SquareShift Learning Academy

Your Comprehensive Course to Become an AI Engineer

Phase 1: Foundations & AI-Accelerated Basics
Module 1: Introduction to AI/LLMs & Linux Fundamentals View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Set up AI chatbot accounts (Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude)
  • Understand AI/LLM basics and capabilities
  • Learn fundamental prompt engineering
  • Complete Google's "Introduction to Generative AI"
  • Master "ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers"
  • Set up Linux environment
  • Master 50-100 essential shell commands
  • Write basic shell scripts
Conceptual Understanding
  • Introduction to LLMs
  • AI chatbot capabilities
  • Prompt engineering basics
  • Transformers and model types
  • Systematic prompt iteration techniques
  • LLM vs traditional ML differences
  • Linux/OS fundamentals
  • File systems & permissions
  • Shell environment basics
Deliverables
  • AI tool setup documentation
  • Basic prompt templates
  • Completed AI course certificates
  • Linux command reference
  • Environment setup scripts
Tools & Tech
  • Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude
  • Google Cloud Skills Boost
  • DeepLearning.AI Platform
  • Linux/macOS
  • Bash/Zsh
  • vim/nano
Process & SDLC
  • Program kickoff
  • Team formation
  • Jira/Plane setup
  • SDLC overview
  • Sprint 1 planning
  • AI usage expectations
Module 2: Product Design & Specification View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Design Task Manager features
  • Create UI/UX wireframes
  • Write user stories
  • Define requirements
  • AI-powered brainstorming
  • Use AI for rapid prototyping ideas
  • Generate user personas with AI
  • Build product backlog with prioritization
  • Create sprint zero documentation
  • Design mobile-first wireframes
  • Implement user story estimation using INVEST criteria
Conceptual Understanding
  • Product thinking
  • User-centric design
  • Functional vs non-functional
  • Mobile-first principles
  • User personas
  • AI for requirements generation
  • Structured output prompting
  • Product-centric mindset & problem-solving
  • Agile vs Waterfall methodologies
  • Scrum framework roles & ceremonies
  • 10 Usability Heuristics (Nielsen Norman)
  • Jobs-to-be-Done framework
  • Technical specifications & PRDs
Deliverables
  • Product Requirements Doc
  • UI wireframes
  • User story backlog
  • Technical specs
  • User personas with data-backed profiles
  • Sprint zero planning document
  • Mobile-first design prototypes
  • Agile team charter & working agreements
Tools & Tech
  • Figma
  • Balsamiq
  • Miro
  • Confluence/Notion
  • Atlassian Jira
  • Slack Product Management Tools
  • Moqups wireframing
  • Draw.io for process flows
Process & SDLC
  • Agile fundamentals
  • Scrum roles
  • Backlog creation
  • Story estimation
  • Sprint 0 planning
  • Scrum Master vs Product Owner roles
  • Cross-functional team dynamics
  • Sprint ceremonies & timeboxing
  • Definition of Done criteria
  • Backlog refinement processes
Module 3: Version Control & Collaborative Development View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Git setup & config
  • Master core commands
  • Branch management
  • Merge conflict resolution
  • Fork & PR workflows
  • Git Flow implementation
  • AI-powered commit message generation
  • AI code review assistance and feedback
Conceptual Understanding
  • Distributed VCS theory
  • Git internals
  • Branching strategies
  • Code review practices
  • Semantic versioning
  • Git hooks
  • AI-assisted code review patterns
  • Automated commit message standards
Deliverables
  • Git command cheat sheet
  • Merged PR to class repo
  • Workflow documentation
  • Conflict resolution guide
Tools & Tech
  • Git CLI
  • GitHub/GitLab
  • SourceTree
  • PR templates
Process & SDLC
  • Team repo setup
  • Branch conventions
  • Code review process
  • Sprint 2 planning
Module 4: Full-Stack Application Fundamentals View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Build Task Manager MVP
  • React frontend
  • Spring Boot backend
  • CRUD operations
  • Feature branches & PRs
  • Complete Microsoft's "Generative AI for Beginners"
  • Complete Google's "Getting started with Gemini API"
  • AI-assisted code generation and scaffolding
Conceptual Understanding
  • Three-tier architecture
  • MVC/MVVM patterns
  • RESTful API design
  • Component architecture
  • State management
  • AI for boilerplate code generation
  • Automated testing with AI assistance
Deliverables
  • Working application
  • API documentation
  • Clean Git repository
  • Deployment guide
Tools & Tech
  • React.js
  • Spring Boot
  • VS Code/IntelliJ
  • Maven/Gradle
  • Postman
  • Microsoft Learn AI Hub
  • Google AI Platform
Process & SDLC
  • Feature decomposition
  • Sprint 3-4 execution
  • PR-based reviews
  • Definition of Done
Phase 2: Deepening Technical Skills
Module 5: Robust Database Design & Modeling View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Normalized schema design
  • Complex relationships
  • Index optimization
  • Query performance
  • Version control migrations
  • AI-powered schema design optimization
  • Intelligent query optimization suggestions
Conceptual Understanding
  • Relational model & ACID
  • Normalization (3NF/BCNF)
  • Query optimization
  • Transaction management
  • Migration strategies
  • AI for database design patterns
  • Automated data modeling assistance
Deliverables
  • ERD documentation
  • Migration scripts in Git
  • Performance benchmarks
  • Data model rationale
Tools & Tech
  • PostgreSQL/MySQL
  • DBeaver
  • Flyway/Liquibase
  • Draw.io
  • AI-powered ERD generators
Process & SDLC
  • Technical design reviews
  • Sprint 5-6 execution
  • DB change management
  • PR reviews for schemas
Module 6: Automated Testing & Load Generation View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Unit test suite
  • Integration tests
  • Load testing scripts
  • Test data generation
  • 80%+ code coverage
  • AI-generated test cases and scenarios
  • Automated edge case identification
Conceptual Understanding
  • Testing pyramid
  • TDD principles
  • Test doubles
  • Performance metrics
  • Continuous testing
  • AI for test automation patterns
  • Smart test case prioritization
Deliverables
  • Test coverage reports
  • Load test results
  • Test plan document
  • CI pipeline with tests
Tools & Tech
  • JUnit/Mockito
  • REST Assured
  • JMeter
  • SonarQube
  • AI-powered testing tools
Process & SDLC
  • QA integration
  • Bug tracking
  • Sprint 6 testing focus
  • Test-driven development
Module 7: Cloud Deployment & Infrastructure as Code View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Dockerize application
  • Terraform scripts
  • GCP deployment
  • CI/CD pipeline
  • GitOps practices
  • Complete Anthropic's "Building with Claude API" modules
  • AI deployment considerations and best practices
Conceptual Understanding
  • Cloud service models
  • Container orchestration
  • Infrastructure as Code
  • CI/CD principles
  • Cloud security
  • AI service integration patterns
  • Responsible AI deployment practices
Deliverables
  • Docker images
  • Terraform modules in Git
  • CI/CD configuration
  • Deployment docs
Tools & Tech
  • Google Cloud
  • Terraform
  • Docker
  • GitHub Actions
  • Claude API
  • AI model deployment platforms
Process & SDLC
  • Release management
  • Environment strategy
  • Sprint 7-8 DevOps
  • GitOps workflows
Phase 3: Advanced Concepts & System Thinking
Module 8: Cloud-Based Data Warehousing & Reporting View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Data warehouse design
  • ETL pipelines
  • Fact/dimension tables
  • Analytics dashboards
  • Incremental loads
  • AI-powered ETL pipeline optimization
  • Intelligent data quality analysis
Conceptual Understanding
  • OLTP vs OLAP
  • Dimensional modeling
  • ETL/ELT patterns
  • Data lineage
  • Business intelligence
  • AI-enhanced data analysis patterns
  • Automated anomaly detection in data
Deliverables
  • DW schema
  • ETL pipeline code
  • Analytics dashboards
  • Data dictionary
Tools & Tech
  • BigQuery
  • Apache Airflow
  • Looker Studio
  • Python ETL
  • AI-powered data transformation tools
Process & SDLC
  • Data governance
  • Sprint 9-10 planning
  • Analytics requirements
  • Data quality metrics
Module 9: Application & Infrastructure Security View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Authentication/authorization
  • Input validation
  • Firewall configuration
  • Secret management
  • Security scanning
  • AI security risk assessment
  • Responsible AI implementation practices
Conceptual Understanding
  • OWASP Top 10
  • Secure coding
  • Zero trust architecture
  • Cloud security
  • Threat modeling
  • AI system security considerations
  • Data privacy in AI applications
Deliverables
  • Security audit report
  • Hardening checklist
  • IAM documentation
  • Vulnerability scans
Tools & Tech
  • Spring Security
  • GCP IAM
  • OWASP ZAP
  • Secret Manager
  • AI security assessment tools
Process & SDLC
  • Security in SDLC
  • Sprint 11 security
  • Penetration testing
  • Incident response
Module 10: Monitoring, Observability & Search View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Deploy monitoring agents
  • Centralized logging
  • Create dashboards
  • Implement alerting
  • Elasticsearch integration
  • AI-powered log analysis and insights
  • Intelligent anomaly detection systems
Conceptual Understanding
  • Observability pillars
  • SRE principles
  • Alert fatigue
  • Search architecture
  • Distributed tracing
  • AI for predictive monitoring
  • Smart alerting and noise reduction
Deliverables
  • Monitoring dashboards
  • Alert runbooks
  • Search implementation
  • Observability guide
Tools & Tech
  • Elastic Stack
  • Prometheus/Grafana
  • GCP Operations
  • Jaeger
  • AI-powered monitoring platforms
Process & SDLC
  • Incident management
  • Post-mortem process
  • Sprint 12-13 execution
  • On-call basics
Phase 4: Capstone & Professional Development
Module 11: Software Engineering Foundations View Details
Hands-on Build
  • Code refactoring techniques
  • Performance optimization
  • MERN stack architecture
  • Technical debt management
  • Microservices patterns
  • Advanced AI integration patterns
  • AI-powered development tools
Conceptual Understanding
  • Design patterns (Creational, Structural, Behavioral)
  • MERN stack & three-tier architecture
  • Technical debt identification & management
  • Database design patterns (Sharding, Partitioning)
  • Microservices with Node.js & Docker
  • AI service architecture patterns
  • Scalable AI system design
Deliverables
  • Refactored codebase with patterns
  • Performance optimization report
  • Technical debt analysis
  • Architecture design documentation
Tools & Tech
  • Python, Node.js, React.js
  • MERN Stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node)
  • PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite
  • Docker, RabbitMQ
  • AI-powered development tools
Process & SDLC
  • Code review best practices
  • Refactoring methodologies
  • Performance benchmarking
  • Technical debt prioritization
Module 12: Specialization Tracks Coming Soon
Track Options
  • Infrastructure: Kubernetes, Advanced networking
  • Full-Stack: Microservices, GraphQL
  • Data: Spark, ML pipelines
  • Complete Google's "Advanced: Generative AI for Developers Learning Path"
  • Complete Google's "Machine Learning Crash Course"
Deep Specialization
  • Advanced concepts
  • Certification prep
  • Industry standards
  • Best practices
  • Advanced AI/ML specialization tracks
  • Enterprise AI implementation patterns
Deliverables
  • Specialization project
  • Certification attempt
  • Advanced portfolio piece
Tools & Tech
  • Track-specific
  • Advanced platforms
  • Enterprise tools
  • TensorFlow/PyTorch
  • Google Cloud AI Platform
Process & SDLC
  • Individual planning
  • Certification strategy
  • Career path guidance
Module 13: Professional & Emotional Intelligence (Throughout + Final Phase) Coming Soon
Skills Development
  • Communication workshops
  • Presentation skills
  • Client interaction
  • Mock interviews
  • Team collaboration
  • AI-assisted professional communication
  • AI for technical documentation
EQ Concepts
  • Active listening
  • Empathy building
  • Conflict resolution
  • Task management
  • Stress management
  • AI collaboration best practices
  • Professional AI tool usage ethics
Deliverables
  • Professional portfolio
  • LinkedIn profile
  • Mock interview results
  • EQ development plan
Tools & Tech
  • Zoom/Meet
  • Google Slides
  • LinkedIn
  • Miro
  • AI writing assistants
  • Professional AI communication tools
Process & SDLC
  • Agile ceremonies
  • Client protocols
  • Professional ethics
  • Career planning