Skill Profile

MQTT Protocol

MQTT: pub/sub, QoS levels, retained messages, MQTT 5, broker (Mosquitto, EMQX)

Embedded & IoT IoT Platforms

Roles

where this skill appears

Levels

structured growth path

Mandatory requirements

the other 2 optional

Embedded & IoT

IoT Platforms

3/17/2026

Choose your current level and compare expectations. The items below show what to cover to advance to the next level.

What is Expected at Each Level

The table shows how skill depth grows from Junior to Principal. Click a row to see details.

Role	Required	Description
Embedded Developer	Required	Understands the fundamentals of MQTT Protocol. Applies basic practices in daily work. Follows recommendations from the team and documentation.
IoT Engineer		Connects IoT devices to MQTT broker (Mosquitto). Publishes sensor data to topics and subscribes to commands. Understands QoS 0/1/2 and retained messages.

Role	Required	Description
Embedded Developer	Required	Implements MQTT communications: QoS 1/2, retained messages, last will, topic hierarchy design. Optimizes reconnect and keep-alive for unstable networks.
IoT Engineer		Designs MQTT topic hierarchy for IoT projects. Uses MQTT 5.0 features: shared subscriptions, message expiry. Configures TLS and client certificates for security.

Role	Required	Description
Embedded Developer	Required	Designs MQTT architecture for IoT fleet: shared subscriptions, broker bridging, MQTT 5.0 features. Implements TLS and client certificate authentication.
IoT Engineer	Required	Designs scalable MQTT infrastructure for IoT platform: EMQX/VerneMQ clustering, bridging, routing rules. Implements CoAP for constrained devices.

Role	Required	Description
Embedded Developer	Required	Defines MQTT strategy for IoT platform. Establishes topic naming conventions, QoS policy, security standards for device fleet.
IoT Engineer	Required	Defines messaging standards for IoT platform. Selects protocols (MQTT/AMQP/CoAP) for different scenarios. Establishes topic naming conventions and governance.

Role	Required	Description
Embedded Developer	Required	Shapes MQTT/messaging strategy for IoT platform: broker architecture, protocol versioning, security standards for device fleet. Evaluates alternatives (AMQP, DDS) for specific use cases.
IoT Engineer	Required	Defines enterprise IoT messaging strategy. Evaluates Sparkplug B, Unified Namespace approaches. Builds architecture for millions of devices.

Junior 2 requirements

Embedded Developer
Required

Understands the fundamentals of MQTT Protocol. Applies basic practices in daily work. Follows recommendations from the team and documentation.
IoT Engineer

Connects IoT devices to MQTT broker (Mosquitto). Publishes sensor data to topics and subscribes to commands. Understands QoS 0/1/2 and retained messages.

Middle 2 requirements

Embedded Developer
Required

Implements MQTT communications: QoS 1/2, retained messages, last will, topic hierarchy design. Optimizes reconnect and keep-alive for unstable networks.
IoT Engineer

Designs MQTT topic hierarchy for IoT projects. Uses MQTT 5.0 features: shared subscriptions, message expiry. Configures TLS and client certificates for security.

Senior 2 requirements

Embedded Developer
Required

Designs MQTT architecture for IoT fleet: shared subscriptions, broker bridging, MQTT 5.0 features. Implements TLS and client certificate authentication.
IoT Engineer
Required

Designs scalable MQTT infrastructure for IoT platform: EMQX/VerneMQ clustering, bridging, routing rules. Implements CoAP for constrained devices.

Lead / Staff 2 requirements

Embedded Developer
Required

Defines MQTT strategy for IoT platform. Establishes topic naming conventions, QoS policy, security standards for device fleet.
IoT Engineer
Required

Defines messaging standards for IoT platform. Selects protocols (MQTT/AMQP/CoAP) for different scenarios. Establishes topic naming conventions and governance.

Principal 2 requirements

Embedded Developer
Required

Shapes MQTT/messaging strategy for IoT platform: broker architecture, protocol versioning, security standards for device fleet. Evaluates alternatives (AMQP, DDS) for specific use cases.
IoT Engineer
Required

Defines enterprise IoT messaging strategy. Evaluates Sparkplug B, Unified Namespace approaches. Builds architecture for millions of devices.

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