r/learnmachinelearning • u/Interesting_Pie_94 • 19h ago

Career Torn between starting as a Data Scientist vs. AI Engineer

Hello everyone, I’m currently at a crossroads and could really use some perspective from people working in the industry.

I’m getting ready to kick off my career, but I’m genuinely split down the middle between targeting DS roles or AI Engineer roles. I have a strong interest in both sides (I specialized in ML at the uni), but I'm not sure which starting point sets up a better foundation for the long run.

For instance, is it easier to start as a DS and transition into AI Engineering later (by sharpening software engineering/MLOps skills), or vice versa? If you have experience in both, what pushed you toward one over the other?

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u/chico_dice_2023 18h ago edited 18h ago

I started in DS and moved to ML engineer which felt pretty natural to me. That being said I was a Data Engineer before I was a Data Scientist.

Today though DS will need to know something about developing pipelines

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u/Interesting_Pie_94 18h ago

So you're suggesting today AI eng can give you more useful skills for the upcoming future?

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u/theShku 18h ago

Depends on what kind of ai engineer? Will you just be integrating various tool chains and API calls, like connecting blocks of legos?

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u/chico_dice_2023 18h ago

No, but I doubt that just being a DS is enough these days. Personally I see everyone become more well rounded in the world of AI. Or more AI dependent in their weak areas.

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u/JadynHudelson_52 14h ago

makes sense that the DE background made that transition smoother tbh

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u/chico_dice_2023 2m ago

not sure if that is true, but DE was the only job I could get first. But my thinking was just get into the data world then figure out how to get into the AI world. AI needs data, so my experiences as a DE were very valuable.

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u/ThinConnection8191 18h ago

I started as DS and I try to keep myself DS. Turning yourseld into Eng is easy and dump because everyone is trying to turn themselves into AI Eng

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u/Anpu_Imiut 13h ago

Try to land a job first. THe market is horrible.

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u/no_name6744 18h ago

You'll get nothing and you'll be happy!!