IT Manager to AI Engineer
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More than you think. Project management translates to managing AI development lifecycles. Stakeholder communication helps you translate business requirements into technical specs. Vendor management experience applies to evaluating AI platforms and APIs. Systems thinking helps you architect AI solutions. Budget management means you understand cost-performance tradeoffs. You've likely also maintained some technical skills through architecture reviews, technical discussions, and staying current with your teams' work.

The core gaps are usually: 1) Modern Python development (async, type hints, modern tooling), 2) ML/AI fundamentals (transformers, embeddings, fine-tuning concepts), 3) LLM APIs and prompt engineering (OpenAI, Anthropic, local models), 4) Vector databases and RAG architectures, 5) AI deployment patterns (containerization, monitoring, evaluation). The good news: AI coding assistants like Claude and Cursor can dramatically accelerate your technical ramp-up if you know how to use them effectively.

AI PM is a legitimate path that leverages your management experience more directly. AI PMs bridge business and technical teams, define AI product strategy, and manage AI development without writing code daily. If you want to stay closer to leadership while working in AI, this might fit better. However, if you genuinely want to return to building things with your hands, AI engineering is more fulfilling despite the steeper technical ramp. Many ex-managers find the transition to IC work refreshing after years of meetings and politics.

Typically 4-8 months of focused effort. Your timeline depends on: how technical your management role was, how much coding you've maintained, your available study hours, and your target role level. With structured learning and 15-20 hours per week, most IT managers can become job-ready in 6 months. Using AI assistants to accelerate coding practice can compress this further. The key is consistent daily practice over marathon weekend sessions.

No. Companies increasingly value AI engineers who can communicate with executives, manage projects, and understand business context. These skills are rare in junior engineers. Target roles at mid-size companies and enterprises where your maturity is valued over raw coding speed. Avoid early-stage startups optimizing for cheap, fast coders. Position yourself for senior or staff-level roles where technical depth combines with strategic thinking. Your age becomes an asset when you stop competing on the same criteria as new grads.

Possibly initially, but not necessarily long-term. Senior AI engineers often earn $180K-$250K+ in 2026, which matches or exceeds many IT manager salaries. Your first AI role might pay 10-20% less than your management peak, but growth potential is higher. The AI engineering market rewards results over tenure. Many career transitioners reach or exceed their previous compensation within 18-24 months. Consider the opportunity cost of staying in management while AI reshapes the industry.

Not necessarily. While some programming experience is helpful, many of my clients have successfully transitioned from web development, data science, or other technical backgrounds. We'll assess your current skills during our strategy call and create a personalized plan that meets you where you are.

Most clients invest 10-15 hours per week, but this can be flexible based on your schedule. We'll have weekly 1:1 calls plus time for you to work on projects and learning. The key is consistency. Regular, focused effort beats occasional marathons.

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.