AI Engineer Roles And Responsibilities Explained

Currently, 27% of global companies utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning for activities like coding and code reviewing, and it is projected that 76% of companies will incorporate these technologies in the next several years. 

As demand for artificial intelligence technology rises, companies are actively seeking skilled dedicated development teams. However, finding qualified AI engineers is challenging due to the technology’s recent emergence. Ethical concerns regarding accountability, transparency, and maintaining thorough quality assurance procedures are also present. 

These factors often become challenges, particularly for organizations without prior experience in implementing AI solutions.

In this guide, you find answers to the following questions:

• What domains can mostly benefit from integrating AI?
• What are the roles of AI engineers in project development?
• What are their responsibilities?
• What skills and knowledge should a skilled expert have?
• How to find an AI developer in 2024?

How Artificial Intelligence Boost Different Domains

• E-commerce. Artificial intelligence improves customer relationships through demand forecasting, smart marketing, and personalized recommendations. Amazon, with its advanced recommendation systems and AI-powered customer service, is an example of this. For example, Klevu, one of our clients, hired three experts to support their self-learning eCommerce search and navigation platform with AI functionalities with us. 

• Banking and finance. This sector has been an early adopter of smart technologies due to its large volume of data and complicated solutions. Banks use AI for chatbots, personal investment advisors, recommendation engines, and optimization of digital payment channels.
• Healthcare. AI’s impact on healthcare is huge, as it improves everything from simple procedures to complex interventions. For example, devices such as fitness trackers and smartwatches collect and analyze health data, notifying users if something goes wrong. Additionally, artificial intelligence is used to develop medicines, robotic surgeries, and virtual assistants.
• Social media. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide customized content based on user preferences. AI boosts social media through algorithms that improve communication and interaction, including chatbots and targeted advertising.
• Education. AI is revolutionizing education by automating assessments, enabling personalized learning, and providing 24/7 support. For instance, Duolingo, a platform for learning languages, provides an AI-based chatbot to improve students’ communication skills.

AI specialists are in high demand across nearly every sector, so next, we’ll examine the specific responsibilities they take on.

AI Engineer Job Description

An artificial intelligence engineer is a professional responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining AI-based applications and systems. An important aspect of his role is rebuilding AI models into Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and ensuring they work effectively in various software applications.

Essentially, they combine software engineering and data science to optimize business processes through automation.

Engineers have a lot of obligations, depending on the project’s requirements and specifications. However, the main tasks include:

• Collaborate with business leaders and software development teams to identify processes that will benefit from AI technologies.
• Develop and support the software development life cycle and its infrastructure.
• Use machine learning methods for image recognition.
• Use natural language processing to analyze text and voice data and extract valuable information.
• Create and support chatbots for interaction with customers.
• Create AI solutions that mimic human behavior in repetitive tasks.
• Develop, train, and improve machine learning models.
• Optimize machine learning processes to simplify interaction with other business applications through APIs.
• Develop recommendation systems for e-commerce, streaming services, etc.
• Create data pipelines to transform collected information into structured formats suitable for AI applications.

AI Engineer Responsibilities And Tasks

Here is a summary of their primary responsibilities of an AI engineer:

#1 Develop and maintain AI strategies

The job of AI engineers is to understand business goals and use smart technology models to make strategic decisions. They are in charge of creating, coding, and maintaining systems and applications.

Developers need to have a strong knowledge of programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++ and be familiar with machine learning and deep learning tools like TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch. Their duties involve creating and executing algorithms for analyzing and interpreting vast amounts of data.

#2 Design and implement machine learning algorithms

One of their main tasks and duties as an AI engineer is developing and implementing machine learning algorithms, which involve managing large training data sets. These algorithms are then deployed to perform tasks and serve customers effectively.

#3 Develop data transformation infrastructure

Artificial intelligence engineers handle data management, data storage, and the creation of data science and machine learning systems. They solve problems such as missing values, data inconsistencies, and more.

#4 Automate processes with machine learning

One of the key engineer obligations is to automate processes with hyperparameter optimisation, model and feature selection, data preprocessing, efficient transfer learning, and pre-trained models. They use automation to identify patterns, analyze large data sets, optimize workflows, and predict future trends.

#5 Combine and evaluate technologies

AI developers ensure smart technology solutions are successfully incorporated and tested with other systems and applications. As a result, they need to have experience integrating AI solutions with databases and APIs and testing and validating them for proper functionality.

#6 Cooperate with teams from various departments

AI professionals collaborate with various teams, such as data scientists, software developers, and business analysts, to ensure that created solutions meet business needs. They also need to effectively communicate with team members and stakeholders, offering technical guidance and support when necessary.

#7 Ensure data privacy and security

AI engineers typically create solutions protecting sensitive information. This involves implementing robust security measures and compliance with data protection laws such as GDPR.

In summary, AI engineers are responsible for creating, combining, reviewing, and maintaining systems and apps while working with different groups to fulfill business requirements.

Necessary Qualifications And Background

To ensure a smooth AI development process and complete all necessary tasks, developers need to possess a diverse set of skills.

#1 Skillset in technology

AI engineers use various technologies and should have a solid knowledge in Python, Java, R, and C++ programming languages. They should also have expertise in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision. A strong understanding of data science, statistics, algorithms, and problem-solving methods is essential.

#2 Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence engineers must have a deep understanding of machine learning concepts, including various algorithms such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

Machine learning developers can boost your marketing, design, and software development with generative AI models. They can educate models with customized prompts to ensure customers get the highest experience.

#3 Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP is a dynamic field of artificial intelligence that aims to enable machines to understand and process human language. NLP skills of AI engineers can greatly enhance the tech solutions such as translation software, GPS applications, voice assistants and chatbots such as ChatGPT.

#4 Work experience in the industry

AI experts usually need multiple years of experience implementing AI in real-world technology applications. They need to be knowledgeable about the most recent innovations.

#5 Academic history

An aspiring AI engineer must have a strong educational background in computer science, mathematics, statistics, or related fields. The majority of AI specialists have obtained a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a similar field. Higher-level roles may necessitate a master’s degree or Ph.D. in smart technology or machine learning.

#6 Soft skills

Apart from technical abilities, developers need to ensure proficient communication and team collaboration skills. They should work well with team members and stakeholders and simplify technical concepts for non-technical audiences. It is also essential to be able to work autonomously and effectively manage one’s own time.

How To Attract And Retain Top AI Engineering Talent

We know that hiring a skilled and qualified AI engineer is just the beginning. The true challenge comes in retaining that talent, ensuring they feel comfortable and productive to achieve your project goals. That’s where Mobilunity comes in.

We’re not just a recruitment agency; we’re your strategic partner with years of experience in building and supporting high-performing teams where each specialist feels like a valuable part of the project.

With years of experience working with global clients, we’ve created best practices that ensure developers remain engaged, motivated, and loyal. Our focus is not just on recruitment but on creating the conditions for long-term success. Below you can find some strategies we use to maintain high retention rates for the hired experts.

• Onboarding and supporting at every staget. At Mobilunity, we know that a strong onboarding process sets the tone for long-term success. Once your team is hired, we provide seamless integration and ongoing support and handle all administrative tasks, including office logistics and legal matters, so you can focus on your core business.
• Creating a positive work environment. Ensuring engineers feel comfortable and valued is key. We foster an environment where AI experts can take part in team-building activities and work in a supportive company culture. 
• Focusing on long-term collaboration. Our goal is to hire developers for long-term cooperation. We work closely with you to ensure a cultural fit, not just a technical one, so the developers we provide stay with your company for years, minimizing turnover and the need to frequently onboard new talent.

At Mobilunity, we aim to create the perfect balance between finding the right talent and providing an environment that keeps them motivated and productive. We not only find but also keep the best AI engineers, helping your business thrive in the long run. So, feel free to contact us. 

The Bottom Line

As a result, AI software development brings a lot of innovations, along with challenges, to the market. Getting a skilled and qualified team of AI engineers is your first step to design and implement AI-driven algorithms.

The potential of AI goes far beyond several domains. This technology is expected to influence almost every aspect of life, from education and entertainment to government and the environment. As the reach expands, the demand for AI engineers will also grow, as they play a crucial role in developing and implementing smart technologies.

Written by:

Kateryna Oriekhova

Market Researcher