Pipeline — Build, Image, and Registry
- Designed and implemented a Groovy-based Jenkins pipeline
- Automated:
- Java application build and unit testing
- Docker image creation
- Image push to AWS ECR
- Implemented pipeline stages with clear failure points and logs
Key focus: automation, quality gates, and artifact immutability
3. Kubernetes — Production Environment
- Provisioned and configured Amazon EKS for production
- Deployed a 3-tier application:
- Web tier
- Application tier
- Database tier
- Used Helm charts / Kubernetes manifests
- Configured:
- Ingress controller and AWS Load Balancers
- Persistent Volume Claims (PVCs)
- Secrets and ConfigMaps
- Ensured scalability, high availability, and security
Key focus: production readiness and resilience
4. Monitoring & Observability
- Implemented Prometheus for metrics collection
- Configured Grafana dashboards for KPIs
- Defined alerting rules in Prometheus for:
- Resource saturation
- Application failures
- Infrastructure anomalies
Key focus: visibility, reliability, and fast incident response
Outcome
Delivered a fully automated, observable, and scalable cloud-native platform aligned with modern DevOps and SRE principles.
Your Instructors
Akin Aregbesola
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With over three decades of experience in IT, cloud computing, and business leadership, I have built a strong reputation for delivering enterprise-level cloud solutions and designing high-impact training programs that prepare professionals for in-demand roles across the IT industry. Early in my career, I founded and scaled my first IT training company from the ground up, growing it to a 35-member team and establishing it as a leading training provider in the region. This journey strengthened my managerial, leadership, and executive capabilities, which continue to shape my strategic and operational approach as CEO of The Itern. At The Itern, I lead a diverse, multi-regional team of IT professionals, delivering practical, industry-aligned training programs that effectively bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world technology careers. My areas of specialization include Cloud Solution Architecture, Infrastructure Provisioning Automation, Continuous Integration & Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), and Cloud Security. Driven by a passion for mentorship and talent development, I am committed to preparing the next generation of cloud and DevOps professionals for success in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven, cloud-first world. I bring a balanced combination of deep technical expertise, business acumen, and people leadership, ensuring operational excellence, long-term growth, and meaningful career outcomes for those I train.