DevOps Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship

Master CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, AI-assisted tooling, and cloud automation for modern software delivery

Train your team in DevOps practices or launch your infrastructure career. This apprenticeship develops practical automation, monitoring and deployment skills using GitHub Actions, Terraform, Docker and cloud platforms.

The DevOps Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship is a government-funded programme — covered by the Growth and Skills Levy for most employers — that develops DevOps professionals who understand CI/CD pipelines, automation, infrastructure-as-code, cloud services, and agile collaboration. Learners gain practical experience with tools like GitHub Actions, Terraform, Docker, and monitoring platforms. AI tools are embedded throughout — using LLMs to generate and review infrastructure code, AI-powered observability for anomaly detection, and the fundamentals of deploying and operating AI workloads in production.

For employers: Increase automation and repeatability of deployments. Improve observability, uptime, and deployment confidence. Reduce silos between development and operations while building scalable infrastructure workflows. The Coders Guild led the R&D that created the UK’s first Level 4 AI and Automation apprenticeship standard with Skills England and the Alan Turing Institute — understanding how AI systems are deployed and operated is part of how we think about modern DevOps practice.

For learners: Understand DevOps principles, pipelines, and agile infrastructure. Use tools to automate, deploy, monitor, and manage systems — including AI-assisted tooling that’s now part of how professional DevOps engineers work. Build a portfolio of real DevOps contributions while working in your team from day one.

Application → Training → Portfolio Building → EPA → Qualified DevOps Engineer

Course content

Foundations

Key DevOps concepts and principles
What is DevOps and CI/CD?
Git and GitHub workflows

Automation

Building pipelines with GitHub Actions
CI in practice and shell scripting
YAML and workflow automation
Using AI tools to generate, review, and debug pipeline and infrastructure code

Infrastructure

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts
Terraform basics and intermediate
Environment management

Monitoring

Observability and monitoring fundamentals
Dashboards, alerts and logs
AI-powered anomaly detection and log analysis
Debugging and reliability

Tooling & Security

Secure deployment and secrets management
Containers and Docker
Cloud roles and tools

Professional Practice

DevOps in teams and collaboration
Planning, priority and communication
CPD and reflection

Delivery

Online delivery with monthly group sessions, 1:1 coaching, and webinars. Practical, challenge-based learning using real-world DevOps scenarios and tools. Learners build a portfolio throughout, with mid and end reviews tracking progress and evidence against the Level 4 standard.

Assessment

End-point assessment (EPA) including portfolio review and professional discussion. Apprentices build evidence throughout using real or simulated DevOps projects – pipelines, infrastructure code, monitoring dashboards – supported by trainers and coaches aligned to workplace application.

Want to Become an Apprentice?

Apply online through our simple formJoin our talent poolWe match you with real employersStart earning while you learn

I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship helps you gain both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Joanna Sipowicz

Test Analyst

The Coders Guild are adept at putting together course content that’s relevant to business in today’s market, with practical tools & skills that can be implemented from day one.

Liz Leith

Service Design & Delivery Manager

I’d like to say that my apprenticeship experience with The Coders Guild and Dedalus has been outstanding so far. The support, structured learning, and opportunities for growth have exceeded my expectations.

Anna Trubnikova

Software Developer Apprentice

FAQs for Employers

How does the funding work?

The DevOps Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship is funded through the Growth and Skills Levy. If your organisation pays the levy (wage bill over £3 million), training comes directly from your levy pot at no additional cost. If you’re an SME with a wage bill under £3 million, the government covers 95% of training costs — you contribute 5%. We handle all the compliance and admin and guide you through the process from start to finish.

Is the training aligned to our business needs?

Yes. Every apprenticeship is built around the apprentice’s real job. We collaborate with you to shape project work and tasks that directly support your team’s priorities, goals, and systems.

Do you teach specific tools or platforms?

We’re platform-agnostic and industry-led. That means we teach the principles, methods, and skills that matter – and adapt them to the tools, tech stack, and workflows your team uses. Whether it’s GitHub Actions or Jenkins, Terraform or CloudFormation, AWS or Azure, we meet you where you are.

What kind of support do we get?

From onboarding to endpoint assessment, you’ll have access to our support team, technical coaches, and account managers. We handle compliance and reporting, keep you in the loop on progress, and are always here if anything’s not working.

Can we enrol existing staff?

Definitely. Apprenticeships are ideal for upskilling or reskilling current employees. It’s a practical way to retain talent, deepen expertise, and build internal capability in a cost-effective way.

How will we know it's working?

You’ll see the impact in-role. Apprentices bring their learning straight into the day job. We also check in with managers, gather regular feedback, and provide reporting so you can see development over time.

Who is this apprenticeship suitable for in our team?

Junior DevOps engineers, developers with an interest in deployment and tooling, infrastructure or support staff adopting cloud workflows, or QA and data engineers building CI/CD understanding.

How does this reduce deployment friction?

Your apprentice learns to automate repetitive tasks, build reliable CI/CD pipelines, manage infrastructure as code, and create monitoring dashboards — reducing manual work, improving uptime, and enabling faster, safer deployments. That includes using AI tools to generate infrastructure code, review pipeline configurations, and interpret monitoring data faster. If your organisation is deploying AI applications or models, they’ll also understand the infrastructure those systems require and how to manage them in production.

FAQs for Learners

Do I need to be technical already?

Not necessarily. Some apprentices are brand new to the field, others are building on existing experience. If your job fits the apprenticeship and you’re ready to learn, we’ll support you from wherever you’re starting.

Will I learn tools I actually use at work?

Yes. Our training adapts to your workplace. We focus on concepts and skills that apply across tools, and we’ll work with your employer to match your learning tasks to the systems and platforms you use day-to-day.

What's the time commitment?

You’ll spend 6 hours a week on off-the-job learning – things like workshops, mentoring, group projects, and self-study. It all fits around your work schedule, and we help you manage it in a sustainable way.

What support will I get?

You’ll have access to tutors, technical coaches, and peer groups throughout the apprenticeship. We’re here to answer questions, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate your wins. Plus, you’ll check in regularly with your line manager.

Is this like school or university?

Nope. This is workplace-first, challenge-based learning. You won’t be stuck in lectures. You’ll learn by doing, solving real problems, working with peers, and applying everything in context.

What happens at the end?

You’ll complete an end-point assessment and, if you pass, gain a nationally recognised qualification. Most apprentices continue in their role, take on more responsibility, or move up into a more advanced position.

Will I get paid?

Yes. This is a full-time employed role with a salary. You earn while you learn and contribute to real DevOps work from day one.

How long does the apprenticeship take?

15-18 months typically, depending on your starting point and the pace of portfolio development.

DevOps Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship