Artificial intelligence engineer roles are rapidly emerging as the most in-demand jobs as companies move beyond testing AI systems and begin deploying them at scale across industries.
According to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise report, the AI engineer role is now the fastest-growing job category, reflecting growing pressure on organisations to translate AI strategies into measurable business outcomes. As the adoption of artificial intelligence accelerates, many business leaders are reassessing their AI approaches or racing to develop one.
Ellis Taylor, Director at Real Time, said that this shift has led to the creation of many loosely defined AI engineer roles as organisations attempt to keep pace with technological change. He noted that the strongest demand is coming from industries with specific problems to solve. Health technology companies are applying AI to diagnostic imaging, while fintech firms are using AI to strengthen fraud detection systems.
Taylor emphasised that companies succeeding with AI are not simply building AI teams but are hiring engineers focused on solving real business challenges.
While technical skills remain important, employers are increasingly prioritising delivery and real-world impact. Dr Thomas Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder of Heidi, said the most effective AI engineers are those who can clearly explain what they built, why it mattered, and how they contributed to delivering results. He added that candidates who can connect past experience with applied AI and healthcare tend to stand out.
This reflects a broader shift in AI hiring, where outcomes are valued more than theoretical expertise. Chipo Riva, Senior Consultant at Talenza, said organisations now require AI engineers who can work with imperfect data, manage sceptical stakeholders, and focus on business results rather than technical perfection.
Riva added that while many professionals can code, the industry still lacks talent that can combine AI engineering with collaboration and business understanding.
