NextChapter

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.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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
  1. 1AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work6.1%
  2. 2AI workflow automation Using AI in your work3.7%
  3. 3LLM application engineering Building AI systems3.3%
  4. 4AI coding assistants Using AI in your work2.9%
  5. 5Model training and deep learning Building AI systems1.6%
  6. 6MLOps Building AI systems1.4%
  7. 7Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work1.1%
  8. 8Machine learning engineering Building AI systems0.97%
  9. 9RAG and vector search Building AI systems0.93%
  10. 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 5,124 openings behind its figure.
  • Skills with fewer than 30 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Postings name specific AI skills, from using AI in everyday work to building AI systems. The share of openings that name a skill shows which ones employers ask for most often.

How to use it

Pick the skill near the top that you can show evidence for, and put it on your résumé with a concrete result. Open the skill's page for the jobs that ask for it.

The top 25

  1. 1

    AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work

    6.1%

    Openings naming it
    5,124
    Median posted pay with it
    $191k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +14%

    Based on 5,124 openings.

    AI tools in daily work: ranks by month and open jobs

  2. 2

    AI workflow automation Using AI in your work

    3.7%

    Openings naming it
    3,103
    Median posted pay with it
    $210k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +25%

    Based on 3,103 openings.

    AI workflow automation: ranks by month and open jobs

  3. 3

    LLM application engineering Building AI systems

    3.3%

    Openings naming it
    2,803
    Median posted pay with it
    $214k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +27%

    Based on 2,803 openings.

    LLM application engineering: ranks by month and open jobs

  4. 4

    AI coding assistants Using AI in your work

    2.9%

    Openings naming it
    2,423
    Median posted pay with it
    $202k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +20%

    Based on 2,423 openings.

    AI coding assistants: ranks by month and open jobs

  5. 5

    Model training and deep learning Building AI systems

    1.6%

    Openings naming it
    1,326
    Median posted pay with it
    $223k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +32%

    Based on 1,326 openings.

    Model training and deep learning: ranks by month and open jobs

  6. 6

    MLOps Building AI systems

    1.4%

    Openings naming it
    1,147
    Median posted pay with it
    $222k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +32%

    Based on 1,147 openings.

    MLOps: ranks by month and open jobs

  7. 7

    Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work

    1.1%

    Openings naming it
    908
    Median posted pay with it
    $192k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +15%

    Based on 908 openings.

    Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude): ranks by month and open jobs

  8. 8

    Machine learning engineering Building AI systems

    0.97%

    Openings naming it
    818
    Median posted pay with it
    $218k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +30%

    Based on 818 openings.

    Machine learning engineering: ranks by month and open jobs

  9. 9

    RAG and vector search Building AI systems

    0.93%

    Openings naming it
    781
    Median posted pay with it
    $206k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +23%

    Based on 781 openings.

    RAG and vector search: ranks by month and open jobs

  10. 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.

    GPU and CUDA: ranks by month and open jobs

  11. 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.

    AI evaluation and guardrails: ranks by month and open jobs

  12. 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.

    AI governance and risk: ranks by month and open jobs

  13. 13

    AI adoption and change management Leading AI

    0.71%

    Openings naming it
    595
    Median posted pay with it
    $207k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +23%

    Based on 595 openings.

    AI adoption and change management: ranks by month and open jobs

  14. 14

    ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems

    0.70%

    Openings naming it
    587
    Median posted pay with it
    $238k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +41%

    Based on 587 openings.

    ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow): ranks by month and open jobs

  15. 15

    AI strategy and use cases Leading AI

    0.68%

    Openings naming it
    572
    Median posted pay with it
    $214k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +27%

    Based on 572 openings.

    AI strategy and use cases: ranks by month and open jobs

  16. 16

    Prompt design Using AI in your work

    0.59%

    Openings naming it
    499
    Median posted pay with it
    $191k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +13%

    Based on 499 openings.

    Prompt design: ranks by month and open jobs

  17. 17

    Responsible AI Leading AI

    0.48%

    Openings naming it
    402
    Median posted pay with it
    $178k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +6%

    Based on 402 openings.

    Responsible AI: ranks by month and open jobs

  18. 18

    Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate) Using AI in your work

    0.40%

    Openings naming it
    337
    Median posted pay with it
    $168k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    −0%

    Based on 337 openings.

    Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate): ranks by month and open jobs

  19. 19

    AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist) Using AI in your work

    0.28%

    Openings naming it
    239
    Median posted pay with it
    $178k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +6%

    Based on 239 openings.

    AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist): ranks by month and open jobs

  20. 20

    Model fine-tuning Building AI systems

    0.20%

    Openings naming it
    168
    Median posted pay with it
    $240k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +43%

    Based on 168 openings.

    Model fine-tuning: ranks by month and open jobs

  21. 21

    AI-enabled analytics Using AI in your work

    0.19%

    Openings naming it
    160
    Median posted pay with it
    $180k
    Pay against all engineering openings
    +7%

    Based on 160 openings.

    AI-enabled analytics: ranks by month and open jobs

  22. 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.

    Gen-AI content tools: ranks by month and open jobs

Full ranking

All 22 skills that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankSkillScoreSample
1AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work6.1%5,124
2AI workflow automation Using AI in your work3.7%3,103
3LLM application engineering Building AI systems3.3%2,803
4AI coding assistants Using AI in your work2.9%2,423
5Model training and deep learning Building AI systems1.6%1,326
6MLOps Building AI systems1.4%1,147
7Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work1.1%908
8Machine learning engineering Building AI systems0.97%818
9RAG and vector search Building AI systems0.93%781
10GPU and CUDA Building AI systems0.82%690
11AI evaluation and guardrails Building AI systems0.75%632
12AI governance and risk Leading AI0.74%624
13AI adoption and change management Leading AI0.71%595
14ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems0.70%587
15AI strategy and use cases Leading AI0.68%572
16Prompt design Using AI in your work0.59%499
17Responsible AI Leading AI0.48%402
18Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate) Using AI in your work0.40%337
19AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist) Using AI in your work0.28%239
20Model fine-tuning Building AI systems0.20%168
21AI-enabled analytics Using AI in your work0.19%160
22Gen-AI content tools Using AI in your work0.15%128

The jobs behind this ranking

Open engineering jobs, who is hiring for them and what they pay.

Job titles link to their salary page where pay is posted, otherwise to the open jobs.

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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