Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs
Key facts
- #1 AI tools in daily work, Using AI in your work: 6.1%
- #2 AI workflow automation, Using AI in your work: 3.7%
- #3 LLM application engineering, Building AI systems: 3.3%
- 22 skills ranked across engineering jobs
- Data as of November 2026
- 1AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work6.1%
- 2AI workflow automation Using AI in your work3.7%
- 3LLM application engineering Building AI systems3.3%
- 4AI coding assistants Using AI in your work2.9%
- 5Model training and deep learning Building AI systems1.6%
- 6MLOps Building AI systems1.4%
- 7Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work1.1%
- 8Machine learning engineering Building AI systems0.97%
- 9RAG and vector search Building AI systems0.93%
- 10GPU and CUDA Building AI systems0.82%
What stands out
- The lead is wide: AI tools in daily work (6.1%) is well clear of GPU and CUDA at #10 (0.82%).
- AI tools in daily work is the largest market in the top ten, with 5,132 openings behind its figure.
- Skills with fewer than 30 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
The top 25
- 1
AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work
6.1%
- Openings naming it
- 5,132
- Median posted pay with it
- $191k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +14%
Based on 5,132 openings.
- 2
AI workflow automation Using AI in your work
3.7%
- Openings naming it
- 3,104
- Median posted pay with it
- $210k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +25%
Based on 3,104 openings.
- 3
LLM application engineering Building AI systems
3.3%
- Openings naming it
- 2,810
- Median posted pay with it
- $214k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +27%
Based on 2,810 openings.
- 4
AI coding assistants Using AI in your work
2.9%
- Openings naming it
- 2,433
- Median posted pay with it
- $202k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +21%
Based on 2,433 openings.
- 5
Model training and deep learning Building AI systems
1.6%
- Openings naming it
- 1,327
- Median posted pay with it
- $223k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +32%
Based on 1,327 openings.
- 6
MLOps Building AI systems
1.4%
- Openings naming it
- 1,150
- Median posted pay with it
- $222k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +32%
Based on 1,150 openings.
- 7
Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work
1.1%
- Openings naming it
- 910
- Median posted pay with it
- $192k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +15%
Based on 910 openings.
- 8
Machine learning engineering Building AI systems
0.97%
- Openings naming it
- 817
- Median posted pay with it
- $218k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +30%
Based on 817 openings.
- 9
RAG and vector search Building AI systems
0.93%
- Openings naming it
- 786
- Median posted pay with it
- $206k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +23%
Based on 786 openings.
- 10
GPU and CUDA Building AI systems
0.82%
- Openings naming it
- 690
- Median posted pay with it
- $250k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +49%
Based on 690 openings.
- 11
AI evaluation and guardrails Building AI systems
0.75%
- Openings naming it
- 632
- Median posted pay with it
- $218k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +30%
Based on 632 openings.
- 12
AI governance and risk Leading AI
0.74%
- Openings naming it
- 624
- Median posted pay with it
- $209k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +24%
Based on 624 openings.
- 13
AI adoption and change management Leading AI
0.71%
- Openings naming it
- 595
- Median posted pay with it
- $206k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +23%
Based on 595 openings.
- 14
ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems
0.69%
- Openings naming it
- 585
- Median posted pay with it
- $238k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +41%
Based on 585 openings.
- 15
AI strategy and use cases Leading AI
0.68%
- Openings naming it
- 573
- Median posted pay with it
- $214k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +27%
Based on 573 openings.
- 16
Prompt design Using AI in your work
0.60%
- Openings naming it
- 502
- Median posted pay with it
- $191k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +13%
Based on 502 openings.
- 17
Responsible AI Leading AI
0.48%
- Openings naming it
- 403
- Median posted pay with it
- $175k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +4%
Based on 403 openings.
- 18
Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate) Using AI in your work
0.40%
- Openings naming it
- 339
- Median posted pay with it
- $168k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- −0%
Based on 339 openings.
- 19
AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist) Using AI in your work
0.28%
- Openings naming it
- 240
- Median posted pay with it
- $178k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +6%
Based on 240 openings.
- 20
Model fine-tuning Building AI systems
0.20%
- Openings naming it
- 167
- Median posted pay with it
- $240k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +43%
Based on 167 openings.
- 21
AI-enabled analytics Using AI in your work
0.19%
- Openings naming it
- 161
- Median posted pay with it
- $180k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +7%
Based on 161 openings.
- 22
Gen-AI content tools Using AI in your work
0.15%
- Openings naming it
- 128
- Median posted pay with it
- $172k
- Pay against all engineering openings
- +2%
Based on 128 openings.
Full ranking
All 22 skills that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | Skill | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work | 6.1% | 5,132 |
| 2 | AI workflow automation Using AI in your work | 3.7% | 3,104 |
| 3 | LLM application engineering Building AI systems | 3.3% | 2,810 |
| 4 | AI coding assistants Using AI in your work | 2.9% | 2,433 |
| 5 | Model training and deep learning Building AI systems | 1.6% | 1,327 |
| 6 | MLOps Building AI systems | 1.4% | 1,150 |
| 7 | Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work | 1.1% | 910 |
| 8 | Machine learning engineering Building AI systems | 0.97% | 817 |
| 9 | RAG and vector search Building AI systems | 0.93% | 786 |
| 10 | GPU and CUDA Building AI systems | 0.82% | 690 |
| 11 | AI evaluation and guardrails Building AI systems | 0.75% | 632 |
| 12 | AI governance and risk Leading AI | 0.74% | 624 |
| 13 | AI adoption and change management Leading AI | 0.71% | 595 |
| 14 | ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems | 0.69% | 585 |
| 15 | AI strategy and use cases Leading AI | 0.68% | 573 |
| 16 | Prompt design Using AI in your work | 0.60% | 502 |
| 17 | Responsible AI Leading AI | 0.48% | 403 |
| 18 | Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate) Using AI in your work | 0.40% | 339 |
| 19 | AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist) Using AI in your work | 0.28% | 240 |
| 20 | Model fine-tuning Building AI systems | 0.20% | 167 |
| 21 | AI-enabled analytics Using AI in your work | 0.19% | 161 |
| 22 | Gen-AI content tools Using AI in your work | 0.15% | 128 |
How this ranking works
A AI skill's score is the share of engineering open professional roles whose posting names it, read by our AI-skill tagger from the full posting text across 24 AI skills in three groups: using AI in your work, leading AI, and building AI systems.
Only skills named in at least 30 openings are ranked.
Sample bar: skills with fewer than 30 openings are not ranked.
Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which skill ranks first: most requested ai skills in engineering jobs?
- AI tools in daily work is the most requested AI skill in engineering jobs: it is named in 6.1% of openings.
- How many skills are ranked?
- 22 skills have at least 30 openings, so the list has 22 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A AI skill's score is the share of engineering open professional roles whose posting names it, read by our AI-skill tagger from the full posting text across 24 AI skills in three groups: using AI in your work, leading AI, and building AI systems. Only skills named in at least 30 openings are ranked.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/ai-skills-most-requested-in-engineering-jobs
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/ai-skills-most-requested-in-engineering-jobs">Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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