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Mastering the Skills to Succeed in the Most Challenging Tech Roles

Did you know that the tech industry rewards specialization with higher salaries and greater opportunities for growth and development? In this article, we’ll provide you with a list of the most sought-after tech positions and the skills you’ll need to become an expert in them.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ARTICLE:

– Why Specializing Pays Off – How focusing on high-demand tech roles can fast-track your career growth.

– Top 5 Challenging Tech Roles – The most in-demand positions for 2025.

– Skills That Make the Difference – What you need to master to stand out in each role (both technical and soft skills).

– KWAN’s Tips to Get There – Practical advice to help you start strong and build expertise in your chosen path.


If you’re a tech professional with little experience, or an experienced one looking for a career change within tech, you know that getting your first job experience may not be easy. What you might not know is that investing in a specific area could be crucial for your future in tech.

The value of becoming an expert in high-demand tech roles cannot be overstated. The tech industry rewards specialization with lucrative salaries and vast opportunities for growth and development.

This article will show you the most sought-after tech roles and the skills needed to master each one.

But before we start, check out our careers page. No matter where you are in your career, we offer opportunities ranging from junior to senior and managerial positions.


Which are the most sought-after tech positions in 2025?

With over 18 years of experience in outsourcing for our clients’ tech teams, we have identified the five most challenging roles to hire for. 

Whether due to a shortage of available professionals, the level of experience required, or the ever-evolving set of skills and knowledge needed, these roles include DevOps Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, C/C++ Software Engineers, SRE/Cloud Engineers, and Solutions Architects. 

These positions are known for their complexity, requiring a combination of technical expertise, practical experience, and soft skills. If you aspire to enter one of these fields, mastering the relevant skills is crucial for thriving in these challenging, yet rewarding, careers. 


The most important skills for each role


DevOps Engineer: Bridging Development and Operations

DevOps engineers are at the heart of modern software development. Their ability to streamline development cycles, automate processes, and enhance system reliability is essential for companies that rely on quick and efficient deployment of applications. 

This role offers the chance to work with cutting-edge tools and processes in a collaborative, engaging environment.
It also comes with a high salary, as many companies want to reduce friction between developers and operations.

Skills to Master:

  1. Automation & Scripting: DevOps engineers must automate repetitive tasks using scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or Ruby, while also understanding configuration management tools like Ansible and Puppet.

  2. Cloud Computing Platforms: A strong grasp of AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure is vital. DevOps engineers should be proficient in provisioning, configuring, and managing cloud infrastructure.

  3. Containerization & Orchestration: Docker and Kubernetes are the backbone of modern application deployment and scaling. Mastery of these tools is non-negotiable for automating containerized applications.

  4. CI/CD Pipelines: Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) practices are essential. Familiarise yourself with Jenkins or GitLab to automate testing, building, and deployment processes.

  5. Version Control & Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with Git, GitHub, and other version control systems helps teams collaborate and track changes across development and deployment stages.

  6. Networking & System Administration: A strong understanding of networking principles and system administration is key to troubleshooting and maintaining systems.

  7. Soft Skills: Communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills are essential. DevOps engineers often work closely with development teams, IT support, and other stakeholders.

KWAN’s Tips:

  • Start by setting up your own DevOps pipeline using open-source tools.

  • Take online courses or certifications such as the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA).

  • Contribute to open-source projects that involve DevOps practices to expand your knowledge and network with others in the field.


Machine Learning Engineer: Innovating with Data


Machine Learning (ML) engineers are responsible for building and deploying intelligent systems. As businesses increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to improve decision-making, customer experiences, and automation, ML engineers are in high demand. 

The role offers a competitive salary and opportunities to work on exciting, innovative projects that can change the way industries operate.

Skills to Master:

  1. Programming Languages: Expertise in Python is essential, as it is the most used language for ML projects. R, Java, and C++ are also beneficial.

  2. Mathematics & Statistics: ML engineers need a solid foundation in linear algebra, calculus, probability, and statistics to build effective models and algorithms.

  3. Machine Learning Frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and Scikit-learn. Familiarity with deep learning libraries is also important for specialised tasks like neural networks.

  4. Data Preprocessing & Feature Engineering: An ML engineer knows how to clean, preprocess, and transform raw data into a usable format for model training.

  5. Model Evaluation & Tuning: Learn to evaluate models using metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. Master techniques such as cross-validation and hyperparameter tuning to improve performance.

  6. Big Data Technologies: ML engineers often work with large datasets, so familiarity with tools like Hadoop, Spark, and Apache Kafka is beneficial.

  7. Soft Skills: Critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are vital, as ML engineers must explain their models to non-technical stakeholders and adjust them based on feedback.

KWAN’s Tips:

  • Build your own ML models for real-world applications, such as predictive models or natural language processing tasks;

  • Participate in Kaggle competitions, as they will offer you a platform to apply your skills in a practical, competitive environment;

  • Stay current by reading research papers from sources such as arXiv to learn about new trends and approaches.


C/C++ Software Engineer: Speed and Performance at Scale


C and C++ are among the most powerful programming languages, often used in systems programming, embedded systems, game development, and performance-critical applications. 

Specialising in C/C++ opens the door to projects that require low-level optimization and deep system understanding. You’ll also work on high-performance solutions. It’s an ideal role for tech professionals who enjoy working close to the hardware.

Skills to Master:

  1. Proficiency in C/C++: A deep understanding of both languages, including their syntax, memory management, and optimization techniques, is essential.

  2. Multithreading & Concurrency: Mastering parallel programming and multithreading concepts is key, especially for performance-intensive applications.

  3. Data Structures & Algorithms: C/C++ engineers need a strong grasp of data structures (e.g., linked lists, trees, graphs) and algorithms to write efficient, scalable code.

  4. Low-level System Knowledge: Understand how operating systems work, especially memory management and CPU architecture, as well as debugging and performance profiling tools.

  5. Cross-Platform Development: Learn how to write portable code and work with cross-platform development tools for applications that run on various systems.

  6. Soft Skills: The ability to troubleshoot complex issues, communicate technical concepts effectively, and work in teams is crucial.

KWAN’s Tips:

  • Gain experience by building operating systems or networking software;

  • Study data structures and practice solving algorithmic problems on platforms like LeetCode or Codeforces;

  • Read books like The C Programming Language by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie to deepen your understanding of C.


SRE/Cloud Engineer: Ensuring System Reliability and Scalability


Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) and Cloud Engineers ensure that systems are scalable, reliable, and performant in the cloud. 

With cloud services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure being integral to modern infrastructure, professionals who can ensure these systems run smoothly are in high demand. 

SREs and Cloud Engineers often receive high salaries due to their critical role in ensuring 24/7 availability and efficient cloud resource management.

Skills to Master:

  1. Cloud Platforms: Expertise in AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure is essential, with a focus on services for computer storage, networking, and monitoring.

  2. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Learn tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, and Ansible to automate the provisioning and management of cloud resources.

  3. System Monitoring & Logging: Master monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog, and ELK Stack for identifying and troubleshooting system performance issues.

  4. Automation & Scripting: Be proficient in scripting languages like Python or Bash to automate tasks and create infrastructure scripts.

  5. Networking & Security: A solid understanding of networking protocols, VPNs, load balancing, and security best practices is critical for ensuring the stability and security of cloud environments.

  6. Soft Skills: Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and communication skills are crucial for collaborating with teams and ensuring effective system monitoring.

KWAN’s Tips:

  • Get cloud certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect;

  • Set up a lab environment using cloud platforms to practice provisioning resources and deploying applications.


Solutions Architect: Designing and Implementing Scalable Solutions

Solutions architects are the technical visionaries who design scalable, reliable, and cost-effective systems. They bridge the gap between business requirements and technical solutions. They ensure the systems they design meet organizational needs and align with long-term goals.

This role combines technical depth with strategic thinking, making solutions architects some of the most highly sought-after professionals in tech.

Skills to Master:

  1. Architectural Design Patterns: Learn design patterns like microservices, event-driven architectures, and serverless computing.

  2. Cloud Architecture & DevOps: Develop a deep understanding of cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and DevOps practices to design cloud-native, scalable solutions.

  3. Databases & Data Architecture: Know how to design and implement scalable databases, including both relational (e.g., PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB).

  4. Security & Compliance: Solutions architects must be proficient in designing secure systems that adhere to industry standards and compliance regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

  5. Business Acumen & Communication: Strong communication skills are essential for translating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and collaborating across departments.

KWAN’s Tips:

  • Design solutions for real-world problems, working on projects that involve complex systems and require long-term thinking;

  • Learn about emerging technologies and keep up with trends in AI and cloud computing to design forward-thinking solutions.


Mastering the Skills to Succeed in the Most Challenging Tech Roles – Final Thoughts


Specializing in one of these challenging tech roles opens doors to high-paying and impactful careers. Mastering the key skills for each role will make you highly desirable in the job market. It will also allow you to contribute meaningfully to the evolution of technology.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your career, the time to build expertise in these areas is now. By investing in learning the right skills, you’ll position yourself as an indispensable IT professional with a bright future ahead.

KWAN can help you find the project and tech role that is best suited to you. With our deep knowledge of the tech market, we can help you save time. We’ll make sure you find the right tech role to match your skills and career goals.

Check out our careers page or fill in the form and let the best opportunity find you!