Most Indian companies expect big jump in demand for AI software experts by 2030

Eighty-eight per cent of Indian enterprises expect the need for Forward Deployed Engineers to grow by the year 2030. Right now, only one per cent of engineers work in these specialised jobs.

The Survey Details

This finding comes from a new study by the tech education company Scaler and the research firm CyberMedia Research. The survey covered about 1,000 software engineers and 200 tech decision-makers across eight metro cities and select Tier II cities.

Job Role And Hiring Plans

A Forward Deployed Engineer works directly with clients to build and set up software that fits their business needs. Seventy-seven per cent of multinational companies plan to hire these experts within the next year. Ninety-eight per cent of enterprises feel this job will grow far beyond a small, niche position.

Skills Gap And Salaries

About nine in ten engineers said they do not know of a clear training path to prepare for these roles, while 58 per cent want to move into them. Seventy-seven per cent of companies want workers with production deployment skills, but only 19 per cent feel enough talent is available. Sixty-one per cent of enterprises value customer engagement, yet 37 per cent of engineers see it as a major career hurdle. The report adds that 80 per cent of engineers currently in these roles earn between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 1 crore a year, paying up to 30 per cent more than other engineering posts.

Leadership Views

Amar Srivastava, CEO of Scaler's online business and group chief product officer, stated that engineers who connect AI with real business needs will play a vital role. Prabhu Ram, vice-president of CMR's Industry Research Group, noted that building skills in applied AI and problem-solving will help prepare India's workforce.

Context

As companies move past early AI trials and start using the technology in everyday operations, they need workers who understand both coding and business goals. India has a massive engineering talent pool, but experts point out that workers need proper training and a mix of tech and client skills to meet this shifting demand.