How to Become an
AI Technical Lead

Tech Leads guide the technical direction of AI projects. You're still hands-on coding, but you also: define architecture, make technology decisions, mentor other engineers, coordinate technical work across the team, ensure code quality, and communicate with stakeholders. You're responsible for technical success of projects, not people management. Day-to-day: 40-60% coding, 40-60% leadership activities (design reviews, mentoring, planning). The balance varies by company and project phase.

Tech leads own technical direction. Managers own people development. Tech leads: architecture decisions, code quality, technical mentorship, hands-on coding. Managers: hiring, performance reviews, career development, 1:1s, compensation. Some companies combine these roles (tech lead manager), but most separate them. Tech lead is a good path if you want leadership without giving up coding or dealing with HR responsibilities.

Technical: senior-level engineering skills, system design ability, broad knowledge across AI domains. Leadership: mentoring, giving feedback, conflict resolution, facilitating discussions. Project skills: estimation, prioritization, risk management, stakeholder communication. Communication: technical writing, presenting decisions, documenting architecture. The unique combination is deep technical skills plus the ability to guide and influence others.

Typical: 4-7 years total experience, 2-4 years as a senior engineer. You need enough experience to be trusted with technical direction. Fast track: 3-5 years for exceptional engineers who demonstrate leadership early. The path is usually: junior → mid → senior → tech lead. Some companies have formal tech lead levels; others use it informally. Demonstrating leadership before the title helps you get it.

AI Tech Lead: $180K-$250K. Senior Tech Lead / Principal: $230K-$300K+. At FAANG/top AI companies: $300K-$400K+ total comp. Tech lead compensation is typically comparable to senior/staff IC engineers—it's a different role, not necessarily a pay bump. The value is in the experience and broader impact, positioning you for staff engineer or management paths.

Demonstrate tech lead behaviors before the title: lead projects, mentor others, drive technical decisions, write design docs. Volunteer for coordination roles on large projects. Build reputation as someone who makes projects succeed. Ask your manager explicitly for tech lead opportunities. If your team doesn't have openings, look for projects that need technical leadership. The role often comes from being the natural leader on a project, then getting formalized.

Strong: 2+ years as a senior engineer with demonstrated project leadership. Essential: track record of successful projects, respected by peers, experience mentoring. Evidence of informal leadership—people already come to you for guidance. Technical depth that earns respect from the team. Experience with system design and architecture decisions.

Seek project leadership opportunities. Volunteer for cross-team coordination. Mentor junior and mid-level engineers. Write technical proposals and design docs. Present technical decisions to stakeholders. Get comfortable with the non-coding parts of the job while you still have senior IC safety net. The transition is smoother if you've practiced the skills informally.

You become a member of the AI Native Engineer community, and you stay and keep going. Career transitions take different amounts of time for everyone, and I'm not going to abandon you if things take longer. You get ongoing support through good times and bad.

Online courses give you content. 1:1 coaching gives you a personalized roadmap, direct feedback on your work, career strategy, interview prep, and accountability. You get answers to your specific questions and guidance tailored to your unique situation instead of generic advice meant for everyone.

Investment details are discussed during the 30-minute strategy call, where we'll assess your goals and create a custom plan. The program is designed to pay for itself quickly through your increased salary. Most AI engineers see a 20-50% pay increase.

Absolutely. Most of my clients work full-time and make steady progress. We'll schedule calls at times that work for you and create a realistic plan that fits your schedule. Consistency matters more than intensity.