The Modern Product Engineer Roadmap

The landscape of product engineering has transformed dramatically in recent years, driven by the rise of no-code, low-code, and AI-driven development tools. This roadmap offers a step-by-step guide for aspiring product engineers to go from building simple apps to designing scalable, intelligent systems. What does it mean to be a “product engineer”? It’s up to you. I believe the core skills that make a good product engineer isn’t how well they code, or how much experience they have building products, but that they know how to communicate both from the industry they are in, and visually. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced builder looking to expand your skillset, this roadmap will help you structure your journey. There are different things that you can bring to the table that give you an advantage. This is a follow up article to The LLM / AI / GPT Prompt Engineer Roadmap which has now stood the test of 20 months, nearly the full “24” months since the release of ChatGPT which has blossomed an area of engineering that didn’t exist two years ago.

When I think about ChatGPT as an application, most folks thought it was magic, and in many respects it is magic. Fundamentally, it was a very simple application that allowed a person to have a conversation that remembered what you told it earlier. Before then, the API was available, and people were using it. The simplicity of the ChatGPT application is still widely adopted in so many apps that mimic it’s UI and mannerisms like ChatPRD or LibreChat, an open source ChatGPT Clone.

The next big application that changes people’s lives doesn’t have to be complex, it just has to work. Now with NoCode tools and AI code / App generators, all you need to do is have an idea, and get to work.

Visual Thinking/Building: If you can draw out what you want on a whiteboard to solve a problem, you are already 75% of the way to a solution. For example, sketching a workflow for a complex workflow can clarify what parts can be done with the NoCode platform, vs. what needs to use AI like GPT. The visual clarity makes it easier to design and build effective solutions, and if you give a screenshot or a photo to ChatGPT, it can help refine the flow. The design is the most important part, it doesn’t take that much effort to build things as long as you know what you are trying to create and being a visual thinker is the paramount skills.
Prompt Engineering / Communication Skills: Prompt engineering comes down to the ability to communicate what you want the machine to do. For example, if you’re designing a task management system for a particular vertical, a well-crafted prompt with the right keywords will help you tremendously, such as: ‘Outline the flow of an app for a law firm’s support staff to use AI to manage intellectual property matters.’ As in my previous post for a Prompt Engineer’s Roadmap, Industry knowledge is huge. Just knowing the right keywords can unlock so much knowledge that can help you design a relevant app.
Builder / Maker Mentality: Several years ago, I’d have said you needed to know how to program to create any app or API of consequence. These days, apps / APIs can be done in NoCode or Low Code platforms, so all you need to know is a builder / maker mentality and the ability to use a mouse. There are so many different tools out there, but the core skill is the same. The desire to build things, try new tools, and “stick-to-it-iveness” or as others may call it “grit.”

Level 1: Get Started with Basic Database/Forms Apps

Begin with tools like Airtable, Notion, and Google Sheets / Forms to build simple databases and forms.
Create small projects like contact lists, inventory trackers, or survey forms.
Experiment with linking forms to your databases and exploring basic formulas or queries.

Level 2: Use Advanced Features for Sequences and Workflows

Dive deeper into Airtable and Notion to explore advanced features such as automations, linked records, and conditional formatting.
Design workflows for approval processes, multi-step tasks, or recurring schedules.
Learn how to use pre-built templates to kickstart complex projects.

Level 3: Integrate and Sync Data with No-Code Automation

Familiarize yourself with no-code automation platforms like Zapier, known for its ease of use and extensive app integrations; Make, ideal for complex, visual workflows; BuildShip, focused on rapid app creation; or N8n, offering open-source flexibility.
Connect Airtable or Notion to external systems such as email, Slack, or CRMs.
Create automations to sync information between tools, ensuring data consistency across platforms.

Level 4: Automate Tasks with No-Code Workflows

Build workflows that reduce manual effort, such as generating reports, sending reminders, or updating records automatically.
Explore integrations between task management tools like Todoist, Trello or whatever you like and your database.
Design user-friendly interfaces for workflows using tools like Softr or WeWeb.

Level 5: Design, Build, and Manage Whole Applications with No-Code

Continue to use platforms like WeWeb, add to your toolkit Bubble, Glide, or Adalo to create fully functional applications.
Incorporate user authentication, data visualization, and responsive design.
Test and deploy your application with real users, gathering feedback for improvements.

Level 6: Tackle Advanced Processes with Code/Low-Code Workflows

Combine low-code tools like Appsmith, Retool or OutSystems with your no-code platforms for more complex logic.
Write custom scripts in JavaScript or Python to handle unique scenarios not supported by no-code tools.
Integrate APIs to extend the functionality of your applications.

Level 7: Create APIs with No-Code Tools

Use tools like Xano, Backendless, or Airtable’s API feature to expose your application’s data as APIs.
Could also extend these with platforms like BuildShip or Windmill.
Document and test your APIs with platforms like Postman.
Share your APIs with other developers or use them in your own applications.

Level 8: Build APIs with Low-Code/Code for Interoperability

Learn backend frameworks like Flask, Express.js, or NestJS to create scalable APIs.
Use tools like Swagger or OpenAPI to design and document APIs.
Build APIs that integrate with third-party services or allow others to interact with your applications.

Level 9: Migrate to Real Databases for Scalability

Transition from tools like Airtable to “real” databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Cassandra. This is when your application is popular and needs to scale. E.g. Airtable has limits on how many times your app can talk to it.
Use backend-as-a-service platforms like Supabase, Firebase, or AWS Amplify to manage database operations
Optimize database queries and structure for better performance.

Level 10: Build Scalable APIs with Real Databases

Develop APIs that handle large-scale operations using scalable database solutions.
Incorporate caching, pagination, and rate-limiting for better performance and security.
Deploy APIs on cloud platforms like DigitalOcean, AWS, GCP, or Azure for reliability and global access.

Level 11: Leverage AI to Generate Custom Applications

Explore tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot to generate code snippets or applications.
Explore tools like V0, Bolt, or Cursor to create complete applications from a series of prompts. If you use ChatGPT to create a detailed PRD, you can use these tools to create the full application.
Use AI to integrate APIs intelligently, creating applications that adapt to user needs dynamically.
Experiment with natural language prompts to build functionality quickly and efficiently.

Level 12: Build and Deploy Apps / API Driven Applications to the Cloud

Deploy your Apps, APIs applications on platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or custom servers using Github and Automations
Integrate Unit testing for APIs, UIs, into the “build” process so that as code changes, things don’t break.
Integrate error logging / UI performance metrics logging, alerts and monitors so that the app is running all the time.

This roadmap is not meant to be followed rigidly—it’s a guide to help you understand what’s possible and choose your next step based on your goals.

No matter where you are in your journey, remember that the best way to learn is by building. Start small, iterate, and scale as you grow more confident in your skills. The world of product engineering is vast, but with the right tools and mindset, you can create solutions that make a real impact.

Happy building! Oh, and if you want to talk about these topics, you can join office hours at https://lu.ma/kono