How to hire AI Developers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Artificial Intelligence is on the rise nowadays. It's hard to ignore the powerful opportunities it offers for business and everyday life, so turning to AI development services is not a matter of fashion, but rather a necessity. Hire AI engineers to get the most out of AI-based services such as data analytics, predictive analytics, image processing, speech recognition, or chatbots.

Below you will find information not only on how to hire full-stack AI developers but also on how to get it done right. Your best AI developers are just around the corner.

What is an AI engineer?

First of all, let's take a look at what an AI engineer is.

An AI engineer is a professional who develops, implements, and maintains Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. AI developers are responsible for both algorithm development and neural network development that can be used to process and learn from large amounts of data, thus enabling machines to perform intelligent tasks.

The AI engineer's job involves handling a variety of tools and technologies, including machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, named entity recognition, topic modeling, and deep learning. These tools are used to create intelligent systems that can automate tasks, make predictions, recognize patterns, make language translations, and provide personalized recommendations.

Artificial Intelligence engineers are involved in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, e-commerce, and others. They can team up with data analysts, software developers, and other professionals to develop and implement AI software solutions.

Becoming an AI engineer typically requires a solid background in computer science, math, and statistics, as well as experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++. An advanced degree in computer science or a related field is often a must, and many AI engineers pursue post-graduate degrees or other certifications to stay on top of the latest developments in the field.

That's why hiring an AI engineer is not a cakewalk, but rather a challenge that only experienced people can handle.

Projected demand for AI engineers beyond 2024

According to LinkedIn's annual Jobs on the Rise report, sustainability and AI are the key drivers shaping job markets, with AI engineers among the top ten fastest-growing occupations. No wonder employers are increasingly looking for qualified professionals in these fields.

Let's take a look at the key trends in the AI-related job market:

• Data engineers, machine learning engineers, and AI data scientists are the most commonly hired roles by organizations using AI.
• There is growing interest in "prompt" engineering roles, which have recently emerged, with 7 percent of respondents whose organizations have adopted AI reporting these hires.
• AI is expected to create 97 million new jobs by 2025.

The demand for positions such as machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI researchers reflects the growing influence of AI across industries. This underscores the critical need to reskill and upskill the workforce to meet changing job requirements. However, many companies are finding it difficult to do so due to shrinking training budgets.

As a consequence, companies are facing a shortage of qualified engineers capable of developing, training, and supporting AI and machine learning systems. This shortage leads to higher salaries and hiring challenges. Meanwhile, DDI Development is successfully addressing this problem by identifying and nurturing top-notch talent.

While the future of the labor market remains uncertain, it is clear that significant changes are underway.

What role do AI developers play in various industries?

Let's face it: AI has become a game-changer across numerous industries. From healthcare to finance, retail to transportation, AI developers stand as pioneers in shaping the future of these sectors. But what makes their role in these areas so essential, and how do they drive innovation and efficiency?

Let's get into how indispensable AI developers are in some industries and the vital role they play in driving technological advancement.

Healthcare

AI developers are driving innovation in healthcare, creating medical imaging systems for accurate diagnosis, predictive models for patient outcomes, and virtual assistants for improved patient care. Healthcare companies seeking cutting-edge solutions can hire AI engineers to lead development.

Fintech

AI software engineers build algorithms for fraud detection, personalized investment recommendations, and customer service chatbots. Financial institutions looking to expand their offerings can hire AI developers with expertise in algorithm development and predictive analytics.

eLearning

AI software developers are pioneering adaptive learning platforms, AI tutors, and plagiarism detection systems to enrich eLearning experiences. Educational institutions looking to enhance their digital education offerings can partner with AI engineering firms specializing in NLP and text classification.

Art

Artificial Intelligence software developers innovate algorithms for creative content generation, personalized art curation, and artistic trend analysis. Art institutions eager to take advantage of AI advances can hire AI developers with expertise in image processing and cognitive computing.

Retail

AI developers transform the retail industry with recommendation engines, inventory management systems, and facial recognition technology. Retailers striving to optimize operations can hire AI engineers with expertise in big data and neural networks.

Marketing

AI engineers create customer segmentation models, sentiment analysis algorithms, and personalized content recommendation engines. Marketing agencies aiming to improve digital strategies can hire AI developers with expertise in chatbots and speech recognition.

Manufacturing

AI engineering companies are innovating predictive maintenance systems, automation robots, and quality control algorithms. Manufacturing organizations interested in improving production processes can hire AI engineers skilled in reinforcement learning and data analytics.

AI development services for business: Why hire AI developers?

Business leaders increasingly recognize the importance of tapping into AI development services to enhance their operations and drive business growth. It's crucial to choose an experienced AI engineering company capable of delivering tailored solutions that address specific needs like cost-effectiveness, safety, responsible AI usage, and efficiency. Additionally, there's a rising fascination with generative AI that shouldn't be overlooked.

According to McKinsey:

• One-third of those surveyed report using generative AI regularly in at least one business function.
• A significant 79% of respondents have been exposed to generative artificial intelligence in some capacity, whether at work or outside.
• 22% indicate regular usage of generative AI in their work.

These findings indicate a notable integration of AI development services into business operations, marking them as essential rather than optional. Below are the most commonly cited use cases for generative AI within functions, as reported by respondents:

To effectively leverage generative AI for your business, it's critical to build the expertise of your technical team by identifying the specific AI skills they need. If your organization is in the early stages of its AI journey, hiring two or three experienced senior artificial intelligence software developers with the necessary expertise can significantly accelerate progress.

Adopting generative AI and investing in AI engineers isn't just following trends; it's a fundamental necessity for staying competitive in today's landscape.

Currently, 77% of companies are utilizing or considering implementing Artificial Intelligence, as AI has been proven to increase business productivity by 40%. Optimization of internal business processes is one of the key reasons why 36% of executives choose to embrace AI.

Such a rapid spread of Artificial Intelligence technologies seems to be not without reason. Integrating AI into business operations is expected to result in significant time savings for workers, potentially around 20% across approximately 80% of occupations.

For maximum impact on global productivity, early adoption of generative AI is critical. Adopting it sooner rather than later will enable more efficient use of workers' time as automation advances:

While predictions and statistics offer insights, it's too early to definitively determine how generative AI will reshape jobs and businesses. With rapid advances, our understanding of generative AI and its capabilities will likely evolve significantly within a year. However, the fundamental importance of hiring experienced AI developers remains unchanged.

Adapting quickly and effectively to the evolving landscape is critical for organizations to realize the full potential of AI. One strategic approach to current and future success is to hire Artificial Intelligence engineers.

Where to hire an AI developer?

These days, the competition for talented AI experts is intense, with tech giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Google all vying for the top spot in the AI race. They're facing a shortage of skilled engineers and gearing up for the expected boom in AI development. So, where can businesses find AI developers to gain a competitive edge?

There are two great ways to hire qualified AI engineers for your team:

1. Hire full-time AI developers to have their expertise readily available for solving tech challenges quickly. But if AI skills aren't always needed, you'll still have to pay their salary and benefits.

2. Partner with an IT outsourcing company that can provide skilled AI specialists on an as-needed basis. This allows you to bring in dedicated AI engineers for specific tasks or projects without making a long-term commitment. It's often more cost-effective and less stressful because the outsourcing company handles the hiring and project management.

For more information on the second option, reach out to our team.

How long does it take to hire an AI developer?

The time it takes to hire an AI developer can vary, typically ranging from a few weeks to a few months. Initially, defining requirements and writing a job description takes time, usually a week or two, to ensure clarity on the skills and experience required. This is followed by the recruitment phase, which includes candidate sourcing, resume review, interviewing, and possibly technical assessments. This phase alone can take several weeks as you search for the ideal fit for your team.

However, by leveraging IT outsourcing services, companies can significantly speed up the hiring process.

On average, partnering with an outsourcing firm can reduce the timeline for hiring AI engineers to approximately four to six weeks. Outsourcing providers streamline candidate sourcing, leveraging their networks and expertise to efficiently identify qualified candidates. They also seamlessly handle the negotiation and onboarding processes, further compressing the timeline. This approach not only accelerates talent acquisition but also ensures access to subject-matter expertise (such as speech recognition or neural network processing) tailored to your project needs. Investing in IT outsourcing upfront can yield significant time savings while hiring top-notch AI software developers for your business goals.

What are the roles of AI engineers in an AI development team?

So, we've mapped out where to hire AI developers. Now let's figure out how big an AI development team is needed. The makeup of an AI development team depends on many factors, including budget, timeline, complexity, technology needed, and experience.

However, a classic AI development team typically includes the following key roles:

• Data Scientists. These are the cornerstones of the team. They are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to derive meaningful insights. Their expertise lies in statistical analysis and machine learning algorithms, enabling them to uncover patterns and trends that drive informed decisions.
• Machine Learning Engineers. They specialize in building and deploying machine learning models. They work closely with data scientists to translate data-driven insights into scalable solutions. Their role includes designing algorithms, fine-tuning models, and ensuring the reliability and efficiency of AI systems.
• Software Developers. These experts play a critical role in translating AI concepts into working applications. They are tasked with designing, developing, and maintaining the software infrastructure that supports AI functionality. Their responsibilities include building user interfaces, integrating AI systems with existing software, and ensuring seamless operation.
• Domain experts. These people provide industry-specific knowledge and insight to guide AI development. Whether in healthcare, finance, or manufacturing, their expertise ensures that AI solutions effectively address unique business challenges. They work closely with the team to define project goals, validate outcomes, and facilitate the integration of AI technologies into existing workflows.
• Project Managers. They oversee the entire AI development process, from planning to execution. They are responsible for coordinating tasks, managing resources, and ensuring that project goals are met within scope and budget. Their role includes facilitating communication between team members, stakeholders, and business leaders to ensure project success.

In addition, AI teams can expand to include specialists in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, user experience design, and business analytics, increasing collaboration and the effectiveness of AI projects.

What skills and qualifications are crucial for AI developers to possess?

Mastery goes beyond technical skills alone. AI engineers must possess a diverse skill set that includes both technical and non-technical skills. Let's take a closer look at these essential skills and qualifications.

Key skills for an AI engineer to possess

Here are the essential knowledge, skills, and expertise that an AI developer should have or be proficient in:

Additional skills for an AI developer to have

In addition to core technical skills, AI engineers should seek to acquire additional knowledge in some other areas:

• Advanced Machine Learning. Mastering advanced machine learning techniques such as graph neural networks, transfer learning, and meta-learning can enhance an AI engineer's ability to effectively solve complex problems.
• Distributed Computing. Having learned distributed computing frameworks such as Apache Spark and parallel processing techniques helps to work with large data sets and efficiently train complex AI models.
• Model Interpretability and Explainability. Understanding how AI models make predictions and being able to explain their decisions is increasingly important, especially in regulated industries.

Non-technical skills

Since AI engineers are part of a team, they should learn to communicate correctly and clearly to avoid misunderstandings with team members or stakeholders. That is why they should be keen to develop the following skills:

• AI ethics and bias mitigation. AI engineers should stay abreast of ethical guidelines and best practices in the field.
• Problem-solving skills. Strong problem-solving skills are valuable for effectively identifying, analyzing, and solving complex AI challenges.
• Communication and collaboration. Effective communication and collaboration skills are required to work in interdisciplinary teams and to convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Continuous learning. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement in AI, AI engineers should have a growth mindset and a willingness to adapt to new tools, techniques, and methodologies.

Now, let's find out where exactly to hire AI engineers in 2024 if thriving now and in the future is what you want.

7 Steps to hire AI engineers

If you are looking to hire AI developers, here are some steps you can take to do so.

Step 1. Define your AI development needs

Before you start looking for AI developers, make sure you clarify the following:

• AI developer skills
• AI developer qualifications
• AI developer education

Identify the specific tasks and challenges you would like to solve with artificial intelligence, and then outline the qualifications, skills, and experience required to do the job.

Step 2. Come up with a job description

Based on the data obtained in the previous step, create a detailed job description that outlines the responsibilities, qualifications, and skills an AI engineer needs to hold the position. Clearly define the level of experience required for the job, as well as the technologies and programming languages your ideal employee should be proficient in. This may not even be a job description, but your idea of the job.

Step 3. Check out the price range of AI engineers

Before you dive into the process of hiring AI experts, find out what AI development services you might need. AI development services, AI developer cost, and AI developer hourly rate are things that should be on the list for consideration.

Step 4. Conduct thorough interviews

Once needed candidates are in place, conduct thorough interviews to assess their engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. Consider conducting technical assessments or coding assignments within your internal tech team to gauge proficiency in AI programming languages and tools. Additionally, a candidate's positive experience is key.

Keep this in mind when interviewing. Throughout the entire hiring process, make sure candidates have a positive experience with your company. Communicate clearly and promptly, provide feedback and support, and ensure that the recruitment process is efficient and transparent. This will help you build a positive brand image and attract the best AI talent.

Step 5. Offer competitive compensation and benefits

To hire AI engineers, be sure to offer competitive compensation and benefits packages. Research industry standards and consider offering benefits such as flexible working hours, training and development opportunities, and health insurance.

Step 6. Onboard Artificial Intelligence developers

When all the papers are signed and AI developers are hired, it's time for the next big step. You need to help your new employees feel comfortable working with you. To do this, consider the following:

• Opt for the agile project management method as the main project management approach
• Estimate the software development time;
• Decide on the product - whether it will be an MVP or something else, especially if it is a large-scale employee management system (ATS, ERP, or CRM);
• Set up a roadmap and milestones to be achieved throughout AI recruiting software development, SaaS system development, or whatever else you need to do;
• Decide whether it will be a mobile application (e.g. employee management app) or a web-based platform;
• Decide on the technology stack and auxiliary tools (consider using GPT-3, GPT-4, and other AI-based tools available to businesses);
• Get to work.

Step 7: Get ongoing support and product maintenance

When hiring Artificial Intelligence developers, you can count on ongoing support from the contractor. The process of developing Artificial Intelligence software will be guided by experienced technicians and subject-matter business analysts. Dialogue systems, language modeling, lexical semantics, text classification, word sense disambiguation - any Artificial Intelligence technology and experience will be at your disposal to contribute to your product.

By following these steps, you can find and hire AI engineers to help you build breakthrough and effective AI solutions.

Why hire AI developers in Poland?

It's time to see why you shouldn't just hire AI engineers, but hire them in Poland. There are several reasons why you might want to consider hiring AI engineers in Poland in 2024:

• Skilled manpower: Poland has a robust science and technology education tradition and a large pool of qualified engineers and IT professionals. Many universities in Poland offer specialized programs in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science, ensuring a continuous flow of talented graduates.
• Relatively low AI developer cost: Although salaries for AI engineers in Poland are similar to those in Western Europe and the US, the cost of living in Poland is lower, which makes it an attractive IT outsourcing destination for companies looking to hire qualified professionals at below-market prices.
• Thriving tech industry: Poland is home to a fast-growing tech industry with a thriving startup ecosystem and well-known players in areas such as fintech, e-commerce, and software development. This growth has led to increased investment in AI research and development, as well as a growing number of jobs for AI engineers.
• EU membership: As a member of the European Union, Poland has access to funding and resources for R&D, making it an attractive region for companies seeking to participate in EU R&D programs and partnerships.
• Cultural fit: Poland shares strong cultural ties with Western Europe and the United States, making it easy for companies to hire Polish AI engineers and get them involved in global teams.

All in all, hiring Artificial Intelligence experts in Poland can be a cost-effective and efficient way to access an ever-growing pool of skilled labor. In addition, you can take advantage of the country's strong research and development potential and its cultural match with the West.

How to hire AI engineers

Now that you know why you should hire AI developers in Poland, it doesn't hurt to have a hiring plan in place to bring in these AI experts.

When it comes to finding AI talent and hiring first-class AI engineers, the following options are often considered:

• Retraining and upskilling existing talent;
• AI development services outsourcing;
• Self-search for an Artificial Intelligence expert on the Internet.

You should also figure out how many AI programming experts you might need. It can be a single full-stack AI developer or an entire AI engineering company.

If you plan to scale your product in the future, IT outsourcing is the way to go. This is because a dedicated team usually operates on a flexible staff augmentation model, which means they can fully dive into supporting and developing your AI project, while you can focus on growing your business.

What do you get by hiring AI engineers in Poland?

When implementing Artificial Intelligence in your business processes, you may face challenges that can only be handled by specialists with years of experience dealing with AI systems.

That's why hiring Artificial Intelligence software developers in Poland is beneficial:

• Handpicked developers. You will get not just mobile or web development experts. These will be proven practitioners who have been successfully implementing AI software solutions for years. We will check the AI developer’s qualifications as well as the AI developer’s education, and then provide you with real work examples.
• Vetted skills. Big data, speech recognition, cognitive computing, or reinforcement learning are not just a list of buzzwords for us, they are technologies and specializations that Polish AI engineers are well versed in. We will thoroughly verify the technological background of AI software developers before hiring them for you.
• Short time-to-hire. Looking to hire an AI engineering team in just a few weeks? In the case of AI developers in Poland, it will take no more than a week to arrange an interview with them. As an experienced IT outsourcing team, we have a well-established and optimized process for sourcing, screening, and hiring AI engineers so that we can deliver the right candidates to our clients as quickly as possible.
• AI rock stars are on your side. Before specific AI engineers get a chance to talk to you, they go through our rigorous internal process of assessing hard and soft skills. The ability to find talented AI developers in a short time is not only a strength of DDI Development but also a sign of the maturity of the software development market in Poland.
• Smart investments. Hiring Artificial Intelligence engineers in Poland is closely intertwined with the idea of cost-effectiveness. Below you will find more information about how much AI engineers earn in Poland.

Artificial Intelligence developer salary in Poland 2024

Wondering how much an Artificial Intelligence developer earns in Poland? Here's a ray of light on the subject. The annual salary of an AI engineer in Poland:

• Lowest: 52,380 PLN
• Average: 103,820 PLN
• Highest: 159,400 PLN

According to the Economic Research Institute, the average Artificial Intelligence engineer salary in Poland is PLN 193,278 per year with an AI developer hourly rate of 93 PLN per hour:

• Entry level: PLN 133,168;
• Average: PLN 193,278;
• Senior level: PLN 235,992.

According to Payscale, the annual salary of machine learning experts in Poland is approximately the following:

• Low: 8k PLN;
• Average: 108k PLN;
• High: 316k PLN.

For more information on current prices for the services of a dedicated AI engineering company or a specific AI expert, please contact the DDI Development team. We do our best to provide our clients with accurate information and proper results.

Bottom line

Looking to hire Artificial Intelligence engineers? Then consider the above-mentioned step-by-step guide that will guide you through the hiring process. To hire the right AI specialists, it's best to follow the tried and true path, tested by industry experts, i.e. DDI Development. Moreover, Artificial Intelligence is an extremely fast-growing technology that promises to conquer the world. The stakes are high. For your business to thrive now and in the long run, you have to keep up with the times.

For questions on how to hire AI engineers effectively, please contact us: info@ddi-dev.com.