What does an AI engineer do?
As more businesses seek to automate their processes or create AI tools that improve productivity, AI engineers play an important role in designing and implementing this technology. Because of their advanced computer science background, AI engineers are able to build AI tools from scratch and work with data science teams to automate this technology so it doesn’t require human supervision.
AI is technology which can simulate some aspects of human thinking and problem-solving processes. AI engineers therefore create technology which can process large datasets and provide actionable results, automated processes, text, images and sound. Businesses looking to invest in generative AI may benefit from hiring an AI engineer.
AI engineer skills and qualifications
A successful AI engineer candidate frequently has skills such as:
- Experience working in programming languages
- Knowledge of working with application programming interfaces (APIs)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly when it comes to communicating complex ideas to non-technical staff
- Up-to-date knowledge of AI trends and their business’s industry
- Data modelling and engineering
- Knowledge of machine learning models
- Big data analysis
- Knowledge of data security and privacy requirements
- Confirmed mathematics and algorithm knowledge
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Adaptability
AI engineer experience requirements
When writing an AI engineer job description, it is useful to specify both the educational and professional experience that aligns with the role. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree relating to AI or data science are often favoured, however ideal candidates may have a combination of on-the-job experience and academic background. Some businesses may prefer to recruit graduates and train them on the job via an internship for example.
It is generally a good idea for recruiters to specify the exact technical requirements of the role in order to target the required level or area of expertise. To work as an AI engineer, candidates typically need knowledge of machine learning models such as Naive Bayes or Gaussian mixture models. They also usually have a solid understanding of statistics, algebra and calculus. Programming languages such as Java or Python may also be useful.
AI engineer education and training requirements
AI engineers typically have a strong educational background in AI, data science, information technology, mathematics, statistics or computer science. Candidates with a master’s degree and PhD may be more competitive, but this is not always required.
Strong AI engineer candidates may also have AI-related certifications, such as an AI course completed via the British Computer Society or short courses in AI and machine learning offered by some universities such as Imperial College London.
On-the-job knowledge and industry experience can also be highly beneficial. As AI engineers work across many different sectors, it is often beneficial to have a strong understanding of their working industry in addition to their background in AI.
AI engineer salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an AI engineer in the UK is available £71,818 per year. However please note that salaries may be dependent on the experience you require from your future AI engineer, candidates’ background, your company’s location and your company salary policy.
Job description samples for similar positions
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AI engineer job description FAQs
Are AI engineers in demand?
As more businesses seek to adopt AI technology in order to automate processes, AI engineers are becoming increasingly in demand. This may lead employers to find ways to differentiate themselves in order to stand out to potential candidates, offering them bonuses, perks and other benefits to make them more competitive. Also creating a company culture where you promote wellbeing at work and employee connection can help to sway candidates with multiple job offers to choose your company.
What hours does an AI engineer work?
Many AI engineers work a typical Monday to Friday working week. However, they can work on flexible hours, or on a freelance basis as well. They may be expected to work overtime or late in order to meet more urgent deadlines.
Is coding knowledge essential to AI engineers?
Coding is usually highly important to this role. AI engineers might start with the basics of Python such as loops, variables, basic syntax, basic operations, application programming interfaces and data types. They might also have a grasp of large language models (LLMs) and use them to build AI projects themselves. AI engineers have advanced prompt engineering skills and automate their prompts using these LLMs.
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