Techies with machine learning, Python skills in demand for Gen AI jobs in IT companies

Machine learning and Python are among the top skills in demand in information technology (IT) companies for Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) roles in India. The trend reflects the growing importance of these skills in developing advanced AI solutions and frameworks, experts said.

In contrast to these hiring trends, the broader IT industry is experiencing a slowdown. Tepid demand has led to an overall decline in hiring by IT companies. Nevertheless, specialised roles in AI and Gen AI remain a focal point for recruitment.

About 42 percent of Gen AI jobs in India mention “machine learning”, while 40 percent ask for “Python” as the most wanted skill for AI jobs, according to hiring platform Indeed. Companies such as IBM, Coforge, L&T Technology Services, and Happiest Minds are actively seeking professionals skilled in machine learning, data science, and cloud engineering.

Other skills that are in demand include natural language processing accounting for 20 percent, TensorFlow for 19 percent, and data science for 17 percent, apart from AI core skills and communication skills.

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For context, the AI market in India is poised for exponential growth with projections from Nasscom and BCG forecasting it to soar by a compounded annual growth rate of 25-35 percent to $17 billion by 2027.

When it comes to the number of years of experience for candidates most ideally placed for such skills, companies look at it from two aspects. Firstly, the technical knowledge in the field of AI, and second, the ability of professionals to apply this knowledge into a business/sector, to derive true value.

“Accordingly, I believe professionals with at least five to six years of experience in functional and technical roles are well placed,” said Lakshmi Mittra, head of IT company Clover Infotech’s academic arm, which imparts practical exposure and necessary training for AI roles to IT professionals.

Companies playbook

Thirukkumaran Nagarajan, Human Resource Head at IBM India, points out that there is a significant increase in demand for AI-related jobs, particularly in machine learning and data architecture, which form the foundation of AI.

“One of the growth areas is in AI software space, primarily driven by the need for professionals who can not only work in development, like an AI automation software but also work in implementation to make AI systems that are fair, transparent, accountable, explainable, as part of the responsible AI,” Nagarajan told Moneycontrol.

Some of the other roles that IBM is hiring for in these areas include Experience Designers, Agile Coaches, Design Thinking, Automation Architects, Transformation Specialists, and Prompt Engineers.

“We believe that everyone, regardless of age or years of experience, should have certain foundational skills or mastery in AI, depending on the roles they play,” he added.

Engineering services firm L&T Technology Services is looking to hire over 1,000 engineers this fiscal year keeping in mind the increasing demand for high-end engineering services. “One focus area is to hire AI architects, particularly with the expanded scope of Gen AI, which encompasses a wider range of applications in domains such as Mobility, Hi-Tech, and Sustainability,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Amit Chadha told Moneycontrol in June.

The Vadodara-headquartered firm has already trained over 3,000 engineers on AI tools and cloud-native software platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NVIDIA AI Enterprise.

Meanwhile, Happiest Minds Technologies is recruiting for .Net Azure engineers, Cloud Architects, Technical Project Managers, Data Scientists, and Gen AI leads, among other roles.

Experts said the advancements in AI and the increasing adoption of data-driven technologies have led to a high demand for professionals skilled at developing and deploying AI solutions, analysing large datasets, and building intelligent systems.

Prompt Engineers

Coforge, for instance, is actively hiring for several key AI roles such as Prompt Engineers, AI Scientists, Core Gen AI Engineers, etc. The in-demand skills of a Prompt Engineer are being upskilled by companies to manage tasks in software development and testing, too.

"We continue to see strong demand in our traditional offerings, but AI resources are becoming a mandatory inclusion in most of our existing and new engagements," explains Sudarshan Seshadri, Senior Vice-President of Data & AI, Coforge.

Experts say practical experience in the field is highly valued and domain understanding remains a critical aspect that AI cannot currently provide.

Companies typically look for candidates with a strong academic background and relevant internship or project experience, for entry-level positions. “For mid-level and senior roles, companies often prefer candidates with 3-7 years of practical experience in developing and deploying AI solutions, working with large datasets, and using relevant tools and frameworks,” said Sachin Panicker, Chief AI Officer, at Fulcrum Digital.

While IT companies are still rolling out production-grade Gen AI products, results are already visible for the business process outsourcing and business process management (BPO/BPM) industry.

By integrating the Gen AI framework, WNS Global has seen a 30-40 percent improvement in customer experience and a 25-40 percent increase in productivity in different business units. These efficiencies are a result of Gen AI's speed and accuracy, which facilitate faster processing and better decision-making.

“We have advanced our offerings by merging Gen AI with proprietary AI/ML models tailored to industry-specific challenges,” said Sanjay Jain, Chief Business Transformation Officer, WNS. The company has come up with solutions in the highly regulated areas of healthcare and insurance.

While jobs in the AI and Gen AI space are gaining momentum, traditional skill sets such as app development, infrastructure management, and software development form the bulk demand. Moreover, in enterprise technology, AI is in demand but products are still in the early stages of harnessing AI's full capabilities, experts said.