standard

2026 01 / 09

The x_ops standard

The x_ops standard

The competency matrix is open: what each level means in each domain is visible to candidates and employers alike. The level covered by certification is marked in accent.

domain

L1

L2

L3

L4

Linux & Networking

Cloud / AWS

Containers & Kubernetes

Infrastructure as Code

CI/CD

Observability

Security

The level covered by certification is marked in accent. Every certificate is verifiable by ID.

Linux & Networking

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

Cloud / AWS

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

Containers & Kubernetes

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

Infrastructure as Code

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

CI/CD

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

Observability

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

Security

L1Foundationunderstands the domain's core concepts and completes basic tasks under supervision

L2Working proficiencyhandles the domain's routine engineering tasks independently

L3Autonomous expertisedesigns solutions, debugs complex failures and owns the outcome

L4Architectural depthsets standards, makes architectural decisions and leads others

Certification criteria

selection: application, technical interview, baseline assessment

work on engineering problems under a senior engineer

defence of a substantial capstone in front of practising engineers

the certificate is tied to an ID and publicly verifiable

Capstone requirements

the work stays public: architecture, code and decisions are open

level is visible before the interview — from the repository, not from words

a defence in front of practitioners, not a multiple-choice test

Verify a certificate by ID→