Design a Golden-Path Service Template for a Series-D Scale-Up
Overview
What this challenge is about.
Design a golden-path template producing a Go (or Node) microservice with: REST + gRPC scaffolding, structured logging (slog or pino), OpenTelemetry tracing, Prometheus metrics, a CI pipeline (GitHub Actions), a Kubernetes Helm chart, and a Backstage software-template entry. Pilot with 2 squads over 2 weeks. Measure: time-to-first-deploy from scaffolding, instrumentation coverage at deploy time, and developer satisfaction (5-question survey). Deliver the template repo, the Backstage scaffolder entry, the pilot report, and a 4-page rollout memo with go/no-go for the other 7 squads.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Build a golden-path service template that gets a new microservice to production in under 30 minutes with consistent observability and CI.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Apply platform-as-product thinking to a real internal artifact
- Reduce cognitive load via opinionated defaults that still allow escape hatches
- Pilot a platform change with measurable developer-experience metrics
- Recommend rollout sequencing that respects squad autonomy
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
Careers
Roles this prepares you for.
Real titles. Real skill bridges. Pick the one closest to your trajectory.
Career mappings coming soon.