diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 34ff650..9bd56c2 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ designate_pip_packages:
   - python-designateclient
   - PyMySQL
   - python-memcached
+  - systemd-python
   - warlock
 
 designate_central_init_overrides: {}
@@ -196,26 +197,43 @@ designate_services:
     group: designate_central
     service_name: designate-central
     init_config_overrides: "{{ designate_central_init_overrides }}"
+    execstarts: "{{ designate_bin }}/designate-central"
+    start_order: 3
   designate-worker:
     group: designate_worker
     service_name: designate-worker
     init_config_overrides: "{{ designate_worker_init_overrides }}"
+    execstarts: "{{ designate_bin }}/designate-worker"
+    start_order: 2
   designate-producer:
     group: designate_producer
     service_name: designate-producer
     init_config_overrides: "{{ designate_producer_init_overrides }}"
+    execstarts: "{{ designate_bin }}/designate-producer"
+    start_order: 5
   designate-mdns:
     group: designate_mdns
     service_name: designate-mdns
     init_config_overrides: "{{ designate_mdns_init_overrides }}"
+    execstarts: "{{ designate_bin }}/designate-mdns"
+    start_order: 4
   designate-sink:
     group: designate_sink
     service_name: designate-sink
     init_config_overrides: "{{ designate_sink_init_overrides }}"
+    execstarts: "{{ designate_bin }}/designate-sink"
+    start_order: 6
   designate-api:
     group: designate_api
     service_name: designate-api
     init_config_overrides: "{{ designate_api_init_overrides }}"
+    execstarts: "{{ designate_bin }}/designate-api"
+    start_order: 1
+
+# List of unit files this role will "mask". These units, when found, are knonw
+# to conflict with running services for this given role. Any unit listed will be
+# stopped and masked.
+designate_mask_conflicting_units: "{{ _designate_mask_conflicting_units | default([]) }}"
 
 # This variable is used by the repo_build process to determine
 # which host group to check for members of before building the
diff --git a/handlers/main.yml b/handlers/main.yml
index ebe2297..2aad106 100644
--- a/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/handlers/main.yml
@@ -15,13 +15,10 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 - name: Stop services
-  service:
-    name: "{{ item.value.service_name }}"
-    enabled: yes
+  systemd:
+    name: "{{ item.service_name }}"
     state: "stopped"
-    daemon_reload: "{{ (ansible_service_mgr == 'systemd') | ternary('yes', omit) }}"
-  with_dict: "{{ designate_services }}"
-  when: "item.value.group in group_names"
+  with_items: "{{ filtered_designate_services }}"
   register: _stop
   until: _stop is success
   retries: 5
@@ -47,13 +44,10 @@
   listen: Restart designate services
 
 - name: Start services
-  service:
-    name: "{{ item.value.service_name }}"
-    enabled: yes
+  systemd:
+    name: "{{ item.service_name }}"
     state: "started"
-    daemon_reload: "{{ (ansible_service_mgr == 'systemd') | ternary('yes', omit) }}"
-  with_dict: "{{ designate_services }}"
-  when: "item.value.group in group_names"
+  with_items: "{{ filtered_designate_services }}"
   register: _start
   until: _start is success
   retries: 5
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/journal-log-ycba504642b47619.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/journal-log-ycba504642b47619.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04a815c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/journal-log-ycba504642b47619.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - The log path, ``/var/log/designate`` is no longer used to capture service
+    logs. All logging for the designate service will now be sent directly to the
+    systmed journal.
diff --git a/tasks/designate_init_systemd.yml b/tasks/designate_init_systemd.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e978261..0000000
--- a/tasks/designate_init_systemd.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
----
-# Copyright 2016, Rackspace US, Inc.
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-# You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-# limitations under the License.
-
-- name: Create TEMP run dir
-  file:
-    path: "/var/run/{{ item.value.service_name }}"
-    state: directory
-    owner: "{{ designate_system_user_name }}"
-    group: "{{ designate_system_group_name }}"
-    mode: "02755"
-  with_dict: "{{ designate_services }}"
-  when: "item.value.group in group_names"
-
-- name: Create TEMP lock dir
-  file:
-    path: "/var/lock/{{ item.value.service_name }}"
-    state: directory
-    owner: "{{ designate_system_user_name }}"
-    group: "{{ designate_system_group_name }}"
-    mode: "02755"
-  with_dict: "{{ designate_services }}"
-  when: "item.value.group in group_names"
-
-- name: Create tempfile.d entry
-  template:
-    src: "designate-systemd-tempfiles.j2"
-    dest: "/etc/tmpfiles.d/designate.conf"
-    mode: "0644"
-    owner: "root"
-    group: "root"
-  with_dict: "{{ designate_services }}"
-  when: "item.value.group in group_names"
-  notify:
-    - Restart designate services
-
-- name: Place the systemd init script
-  config_template:
-    src: "designate-systemd-init.j2"
-    dest: "/etc/systemd/system/{{ item.value.service_name }}.service"
-    mode: "0644"
-    owner: "root"
-    group: "root"
-    config_overrides: "{{ item.value.init_config_overrides }}"
-    config_type: "ini"
-  with_dict: "{{ designate_services }}"
-  when: "item.value.group in group_names"
-  notify:
-    - Restart designate services
diff --git a/tasks/designate_install_source.yml b/tasks/designate_install_source.yml
index a0b0ac9..fcd5da8 100644
--- a/tasks/designate_install_source.yml
+++ b/tasks/designate_install_source.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,18 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+- name: Install designate distro packages
+  package:
+    name: "{{ designate_developer_mode_distro_packages }}"
+    state: "{{ designate_package_state }}"
+    update_cache: "{{ (ansible_pkg_mgr in ['apt', 'zypper']) | ternary('yes', omit) }}"
+    cache_valid_time: "{{ (ansible_pkg_mgr == 'apt') | ternary(cache_timeout, omit) }}"
+  when: designate_developer_mode | bool
+  register: install_packages
+  until: install_packages|success
+  retries: 5
+  delay: 2
+
 - name: Create developer mode constraint file
   copy:
     dest: "/opt/developer-pip-constraints.txt"
diff --git a/tasks/designate_post_install.yml b/tasks/designate_post_install.yml
index 13d42b4..f4d5da9 100644
--- a/tasks/designate_post_install.yml
+++ b/tasks/designate_post_install.yml
@@ -68,3 +68,12 @@
   with_fileglob:
     - rootwrap.d/*
   notify: Restart designate services
+
+- name: Mask any conflicting units
+  systemd:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: stopped
+    enabled: false
+    masked: true
+  failed_when: false
+  with_items: "{{ designate_mask_conflicting_units }}"
diff --git a/tasks/designate_pre_install.yml b/tasks/designate_pre_install.yml
index 1bbbd19..d294735 100644
--- a/tasks/designate_pre_install.yml
+++ b/tasks/designate_pre_install.yml
@@ -45,27 +45,6 @@
     - { path: "{{ designate_system_user_home }}/.ssh", mode: "0700" }
     - { path: "/var/cache/designate", mode: "0700" }
 
-- name: Test for log directory or link
-  shell: |
-    if [ -h "/var/log/designate"  ]; then
-      chown -h {{ designate_system_user_name }}:{{ designate_system_group_name }} "/var/log/designate"
-      chown -R {{ designate_system_user_name }}:{{ designate_system_group_name }} "$(readlink /var/log/designate)"
-    else
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  register: log_dir
-  failed_when: false
-  changed_when: log_dir.rc != 0
-
-- name: Create designate log dir
-  file:
-    path: "/var/log/designate"
-    state: directory
-    owner: "{{ designate_system_user_name }}"
-    group: "{{ designate_system_group_name }}"
-    mode: "0755"
-  when: log_dir.rc != 0
-
 - name: Drop sudoers file
   template:
     src: "sudoers.j2"
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 56b9336..4a4913f 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -52,9 +52,33 @@
     - designate-install
     - designate-config
 
-- include: "designate_init_{{ ansible_service_mgr }}.yml"
+- name: Run the systemd service role
+  include_role:
+    name: systemd_service
+    private: true
+  vars:
+    systemd_user_name: "{{ designate_system_user_name }}"
+    systemd_group_name: "{{ designate_system_group_name }}"
+    systemd_service_restart_changed: false
+    systemd_tempd_prefix: openstack
+    systemd_slice_name: designate
+    systemd_lock_path: /var/lock/designate
+    systemd_CPUAccounting: true
+    systemd_BlockIOAccounting: true
+    systemd_MemoryAccounting: true
+    systemd_TasksAccounting: true
+    systemd_services:
+      - service_name: "{{ service_var.service_name }}"
+        enabled: yes
+        execstarts: "{{ service_var.execstarts }}"
+        execreloads: "{{ service_var.execreloads | default([]) }}"
+        config_overrides: "{{ service_var.init_config_overrides }}"
+  with_items: "{{ filtered_designate_services }}"
+  loop_control:
+    loop_var: service_var
   tags:
-    - designate-install
+    - designate-config
+    - systemd-service
 
 - include_tasks: mq_setup.yml
   when:
diff --git a/templates/designate-systemd-init.j2 b/templates/designate-systemd-init.j2
deleted file mode 100644
index 45a42db..0000000
--- a/templates/designate-systemd-init.j2
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-# {{ ansible_managed }}
-
-[Unit]
-Description=designate openstack service
-After=syslog.target
-After=network.target
-
-[Service]
-Type=simple
-User={{ designate_system_user_name }}
-Group={{ designate_system_group_name }}
-
-{% if program_override is defined %}
-ExecStart={{ program_override }} {{ program_config_options|default('') }} --log-file=/var/log/designate/{{ item.value.service_name }}.log
-{% else %}
-ExecStart={{ designate_bin }}/{{ item.value.service_name }} {{ program_config_options|default('') }} --log-file=/var/log/designate/{{ item.value.service_name }}.log
-{% endif %}
-
-# Give a reasonable amount of time for the server to start up/shut down
-TimeoutSec=120
-Restart=on-failure
-RestartSec=2
-
-# This creates a specific slice which all designate services will operate from
-#  The accounting options give us the ability to see resource usage through
-#  the `systemd-cgtop` command.
-Slice=designate.slice
-CPUAccounting=true
-BlockIOAccounting=true
-MemoryAccounting=false
-TasksAccounting=true
-
-[Install]
-WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/templates/designate-systemd-tempfiles.j2 b/templates/designate-systemd-tempfiles.j2
deleted file mode 100644
index 00da307..0000000
--- a/templates/designate-systemd-tempfiles.j2
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-# {{ ansible_managed }}
-
-D /var/lock/{{ item.value.service_name }} 2755 {{ designate_system_user_name }} {{ designate_system_group_name }}
-D /var/run/{{ item.value.service_name }} 2755 {{ designate_system_user_name }} {{ designate_system_group_name }}
diff --git a/templates/designate.conf.j2 b/templates/designate.conf.j2
index f5f5c2f..a1f2aa9 100644
--- a/templates/designate.conf.j2
+++ b/templates/designate.conf.j2
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 [DEFAULT]
+use_journal = True
 # Disable stderr logging
 use_stderr = False
 
@@ -11,12 +12,6 @@ debug = {{ debug }}
 # Top-level directory for maintaining designate's state
 #state_path = /var/lib/designate
 
-# Log Configuration
-#log_config = None
-
-# Log directory
-#logdir = /var/log/designate
-
 {% if designate_ceilometer_enabled | bool %}
 # Driver used for issuing notifications
 notification_driver = messagingv2
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f75e33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+# Copyright 2018, Rackspace US, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+#
+# Compile a list of the services on a host based on whether
+# the host is in the host group and the service is enabled.
+# The service list is provided in the defined start order.
+#
+filtered_designate_services: |-
+  {% set services = [] %}
+  {% for key, value in designate_services.items() %}
+  {%   if (value['group'] in group_names) and
+          (('condition' not in value) or
+           ('condition' in value and value['condition'])) %}
+  {%     set _ = value.update({'service_key': key}) %}
+  {%     set _ = services.append(value) %}
+  {%   endif %}
+  {% endfor %}
+  {{ services | sort(attribute='start_order') }}
diff --git a/vars/redhat-7.yml b/vars/redhat-7.yml
index 4731206..ab0ef2f 100644
--- a/vars/redhat-7.yml
+++ b/vars/redhat-7.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ designate_service_distro_packages:
   - openstack-designate-sink
   - openstack-designate-worker
   - openstack-designate-zone-manager
+  - systemd-python
 
 designate_rndc_packages:
   - bind
+
+designate_developer_mode_distro_packages:
+  - systemd-devel
diff --git a/vars/suse-42.yml b/vars/suse-42.yml
index 4983121..5ca1fb6 100644
--- a/vars/suse-42.yml
+++ b/vars/suse-42.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ designate_service_distro_packages:
   - openstack-designate-producer
   - openstack-designate-sink
   - openstack-designate-worker
+  - python-systemd
 
 designate_rndc_packages:
   - bind-utils
+
+designate_developer_mode_distro_packages:
+  - pkg-config
+  - systemd-devel
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu.yml b/vars/ubuntu.yml
index d62057e..ed6389a 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,18 @@ designate_service_distro_packages:
   - designate-sink
   - designate-worker
   - designate-zone-manager
+  - python-systemd
+  - python3-systemd
 
 designate_rndc_packages:
   - bind9utils
+
+designate_developer_mode_distro_packages:
+  - build-essential
+  - libsystemd-dev
+  - pkg-config
+
+_designate_mask_conflicting_units:
+  - designate-agent.service
+  - designate-zone-manager.service
+  - designate-pool-manager.service