The outlook for a career as an AI engineer getting better over the course of the next few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that in the coming decade, there’ll be a rise of 21% in information and computer research jobs including AI engineering jobs.
21% might seem like a soaring increase however, when you consider the fact that there’s a shortage of skilled AI experts the situation starts to get clearer. AI engineers are highly sought-after, and as such, it’s not unusual to find entry-level AI engineering jobs that pay six-figure pay.
Are you looking to profit from this trend? If so, you’re at the right spot. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to becoming an AI engineer, and guide you toward the resources to help make this career possible for you.
Ready? Let’s start.
What Does An AI Engineer Do?
AI Engineer is a computer expert who designs and builds systems and tools that employ various artificial intelligence methods. That covers techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks. The aim is to improve the efficiency of systems as well as improve the use of data to aid in business decisions.
How To Become an AI Engineer
The job of an Artificial Intelligence Engineer is the combination of strong technical expertise, a solid theoretical base, as well as soft skills, such as creativity and effective communication. Learn how to gain the necessary capabilities required for working in the field of artificial intelligence.
Complete a Course
AI is an emerging field and is continuously evolving. The best way to acquire the necessary skills to begin your career is to with a bootcamp. It’s the fastest and most efficient way to acquire the latest skills to be able to career as an AI engineer.
Learn the Foundations
Artificial Intelligence is one of the fields which is frequently poorly understood. A lot of the discussion around it is based on the fear that it could pose a danger to humans. For those looking to enter the field, it’s crucial to look beyond this and develop a knowledge of the way artificial intelligence systems operate.
What is artificial intelligence? Artificial Intelligence is a vast area of research that aims to create computer systems that replicate human intelligence. To achieve this different technologies such as neural networks and natural language processing deep learning and even adversarial networks are employed.
One simple illustration of AI can be seen in the virtual assistants that we use in our daily lives such as Siri or Cortana. They use our voice commands, as well as the information on our phones to create training data. They gain knowledge from the data and then are in a position to recognize the things we are looking for and provide results quickly.
Also read: What Are The Skills Required to Become A Blockchain Developer
Be Educated (And Continue to Learn)
Artificial intelligence specialists take various routes in their quest to get employment within the industry. Let’s look at the various paths available.
Four-Year Degree
The most commonly used route for an AI engineer career is with an undergraduate degree. You can choose to pursue an education in math or computer science. Both offer classes that pertain to AI. The remainder you’ll have to learn by yourself on the job or in your own time.
Bootcamps
The less common, but usually most convenient method to get into the field of career chances for an AI engineer is to go through bootcamps. There are many companies that provide bootcamps in artificial intelligence as well as related fields such as machine learning.
There are many reasons why bootcamps are an appealing option. First, they’re an option for learning that is flexible. You are able to choose whether you’d prefer to study offline or online, and how much time you’d like to invest in the class and choose one after you’ve checked out the instructors.
Bootcamps are also cheaper than a degree from a university. Some bootcamps let you pay for the course after you have landed the job you’ve been looking for. Additionally, some bootcamps offer employment guarantees and support for your career and career guidance, making it an easy decision for the majority of learners.
Self-learning
The Internet is a wealth of information for those who wish to explore AI independently. If you’re an autodidact and you trust yourself to keep your focus throughout the process this is the cheapest and most flexible option to take.
Programming Language Learning
There are many different ways AI engineers have programming skills however most are able to program with at least one of the programming languages that is used in AI. These are the languages that you could take into consideration when starting your journey:
Python
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages for building AI as well as machine-learning programs and machine-learning applications since Python comes with a wide range of libraries that support AI as well as machine learning. If you’re only beginning your journey and want to get started, you might consider using Python due to its simple syntax and ease of use.
Java
Java is a programming language that can be utilized in a variety of applications, such as AI systems. The benefit of using Java to develop AI is that there’s an enormous community of users for the language and you are able to always get assistance if you require assistance. Learning Java is also a way to ensure that you are able to switch between different operating systems and types of devices and still be able to write programs that work on them quickly.
R
R is a programming language specifically designed for statistical analysis. It has a range of libraries for those who have knowledge of statistics and would like to utilize R to build AI models. You must have the math and statistics skills required to use the programming language R prior to beginning your journey using R.
Others
Haskell, Lisp, C++ Lisp, C++, Haskell, and Scala are all languages used in artificial intelligence engineering. These are generally chosen because they offer a particular benefit to a specific application development. If you’re only beginning your journey you should stick with Python and later, you can study other languages when a particular project requires it.
Also read: How Do KPIs Measure the Success of an AI Project?
Build Your Skillset
Being able to program is just one aspect of the general skillset required by the artificial intelligence engineer. It is essential to be able to comprehend many other areas of expertise and knowledge to become skilled in this field. Let’s examine what these are.
Technical Skills
Algorithms
Algorithms form the basis of every software development. If you’re looking for AI positions, then employers will be testing the basics of algorithms to ensure you know how to write them.
Machine Learning
Machine learning is a crucial ability when being an engineer with artificial intelligence. You must be skilled in the use of techniques such as linear regression and logistic regression in order to create robust models of machine learning. A thorough knowledge of machine learning will greatly enhance your chances of getting AI job opportunities.
Image and Processing of Language
The majority of AI engineers are working with the language or image-based data. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of image processing and know how to use natural processing systems for language. There’s a massive demand for AI engineers with the practical experience of working in these areas.
Soft Skills
As an AI engineer isn’t just about calculating numbers and creating models. Let’s examine the soft skills you’ll need to be successful on your path to success.
Analytical Thinking
Being an AI engineer implies that you’re always working with a variety of issues and must manage data coming from various sources. In your role as an AI engineer, you’ll need to be able to analyze problems quickly to determine the most efficient route to follow.
Business Acumen
The most successful AI engineers are equipped with certain business-related skills. They are aware of the way business processes function and are aware of the way business intelligence influences the business decision-making process. This is a skill that you need to acquire gradually so that you are able to place your work in the context of goals for your company.
Communication
Your communication abilities will be tested in your role as an AI engineer. This position will require you to work in together with software engineers as well as product managers, project managers, and other professionals, not just technical users. You’ll be required to quickly master how to listen and effectively communicate to ensure that your message can be communicated in a manner that is professional and effective.
Get Relevant Experience
Here are some ways to gain some AI knowledge if you’ve not yet been offered an entry-level position.
Volunteer Work
There are many small and non-profit companies that hire volunteers to engineer. Check out local organizations in your region to find out if they require help in their software or IT department. After that, you can add these projects to your portfolio.
Freelance Work
Freelance opportunities provide young AI engineers the chance to develop projects of their own choice. Be sure to communicate your abilities from the beginning and be sure to have a contact person who can assist you should there be any delays during the process.
Open-Source Projects
This is the most convenient method to get your feet wet in a working environment as an AI engineer. Open Source projects let you read code bases and understand how AI engineers accomplish the tasks they accomplish. Once you are able to interpret code, you are able to begin to identify bugs and suggest changes.
Hackathons
Hackathons are events where you are given a limited period of time to develop an AI application. It’s a low-stakes competition in which you can learn a variety of new information quickly and take a completed project that you can incorporate into your portfolio.
Create a GitHub Profile
An effective way to display your expertise in the field can be done through working by posting your work on GitHub. This platform is used as a portfolio of your projects that include an entire codebase. You are also able to use it to work alongside other developers and to contribute to a wide range in other initiatives.
Find a Mentor
Mentorship provides candidates with an advantage that no other thing can offer as they progress toward a successful career in AI. Mentors can provide you with specialized assistance and help make important decisions based on the knowledge that they have gained over decades of knowledge.
If you’ve been through a boot camp or college and you’re looking for mentorship, you could look to instructors and professors to get their advice. It is also possible to approach professionals from the industry, for example, the top AI engineers who can act as mentors for you. Websites such as the MentorCruise or CodeMentor could be beneficial to that goal.
Also read: Top 10 Artificial Intelligence Software You Should Use
Your Network is Your Net Worth
Being connected to the field is an enormous benefit for people looking for work in artificial intelligence. Here are some ways to establish connections:
LinkedIn allows users to quickly find and meet with managers and engineers in the artificial intelligence field. It is possible to build relationships with your contacts by engaging through their posts and demonstrating genuine interest in their posts through thoughtful comments. You can take that to the next level by asking for the phone number or an in-person meeting with a specific question.
Meet-ups and Conferences
The majority of cities have a community that caters specifically to AI professionals. Participating in these events is a fantastic method to get acquainted with numerous individuals who can assist you with your skills in the field and in your job search.
Consider an Internship
Many companies hiring AI engineers also offer internship programs. LinkedIn as well as Glassdoor are excellent places to begin your search. Make sure you have your portfolio in order and that you are ready for your appointment, that’s the one we’ll discuss next.
Salary: AI Engineer
- Entry-level AI engineers earn a median pay that is $70,317 per year.
- The salaries for mid-level AI engineers start at 108,000 which is the minimum salary you can expect to earn as an engineer at mid-career.
- Senior AI engineers earn an average annual pay in the range of $137,699.
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