API Gateway
Show where API Gateway affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
CAREER PROJECT · Intermediate · 1–2 weekends
AWS Serverless URL Shortener
Build a deployable redirect service with API Gateway, Lambda and DynamoDB, then measure latency and failure behavior.
API GatewayLambdaDynamoDBIAMServerless designRedirects
WHAT THIS PROJECT PROVES
Make the engineering visible.
This brief is designed as portfolio evidence for a Cloud / AWS Engineer path. The goal is not to claim a hiring outcome; it is to make your implementation, judgment and tradeoffs easier to inspect.
Lambda
Show where Lambda affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
DynamoDB
Show where DynamoDB affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
IAM
Show where IAM affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
Serverless design
Show where Serverless design affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
Redirects
Show where Redirects affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
BUILD PLAN
Finish the core before expanding the scope.
Use this as a project sequence, not a rigid tutorial. Your stack can change; the evidence should still show what you built, why you built it that way and how you know it works.
Define the scope and success criteria
Turn the brief into a small finishable system. Decide what the core AWS Serverless URL Shortener must do, what you will deliberately leave out, and how you will show that it works.
Build the core workflow
Build a deployable redirect service with API Gateway, Lambda and DynamoDB, then measure latency and failure behavior. Keep the first pass focused on the main user or system flow before adding stretch features.
Add engineering proof
Create live shortener and api documentation. Document the decisions, failure states, tests, performance, security or operational tradeoffs that matter for this project.
Ship and package the evidence
Publish the strongest artifacts, including dynamodb model, architecture diagram, latency/cost notes. Make it easy for a reviewer to understand the problem, architecture, tradeoffs and what you personally implemented.
PORTFOLIO PROOF CHECKLIST
Leave artifacts a reviewer can inspect.
A strong project page should make it possible to understand the system without guessing what you personally built.
01
Live shortener
02
API documentation
03
DynamoDB model
04
Architecture diagram
05
Latency/cost notes
06
A concise README explaining the problem, architecture and tradeoffs
07
A working demo, API example or reproducible run path
08
Evidence of testing, monitoring, performance, accessibility or reliability where relevant
RESUME / PORTFOLIO FRAMING
Describe what you actually did.
Built a serverless URL-shortening service on AWS using API Gateway, Lambda and DynamoDB with scoped IAM permissions.
Use this as a starting structure, then replace it with your real implementation details, metrics and constraints. Do not claim outcomes you did not measure.
INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS
Be ready to defend the decisions.
These prompts turn the project from a repository link into a technical conversation about judgment, tradeoffs and evidence.
Why did you choose your approach to API Gateway, and what alternative did you reject?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
Where could AWS Serverless URL Shortener fail under real usage, and how would you detect or recover from that failure?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
How did Lambda affect the rest of the design?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
What did you measure or test to prove Redirects instead of only claiming it?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
If you had one more week, what would you improve first and why?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
STRETCH GOALS
Go deeper only after the core is solid.
Custom aliases
Add it only if it strengthens the engineering story instead of delaying a finished, deployable core.
TTL cleanup
Add it only if it strengthens the engineering story instead of delaying a finished, deployable core.
CloudFront edge redirect
Add it only if it strengthens the engineering story instead of delaying a finished, deployable core.
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