Hire a Go Developer for Data Pipelines and APIs
Go for pipelines and APIs that run every day
A freelance developer who built a Go ETL pipeline and API that still feeds inventory to Google and Facebook ads.
Go is a good fit for services that run all day: pipelines that move data on a schedule, and APIs that serve it. It compiles to a single binary, handles many tasks at once, and stays predictable under load.
I am a freelance developer in Fort Worth, Texas, and I have built and shipped a production Go system. This page is honest about its size: my Go work is one system, described below. Most of my other back-end work is in Python and Node.
The Go system I built
At World Car Auto Group I built a Go ETL pipeline and API that turns dealership inventory into feeds for Google and Facebook ads. It is still used for inventory marketing.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Input | Automotive CSV inventory feeds that change every day |
| Transform | A Go service reshapes the data for each platform’s format and rules |
| Split | Feeds are separated by brand and unique identifier, so each brand’s inventory reaches the right ad account |
| Serve | An API backed by MySQL serves the feeds, and the same data can generate page feeds |
The API also had a second client. A JavaScript snippet on each vehicle page read the VIN from the ad click, called the same API, and updated the price and legal disclaimer to match the ad. When the ad, the feed, and the page all read from one source, they cannot disagree.
Read the full inventory ad feed pipeline case study and the design note match the landing page to the ad.
Where I am a good fit for Go work
- A data pipeline or ETL job, new or existing.
- A REST API that serves data from SQL.
- Maintaining or extending a Go service that someone else wrote and left.
- A Go service that has to connect to ad platforms or other outside APIs.
Where I am not the right fit
If you need someone to lead a large Go codebase with a team of Go engineers, look for a developer whose main language is Go. I will say so on the first call rather than learn on your project.
How to evaluate a Go developer
Can they show Go that runs in production?
Ask what the service does today, who depends on it, and what happens when its input is bad.
How do they handle errors?
Go returns errors as values. Ask how they make sure errors are checked and logged, not ignored.
How do they handle concurrency?
Goroutines make concurrent work easy to start and easy to get wrong. Ask how they limit concurrency and avoid two workers touching the same data.
Questions about hiring a Go freelancer
Can you work on Go and the rest of the stack?
Yes. Many Go services sit next to a Python or Node application. See the back-end developer page for the wider picture.
Do you also connect Go services to outside APIs?
Yes. The feed pipeline sends data to Google and Facebook. The API and system integrations page covers that kind of work.
What does a Go developer cost?
It depends on scope and experience. You get a written quote after the first call. For market ranges, read what it costs to hire a web developer.
Start with a call
Describe the pipeline or API, what feeds it, and who uses it, then book a call.
Engagement types
Four ways to work together. No prices.
Project
Defined scope
Deliverables, checkpoints, and a handoff.
Retainer
Ongoing work
Development, maintenance, and technical SEO for a set block of time.
Rescue
Urgent fix
Triage, diagnose, repair, document.
Audit
Outside review
Ranked list of what to fix.