If you’re an engineer, you’ve probably noticed a lot of buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI) lately. You might have also heard how many engineers worry about AI taking over the industry.   

It is true AI and machine learning have already become deeply integrated into the work of engineers. And it looks as though it’s here to stay. But research indicates that AI will significantly affect engineering jobs, but not in the way people are worried about.  

In this blog, we want to make a case for how AI will not replace engineers but expand their roles and even create more opportunities within engineering. Read on to learn more about how AI has transformed engineering jobs and how this can benefit your current role and those you apply for in the future!  

How AI is Affecting Engineering Jobs  

Again, AI is not out to replace engineers. Instead, the addition of AI in engineering is focused on enhancing or streamlining an engineer’s daily tasks, freeing them to focus their talents on the more nuanced and creative aspects of their jobs.  

Engineers should consider this good news, especially for job security (and work-life balance). AI is creating increased productivity and efficiency for engineers in several ways:  

• Automation of routine tasks (data entry and management)  
• Quality control and inspection  
• Streamlining predictive maintenance  
• Improved design and simulation capabilities  
• Report generation and documentation  
• Enhanced data analysis and decision making  

As you can see, AI is helping to elevate the work of engineers, not make them redundant. One of the most significant changes AI is causing is the creation of additional roles in engineering focused on AI development and deployment.  

New Roles in Development and Deployment  

This is an exciting time to be an engineer. With the increased use of AI and machine learning, a whole new host of roles in the sector are creating exciting opportunities for engineers looking to expand their skill set and diversify their industry expertise.  

AI, Machine, and Deep Learning Engineers  

The specific tasks of these AI, machine learning, and deep learning engineers may vary from developing and implementing AI systems to creating learning models that solve complex problems like computer vision, natural language processing, and speech recognition.   

But the new leagues of AI engineers share an important commonality: they bridge the gap between AI and engineering, requiring a solid foundation in computer science, mathematics, and programming, as well as experience in developing and deploying AI solutions.  

They also need to work closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and evaluate the performance of AI systems.  

Data Scientists  

While data science is not a new field, AI in engineering is helping data scientists by:   

• Automating data preparation  
• Improving predictive modeling accuracy  
• Enhancing model interpretability  
• Providing access to more data and computing resources  
• Enabling faster experimentation and iteration  

These advancements allow data scientists to focus on more complex and exciting problems and make decisions based on AI insights.  

AI Solution Architects  

An AI solution architect is responsible for designing and implementing end-to-end AI systems that meet the needs of the organization and provide value to its stakeholders. This involves defining the architecture and components of the solution, choosing the appropriate AI technologies, integrating that tech with existing systems, and ensuring the solution is scalable, secure and efficient.  

Natural Language Processors  

Natural language processors (NLP) are vital to engineering because they create the AI systems which allow computers to process and understand human language. In engineering, NLP analyzes and extracts insights from large volumes of unstructured text data, such as customer feedback, product reviews and social media posts. This technology is also used for language-based tasks such as machine translation, sentiment analysis and named entity recognition.  

Computer Vision Engineers  

Computer vision engineers are becoming increasingly sought-after due to the growing demand for image and video analysis in various industries, including security and surveillance, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, retail and manufacturing. They’re becoming a transformative contributor to companies that need to improve efficiency and reduce costs by automating tasks previously performed manually, such as object recognition and image classification.  

AI Project Managers  

As advanced as AI systems may be, there will always be a need for human experience and insight into project management. With the increasing use of AI in engineering, there’s now a whole new area of project management that depends on a project manager’s ability to set project goals, lead a team, identify potential risks, and ensure the project is completed successfully.  

How Will AI Affect Your Role as an Engineer?  

When you look at the many ways AI is transforming engineering and creating new opportunities in the industry, the prospects in the job market are looking increasingly bright! If you’re looking to take advantage of this growth, then you’re in luck! Zing Recruiting is an expert recruiter for engineers, and we can help you find your dream job.  

Are you an engineer with a passion for AI? Or maybe you’re just looking to expand your skill set. Either way, Zing Recruiting can help. We’re here to connect you with the best roles in the industry and help you find your place in the exciting world of AI and engineering.  

Get in touch with Zing Recruiting today, and let’s get started.