DevOps: A roadmap for Salesforce career growth

In our recent DevOps Launchpad webinar, “Solutioning and scaling: how to harness DevOps for a successful Salesforce career”, Carla Wishart, Director of Client Operations at Subsplash, shared some valuable insights on how DevOps can be a roadmap for growing your Salesforce career. Whether you’re an admin, developer, architect, or manager, getting your head around DevOps principles can open up new doors and boost your career. Read on for Carla’s top tips on mastering the basics, scaling your skills, and leading the way with DevOps…

The Salesforce world is always changing, with new tools and processes emerging all the time. That’s why continuous learning and improvement is essential for anyone building in Salesforce. But how can you actually keep up with the latest development best practices and make sure your knowledge and skills are on par?

More and more, the answer is DevOps.

This blog post will give you a practical guide to using DevOps to level up your Salesforce career.

Phase 1: Learning the key DevOps principles

Diving into DevOps fundamentals is key if you're looking to make a real impact in the Salesforce world. It’s not just about knowing the tools; it’s about grasping the core principles that make DevOps so effective. Principles like version control that are at the heart of modern release management. It’s what makes it possible for you and your team members to make frequent changes to your Salesforce orgs without stepping on each other’s toes. So whether you need an introduction to version control or a deep dive into the pros and cons of different branching strategies, it’s important to take the time to expand your technical development knowledge.

Then you’ve got continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). A CI/CD pipeline automates the whole process of building, testing, and releasing your Salesforce changes, meaning you can deliver updates much faster and with way less hassle.

And let’s not forget automation itself, which is a massive part of DevOps and finding ways to streamline those repetitive tasks. Getting a solid handle on these principles is what really empowers you to build robust, scalable, and reliable Salesforce solutions.

Beyond the technical skills, it’s also super important to be “scrappy”. In the fast-paced Salesforce world, being resourceful and having that eagerness to just “jump in and learn” is a major plus. And don’t underestimate the power of staying curious. Cultivating curiosity helps you discover new and innovative ways of approaching Salesforce challenges — and ultimately leads to better solutions for your end users. Taking courses with DevOps Launchpad, testing out your own Salesforce sandboxes in Trailhead, or working towards a Salesforce certification exam are great ways to be resourceful when it comes to DevOps — and can unlock a wealth of opportunities for your Salesforce career growth.

Phase 2: Leveling up your skills

As you move forward in your Salesforce career, your “soft skills” become just as vital as your technical skills — it's not just about being a coding whiz. DevOps is all about getting teams to gel and function like a well-oiled machine. That means communicating clearly, truly listening to what others are saying, and collaborating effectively — successfully building a DevOps culture.

I remember early on, when my husband and I were building out our billing system, the tech was important, sure, but understanding the needs and pain points of different teams was absolutely essential. It was about getting everyone on the same page. And in today’s world, with so many of us working remotely, that ability to stay connected and aligned is even more vital.

Beyond communication, being adaptable is key. The Salesforce world is dynamic and agile, and priorities can shift rapidly, so you’ve got to be able to roll with the punches and manage your time effectively. Then there’s problem-solving. DevOps is all about finding those smart, creative solutions to complex challenges. I personally love this aspect; for me, DevOps is a creative outlet for finding scalable solutions.

Ultimately, it’s about bridging that gap between what the business wants and what’s technically achievable. This requires seeing the bigger picture, understanding different perspectives, and finding that sweet spot where everyone’s happy.

Phase 3: Leading the way

Okay, so you’ve leveled up your skills, but now you’re thinking about taking on more of a leadership role. That’s awesome! And let me tell you, having a solid grasp of DevOps can really set you apart when you’re aiming for those decision-making positions in the Salesforce world.

One thing that becomes super important as you step into a leadership role is mentorship. It’s about sharing your knowledge and experience, guiding others, and helping them grow in their careers. I’ve been so fortunate to have incredible mentors who’ve supported me along the way, whose encouragement and guidance have helped me tackle new challenges with confidence — and I truly believe in paying it forward. Mentorship often provides access to valuable networking opportunities too, connecting you with key individuals in the industry that can help you grow your knowledge and skills.

But leadership in DevOps isn’t just about guiding individuals; it’s also about looking ahead and embracing the future. The field of Salesforce DevOps is constantly evolving, with exciting new products like Agentforce, and much more, on the horizon. As these technologies become more integrated into DevOps practices, leaders need to be at the forefront, understanding how to leverage them to improve processes and drive innovation. We’re already seeing the transformative power of AI at Subsplash with tools like Pulpit AI streamlining workflows and amplifying content.

Ultimately, being a leader in DevOps means embracing continuous learning. It’s about staying curious, keeping your skills sharp, and adapting to the ever-changing landscape.

Reach your full potential with DevOps

We’ve seen how DevOps is more than just tools and processes; it’s a way of thinking and a strategy for growing your Salesforce career. By getting the basics right, leveling up your skills, and taking on leadership opportunities, you can use DevOps to reach your full potential and achieve your career goals.

Ready to start your Salesforce DevOps journey? Get DevOps certified with our DevOps Fundamentals Certificate.