Build your Solutions Architect career with NextWork's hands-on project roadmap. Develop production-ready skills and create portfolio projects that showcase your skills.
This pathway is designed for:
You'll build hands-on projects that:
NextWork gives you:
Build real-world projects with comprehensive step-by-step guides that transform into portfolio-ready achievements. Every project you complete becomes a powerful showcase piece for your resume and professional profile.
Perfect for AWS beginners. Set up your account, lock it down with IAM roles and policies, and get hands-on with the core services every cloud engineer relies on.
Networking is the backbone of the cloud. Here, you'll build your own Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) from the ground up - mastering traffic flow, security, and connecting your infrastructure with subnets.
Learn how to work with cloud databases that scale. You'll set up Aurora MySQL for relational data, connect it to real applications, and master DynamoDB for lightning-fast NoSQL operations.
Learn how to secure cloud applications. You'll encrypt sensitive data, detect threats before they become problems, and manage secrets safely - building security skills that employers demand.
Master how modern applications run in the cloud. You'll start with serverless functions, build containerized apps, and deploy production-ready systems with Kubernetes - covering the full spectrum of cloud compute.
Learn how to automate everything from code to infrastructure. You'll build CI/CD pipelines, manage infrastructure as code, and deploy applications reliably across different cloud environments.
Join thousands of learners building real-world skills
Your learning journey includes detailed guidance that adapts to your experience level, ensuring you never feel lost or overwhelmed.
Connect with learners and experienced cloud professionals who understand exactly where you are in your journey.
Every project you complete becomes part of your professional portfolio, automatically documented and ready to showcase your skills.
Everything you need to know about the Solutions Architect learning path
Nope! Phase 1 starts from scratch. All you need is a laptop, an internet connection, and the drive to learn. We'll guide you through each project step-by-step, even if you've never used AWS before.
Awesome! That gives you a head start. If you're comfortable with the basics, you can skip Phase 1 and dive straight into the other phases. Each project is self-contained, so feel free to jump around and focus on the areas you want to level up in, whether it's Terraform, Kubernetes, or building a real CI/CD pipeline.
It depends on your pace! Some learners have done this in a month - some take longer. Each phase is designed to be flexible. You can pause, revisit, and move at your own speed. Highlight your projects, leave notes, and everything will still be there when you come back!
You'll get beautiful documentation of your NextWork projects which are great for showcasing on LinkedIn and your portfolio.
Yes! Every project you complete can be documented and added to your NextWork portfolio site, which you can share with recruiters, mentors, and your future self. It's proof of your skills…showcase not just what you've learned, but what you've actually built.
While our foundational projects are free, some of the advanced projects require a Pro subscription. With Pro access, unlock secret missions, unlimited quizzes and portfolio, customize your documentation and more!
You'll get step-by-step guidance in every project, access to a supportive community, and YouTube live sessions and walkthroughs to go deeper. Whatever your pace or path, support is always close by.
We won't lie to you…no roadmap can guarantee a job. But this one gives you the hands-on skills, portfolio, and real projects you need to stand out. Tech skills are always evolving, which is why learning is lifelong — and why we're constantly adding new projects to keep you ahead.