AI career path · Engineering
How to become an AI engineer.
Builds applications and agents on top of AI models, with the tests and controls that make them reliable.
The work
What an AI engineer does.
Typical work, not one employer’s job description. Postings vary, so read five for the role before you plan.
- Connect models to tools, data, and systems
- Design agents with approval steps
- Write evaluations and monitor quality
Skills to show
What hiring teams look for.
- A programming language, usually Python or TypeScript
- APIs, retrieval, and tool use
- Evaluation sets and testing
Routes in
Where people usually come from.
- Software engineer
- Data engineer
- Technical founder
Bring the domain knowledge from that work with you. It is often what sets you apart.
A first project
One piece of work that shows you can do the job.
A hiring team trusts what it can open and run. Keep the project small, measure it, and say plainly what does not work yet.
An agent that drafts replies from a document set, routes uncertain cases to a person, and reports its accuracy.
Want an engineer reviewing your code each week? The AI Portfolio Project builds this in four weeks.
See the AI Portfolio ProjectFree résumé grade
Does your résumé read like an AI engineer?
Upload it with this role chosen. It is scored on five measures, and a coach checks the report before it reaches you by email.
Programs that fit
When you want a coach for the next step.
EXEMPLUM
AI Portfolio Project
Build an AI project in four weeks that a hiring team can open and check.
$1,500
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AI Career Coaching
Eight weeks with one coach, from picking the role to weighing the offer.
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See the programQuestions
What does an AI engineer do?
Builds applications and agents on top of AI models, with the tests and controls that make them reliable. Typical work: connect models to tools, data, and systems; design agents with approval steps; write evaluations and monitor quality.
Which jobs lead into the AI engineer role?
People often move in from work as a software engineer, a data engineer, or a technical founder. The skills to show are: a programming language, usually Python or TypeScript; aPIs, retrieval, and tool use; evaluation sets and testing.
What should I build first?
An agent that drafts replies from a document set, routes uncertain cases to a person, and reports its accuracy. Keep it small, measure how well it works, and write up what does not work yet.
How do I know if my résumé is ready for this role?
Upload it to the free Cursus résumé grader with this role chosen. It is scored on five measures, and a coach checks the report before it is emailed to you.
Other AI career paths
Compare the other routes.
- Machine learning engineer · Engineering
- AI product manager · Product
- AI operations specialist · Operations
- AI evaluation and quality specialist · Quality
- AI governance and risk analyst · Risk
- AI-enabled analyst · Analytics
- AI solutions specialist · Customer-facing
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