AI Job Market Report
AI Jobs Report 2026
A live, data-driven overview of the AI job market. Tracking 2,073 open positions across 40 companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Databricks, and more. Updated weekly.
Top AI Companies Hiring Now
AI Job Categories
cloud AI Infrastructure & Platform Engineer
295Build and scale the underlying infrastructure for AI training and deployment
briefcase Program & Project Management - Tech
148Manage complex AI and defense technology programs
microscope AI/ML Research Scientist
121Conduct fundamental AI research and develop novel machine learning algorithms
lock DevSecOps & Security Engineer
121Implement security practices in development pipelines and protect AI/defense systems
brain Machine Learning Engineer - Applied AI
109Implement and deploy machine learning models for specific applications and products
shield Mission Systems & Defense Software Engineer
95Build software for military systems, command and control, and defense applications
briefcase Supply Chain & Technical Sourcing
95Manage procurement and supply chain for specialized AI/defense hardware
chart Data & Analytics Engineer
69Build data pipelines and analytics systems for AI training and operational insights
puzzle Test & Validation Engineer
55Design and execute tests for complex AI and aerospace systems
users Operations & Logistics - Tech Hardware
45Manage operations for AI hardware deployment and defense systems logistics
Most In-Demand AI Skills
| Rank | Skill | Mentions | % of Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Agentic AI | 105 | 5.1% |
| #2 | AI-Assisted Code Generation | 15 | 0.7% |
| #3 | GPU Optimization | 23 | 1.1% |
| #4 | Evaluation Frameworks | 22 | 1.1% |
| #5 | Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) | 19 | 0.9% |
| #6 | Post-Training | 17 | 0.8% |
| #7 | Apache Spark | 48 | 2.3% |
| #8 | Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) | 21 | 1% |
| #9 | Foundation Models | 12 | 0.6% |
| #10 | Multimodal AI | 12 | 0.6% |
Emerging AI Roles
Staff Technical Program Manager, Connected Warfare (Active Clearance)
This is a new, hybrid role that merges defense-specific program management with deep technical oversight of autonomous, networked systems (the "Connected Warfare" domain). It's emerging because modern defense contracts now require managing live, AI-driven systems (like drone swarms and sensor networks) that continuously learn and update—a radical shift from managing traditional, static hardware platforms. The role demands both a security clearance and the agility to oversee software-like development cycles within the rigid defense procurement environment.
Senior Director, Business Development, Edge Infrastructure
This is a strategic hybrid role that merges traditional business development with deep expertise in decentralized, physical-world AI infrastructure. It's new because it focuses on selling and deploying AI *at the edge*—on drones, vehicles, and remote sensors—rather than in centralized data centers. It's emerging now due to the rapid militarization of AI, the need for real-time processing in disconnected environments, and the shift from selling software licenses to selling integrated hardware-software systems for national security and critical infrastructure.
Manager of Solutions Architecture, Applied AI (Industries)
This is a strategic hybrid role that merges deep industry-specific expertise with applied AI solution design and team leadership. It's new because it's not just about implementing generic AI tools, but about architecting custom, end-to-end AI systems that transform core business operations within a specific vertical (e.g., finance, healthcare, manufacturing). The role is emerging now because enterprises are moving beyond pilot projects and require leaders who can translate complex industry workflows into scalable, reliable, and ethical AI solutions, ensuring they deliver tangible business value while managing cross-functional teams of AI engineers, domain experts, and stakeholders.
Senior Threat and Attack Research Engineer
This is a next-generation cybersecurity role focused on proactively hunting for and exploiting vulnerabilities in AI/ML systems—a field known as adversarial machine learning. It's new because it moves beyond defending traditional IT infrastructure to offensively testing and breaking the AI models and autonomous systems that are now central to defense and security products. The role is emerging urgently because as AI becomes embedded in critical military and security applications (like Anduril's autonomous drones), understanding and hardening these systems against novel AI-specific attacks has become a national security priority.
Forward Deployed Engineer, Applied AI
A Forward Deployed Engineer in Applied AI is a hybrid role that combines AI solution engineering with direct, on-site client implementation—unlike traditional AI engineers who typically build models in-house or data scientists who focus on analysis. This role is emerging because enterprises need tailored, real-world deployment of cutting-edge AI (like large language models) directly into their specific workflows and systems, requiring professionals who can both adapt AI tools to unique business constraints and rapidly iterate based on live feedback. The rise of powerful, API-accessible AI models has created demand for engineers who can bridge the gap between generic AI capabilities and production-ready, client-specific applications.
Strategic AI/BI Account Executive
The Strategic AI/BI Account Executive is a new sales role specifically designed to sell complex AI and business intelligence platforms to enterprise clients, focusing on how these technologies can transform core business operations and strategy. It differs from traditional software sales by requiring deep technical fluency in AI/ML workflows and data architectures, as the executive must consult on how to operationalize AI, not just license software. This role is emerging now because enterprises are shifting from experimental AI projects to strategic, company-wide deployments, creating demand for sellers who can bridge executive strategy, data engineering, and ROI-driven use cases.
Methodology
This report is compiled from 2,073 active job postings scraped from 40 AI and technology companies. Jobs are categorized using NLP into role clusters, and skills are extracted and ranked by frequency. Company hiring trends are tracked weekly with growth indicators. Data is refreshed every week.
Explore detailed job listings, company profiles, and skill deep-dives on the AI Jobs Radar.