AI Engineer
Also known as: Artificial Intelligence Engineer · AI Developer · GenAI Engineer
Builds applications on existing AI services and language models, connects them to business data and controls the risks in their output.
The AI engineer builds working applications with available models and services, from search to an assistant inside an existing process. Unlike the machine learning engineer, this role rarely trains a model itself, since the work lies in integration, context, evaluation and covering failure behaviour. Selection gets stuck on enthusiasm about the technology, while the differentiator is setting up an evaluation that proves the application is good enough and recognising cases where the model answers convincingly but wrongly.
Competencies to measure
These are the behavioural and ability constructs in this profile. Each one shows which hrmforce questionnaire measures it.
| Competencies to measure | Target level | hrmforce instrument | Assessment method | Behavioural anchor at target level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical reasoning Knockout | N4 | Ability Scan | Cognitive ability test | Combines two data sources, calculates the development over time and explains which calculation step leads to which result. |
| Curiosity and exploring Competency (50-framework): Learning Ability | N3 | Big Fifty, 15PF, Motivation | Personality questionnaire | Gathers information on new methods outside the own team and brings findings into the work meeting unprompted. |
| Dealing with ambiguity Competency (50-framework): Flexibility | N3 | Big Fifty, Mental Resilience (4C), Competency Check | Situational Judgement Test | Formulates explicit assumptions when information is missing, proceeds on that basis and revises the approach once new data arrives. |
Short profile
The ten heaviest skills in this profile. The full profile with every skill, behavioural anchor and assessment method is in the download.
| T | Skill | Target level | Weight | Knockout | Assessment method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Numerical reasoning | N4 | 5 | yes | Cognitive ability test |
| V | Data analysis | N4 | 5 | yes | Work sample test |
| V | Programming | N4 | 5 | yes | Work sample test |
| V | Prompting and task delegation to AI | N4 | 5 | no | Work sample test |
| V | Evaluating and verifying AI output | N4 | 5 | no | Work sample test |
| V | Selecting and implementing AI applications | N4 | 5 | yes | Structured interview |
| V | Critical thinking and source evaluation | N4 | 4 | no | Work sample test |
| V | Visual communication and data storytelling | N4 | 4 | no | Work sample test |
| V | Data visualisation | N4 | 4 | no | Work sample test |
| V | Assessing data quality | N4 | 4 | yes | Work sample test |
See all 28 skills in the full profile
Assessment instruments for this job
Work sample test
Representative work sample under standardized conditions
Knowledge test (client-specific)
Professional knowledge test, customized for each client
Portfolio
Evaluation of prior work against fixed criteria
Competency Check
Behavioral-Level Competency Assessment
Ability Scan
Aptitude Test: Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract Reasoning Skills
Structured interview
Behavioral interview with a fixed structure
Big Fifty
Personality questionnaire, 150 items, 25 factors
15PF
Personality Profile, a shorter alternative to the Big Fifty
Motivation
Drivers and sources of motivation
360 Feedback
Multiple assessments based on behavioral anchors
Mental Resilience (4C)
Mental Resilience According to the 4C Model
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