What is an infrastructure engineer? | Robert Half

What is an infrastructure engineer?

Are you familiar with the vital role that infrastructure engineers play in supporting the entire IT industry? These professionals perform essential tasks that are crucial to society and require up-to-date knowledge of the latest technologies, making it a career that offers both personal growth and a sense of accomplishment.

In this article, we will explore the job responsibilities, salaries, and necessary skills for infrastructure engineers.

An infrastructure engineer is a technical professional who designs, builds, operates, and maintains IT infrastructure.

In this context, "infrastructure" refers to the equipment and facilities that form the foundation of information systems. This encompasses hardware like computers and servers, as well as software such as operating systems and the internet. Without a well-maintained IT infrastructure, we'd face problems like email disruptions, website outages, equipment malfunctions, and security breaches.

Infrastructure engineer is an umbrella term for various specializations, including server engineers, network engineers, security engineers, cloud engineers, and database engineers.

What makes it rewarding to be an infrastructure engineer?

There are several fulfilling aspects to this career:

Working at the core of systems: You'll be responsible for the base layers of infrastructure (networks, servers, communication devices), making your work highly impactful for client companies.

Acquiring in-demand knowledge: The IT infrastructure field is vast, and your specialized skills will open up numerous career options in the future.

Making a societal impact: IT infrastructure is essential for all businesses, so your work directly contributes to society.

Building a stable career: The demand for skilled infrastructure engineers is consistently high, ensuring stable career prospects.

Infrastructure engineer vs. systems engineer

While both roles are technical, there's a key difference:

Infrastructure engineer: Focuses on the infrastructure (requirements definition, design, construction, operation, maintenance) that supports IT systems.

Systems engineer: Oversees the entire system, including the infrastructure and the applications that run on it (requirements definition and design).

In essence, infrastructure engineers handle all stages from design to operation, while systems engineers primarily focus on defining and designing the system based on client needs.

The work of an infrastructure engineer can be categorized into two phases: "upstream" and "downstream."

Upstream Phase

This phase covers the system proposal and implementation stages:

Requirement definition: Gathering client requirements, creating business flowcharts and scenarios, and defining the infrastructure environment based on cost and schedule considerations.

Design: This involves "basic design" (determining system construction policies) and "detailed design" (specifying equipment and parameters). The goal is to design a resilient system that can withstand individual component failures.

Construction: Building the network based on the design, including equipment installation, wiring, and testing.

Downstream phase

This phase focuses on system maintenance and optimization after implementation:

Monitoring, operation, and maintenance: This involves preventing and addressing issues to ensure stable infrastructure for clients. Monitoring targets include server and network operation, cloud service performance, storage capacity, and CPU usage. Regular maintenance, version upgrades, and system improvements are also part of this phase.

Infrastructure engineers specialize in different areas based on their expertise:

Server engineer: Responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of servers, which are computers that deliver information to other devices.

Network engineer: Designs, builds, operates, and maintains networks that enable communication and data exchange between multiple computers.

Security engineer: Plans, designs, and operates information security systems, conducts security consultations, and implements measures to protect against cyberattacks.

Cloud engineer: Designs, builds, and maintains cloud services, which allow for data storage and application usage over the internet.

Database engineer: Develops, designs, operates, and maintains databases, which are organized collections of data used for efficient storage and retrieval.

According to Robert Half's internal data, the average annual salary for infrastructure engineers ranges from 6.5 million yen to 13.5 million yen. For reference, here are the average salaries for related positions.

Position	Less Experienced	Average Experience	Extensive Experience
Technical lead	9.5 million yen	11.5 million yen	13.5 million yen
Cloud engineer	8.5 million yen	10.5 million yen	13.5 million yen
Database engineer	8.5 million yen	10.5 million yen	13.5 million yen
Development/Infrastructure lead	12.5 million yen	15.5 million yen	18.5 million yen
Infrastructure/Operations manager	8.5 million yen	12.5 million yen	16.5 million yen
Virtualization engineer	6.5 million yen	8.5 million yen	12.5 million yen

Let's look at a specific job posting for an infrastructure engineer:

Position: Infrastructure engineer

Expected Salary: 12 million yen to 14 million yen

Responsibilities: ・Design, build, and operate IT infrastructure including security, cloud servers, corporate IT, and SAP BASIS. ・Standardize and modernize IT infrastructure for efficiency and stability. ・Drive dynamic change by collaborating with global teams. ・Provide leadership and support as needed.

Qualifications: ・In-depth expertise in security, cloud servers, corporate IT, and SAP BASIS. ・Experience in standardizing and modernizing IT infrastructure. ・Experience working in a global environment.

Location: Tokyo 23 Wards

To excel as an infrastructure engineer, mastering the following key skills is crucial:

Technical proficiency in systems and networks

Networking knowledge: Expertise in network protocols such as TCP/IP, DNS, and DHCP, along with skills in routing, switching, and network security.

Server management: Proficiency with operating systems like Windows Server and Linux, as well as server hardware and virtualization technologies, including VMware and Hyper-V.

Cloud platforms: Competence in managing cloud services such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, ensuring effective cloud infrastructure management.

Problem-solving and troubleshooting

Diagnostic skills: Ability to identify and resolve issues related to hardware, software, and network systems with precision.

Analytical thinking: Expertise in analyzing system performance, pinpointing bottlenecks, and implementing solutions to enhance efficiency.

Incident response: Proficiency in handling system outages, executing disaster recovery plans, and maintaining business continuity.

Automation and scripting

Scripting languages: Experience with scripting languages like Python, PowerShell, and Bash for automating tasks and managing infrastructure.

Automation: Knowledge of automation tools to ensure consistent system setups, reduce manual errors, and streamline updates, which is vital for maintaining efficient and scalable infrastructure.

Victoria Ryo, Associate Director of the Technology Division at Robert Half Japan, emphasizes, “These skills collectively enable infrastructure engineers to maintain robust, scalable, and efficient IT environments while addressing both day-to-day operational challenges and long-term strategic goals.”

While not mandatory, having certifications can be advantageous during your job search.

Information Technology Engineer Examination (ITEE)

The Information Technology Engineer Examination (ITEE) is a national certification in Japan that validates your IT knowledge and skills at a certain level. There are 12 types of exams, categorized into four difficulty levels. Here are five exams particularly relevant to infrastructure engineers.

IT Passport Examination: Confirms basic knowledge of IT (Level 1).

Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination: Certifies fundamental knowledge required for IT engineers (Level 2).

Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination: Demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills as an IT systems engineer (Level 3).

Network Specialist Examination: Confirms specialized knowledge of network systems (Level 4). Database Specialist Examination: Verifies expertise in databases (Level 4).

LinuC

LinuC is a Linux engineer certification offered by LPI-Japan, proving your skills in building and operating IT systems.

It tests your knowledge of Linux, open source software, and cloud utilization methods. Preparing for this exam helps you acquire practical skills applicable in the field. With four levels available, it's ideal for gradually building your expertise.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is a globally recognized certification for network engineers. It covers various networking and security topics, opening doors to careers like network engineer or server security analyst. Cisco Systems, a global leader in IT, offers this certification, making it highly reputable worldwide. The CCNA offers different exams for various technologies, each with 2-4 levels ranging from entry-level to expert. The certification is valid for three years, ensuring that certified professionals maintain up-to-date skills.

Oracle Master

Oracle Master is a certification offered by Oracle University. It verifies your knowledge and operational skills in databases and SQL. Studying for this certification helps you stay current with the latest technologies. The certification assesses your skills based on Oracle Database tools, which are widely used in many companies. Even if you work with other databases, the knowledge gained is often transferable. With four difficulty levels, the higher grades are recognized as global standards.

Registered Information Security Specialist Examination

The Registered Information Security Specialist Examination is conducted by the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA), a Japanese government organization. Passing this exam grants you a national qualification in information security knowledge and skills. While classified as the highest Level 4, this challenging exam is held twice a year and has no specific eligibility requirements. Given the increasing importance of information security, it's worth considering if you're interested in this field.

AWS Certification

AWS Certification validates your expertise in cloud services offered by Amazon, the operator of a major e-commerce platform. AWS stands for Amazon Web Services and boasts a wide range of features, incorporating not only infrastructure but also cutting-edge technologies like IoT. Twelve different exams are available, including cloud practitioner, data engineer, and security. The exams are divided into four levels based on your IT experience, allowing you to progress at your own pace. As AWS is constantly innovating, staying updated with the latest information is beneficial.

Strong intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn about technologies: The IT industry is rapidly evolving, requiring continuous learning. Individuals with a natural curiosity about IT and a strong desire to learn new technologies thrive in this field. Acquiring new knowledge and skills not only differentiates you from other engineers but also contributes to career advancement. Your specific career path might be determined by whether you prefer to deepen your expertise in a particular area or gain a broad understanding of the entire IT field.

Excellent communication skills: While being a technical profession, infrastructure engineering involves extensive interaction with various team members due to the wide scope of tasks. Therefore, strong communication skills are crucial. The goal is to address the client's infrastructure challenges rather than pursuing personal preferences. Effective communication and collaboration are essential to avoid hindering work progress due to the broad IT domain. If you prefer to focus solely on technical work, specializing in a particular area like an IT specialist might be a better fit.

Ability to work calmly and methodically: A single mistake can lead to system downtime, so infrastructure engineers need to be composed and meticulous. Anticipating potential failure scenarios allows for swift and effective responses when issues arise. Additionally, maintaining a conscientious approach and diligently confirming each task, regardless of experience level, is essential.

Here are some potential career paths for infrastructure engineers:

IT specialist: If you want to further refine your technical expertise, becoming an IT specialist is a viable option. IT specialists provide advanced technical solutions in their specialized areas, such as networks or databases. Your experience as an infrastructure engineer, with its broad IT knowledge, can be a significant asset. Unlike infrastructure engineers who handle everything from requirements definition to maintenance, IT specialists primarily focus on system construction in their chosen domain. While communication skills are still important, technical prowess takes precedence. Continuous skill development in high-demand areas is key to success.

Manager: For those with strong leadership skills, a managerial role could be a great fit. This includes positions like project manager (overseeing project progress), project management office (supporting project management), or line manager (managing teams within the company). These roles involve coordinating experts, bridging the gap between technical teams and management, and leveraging your broad IT knowledge gained as an infrastructure engineer.

The demand for infrastructure engineers is expected to increase due to the expansion of IT infrastructure. According to research by IDC Japan, the domestic IT infrastructure market is projected to grow at an annual average rate of 8.4% from 2022 to 2027, reaching 7.6643 trillion yen in sales by 2027. Future infrastructure engineers will need to possess skills in cloud infrastructure and be able to adapt to the hybrid IT environment.

In this article, we explored the roles, salaries, and required skills of infrastructure engineers. To become an infrastructure engineer, you need skills in various IT infrastructure areas like networks and security, as well as strong communication skills. Studying for the certifications mentioned earlier can help you gain the necessary knowledge and skills, giving you an advantage in your job search.