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About This Role
Department Information
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If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.
In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:* Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system
- Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined.
- Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans. Member Contribution Rates. Correctional Officers I\-IV qualify as "Safety Officers" and are eligible for increased PERA benefits.
- Medical and dental health plans
- Short and long term disability coverage
- Paid life insurance
- 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
- Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.
- Visit State of Colorado Employee Benefits. for more information.
Who May Apply:
A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non\-residents of Colorado. However, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed in this job announcement. Job Location:This vacancy is for the Buena Vista Correctional Complex.
The resulting eligibility list may be used to fill future vacancies.
\*\*We are pleased to share that the CDOC has collaborated with Fading West Development LLC (FWD) to assist our employees with housing in the Buena Vista Area. They are located in the Farm neighborhood near shopping, restaurants, a fitness center and work.
- *CDOC cannot guarantee housing, and does not operate the housing**.*
Description of Job
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This Correctional Support Licensed Trades Supervisor I (CSLTS I) is a Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor responsible for the Buena Vista Correctional Complex; a Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) prison facility in Buena Vista, CO. Primary responsibilities include: ensuring the safety and security of the general public, staff and inmates, ensuring facility fleet vehicles are maintained, performing metal fabrication and supervising inmate workers. An ASE Certification and CDL class A license is required to repair and operate facility vehicles. Position promotes the CDOC Mission, Vision and Values while adhering to a high level of integrity and commitment.
Safety and Security \- This position maintains the safety and security of facility and work sites; through clear and accurate communication; trains and guides staff and inmates in the proper use of controlled items, keys, tools, equipment and chemicals. Through conscientious observation, clear communications and adherence to agency Administrative Regulations, facility Implementation Adjustments, Operational Memorandum, and the Code of Penal Discipline, this position promotes a safe and secure environment.
This position is subject to facility call back or working additional hours or shifts to maintain safety and security.
Supervision \- This position provides safety and security through the supervision of assigned staff who supervise and train inmate workers, promoting a high level of performance by setting the work standard according to agency mission, vision, and values. This position trains and instructs staff and inmates in the appropriate use of all relevant tools, equipment and procedures to ensure efficient, safe, and effective completion of assigned tasks by stressing safe construction practices and the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for self, staff, and inmates; and by exemplifying a professional workforce that embodies honesty, integrity and ethical behavior.
Staff Supervision \- participates in the hiring process by interviewing candidates and making recommendations; by preparing and conducting performance plans and evaluations; Assigns tasks, monitors and inspects work progress and ensures assigned staff receive required training; position coaches and mentors staff in regards to agency supervision and other processes in preparation for career growth and opportunity.
Inmate Supervision \- participates in the interview and hiring process; trains inmate workers in preventive maintenance, inspection and repairs for the facility fleet vehichles; monitors project progress, inspects work and ensures timely completion of tasks. Performs inmate evaluations, tracks and calculates inmate hours and pay, creates schedule and assigns tasks and resolves informal grievances according to agency policy; reduces inmate idleness and creates real life work opportunities to prepare inmates for community reentry.
Operations: position operates state owned garage and oversees the facility fleet of automobiles, to include: passenger cars, pickup trucks, heavy duty trucks and heavy construction equipment; trains inmates and performs "hands on" work to diagnose, repair and complete all regularly scheduled manufacturer recommended maintenance; performs oil changes, tire rotation, fueling and repairs of all major equipment systems such as electrical, engine, air conditioning and suspension, as well as regular fluid, filter, bulb and other accessory replacement; may require welding and metal fabrication; tracks mileage and fuel usage and maintains record keeping and reporting for State Fleet Management (SFM).
Position also assists other general maintenance trades with building construction projects throughout the the complex (such as carpentry, drywall, painting, plumbing, electrical, concrete work).
Position operates a variety of vehicles to include heavy equipment (backhoe, bus, and snow plow) and water truck and forklift.
Position works in close proximity to industrial equipment, in varying indoor temperatures and outside during inclement weather.
Tool Room: position manages tool room according to Administrative Regulation (AR) 300\-09, Tool Control. Organizes, monitors, documents and supervises tool room for the Maintenance Department; ensures proper labeling, storing and issuing of tools/equipment along with required documentation in "Tool Issue Log" in order to maintain accountability, safety and security; completes regular inventory and maintains a perpetual inventory of tools, equipment and chemicals/hazardous materials, placing orders for additional tools/equipment and chemicals as needed.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment \& Appeal Rights
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Ensure that the “Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. "See resume" statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the "work experience" section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience:
Four (4\) years of employment experience performing duties in the following: automotive mechanical repair, welding (metal fabrication), and/or heavy construction equipment repair. Experience must include AT LEAST two (2\) years of heavy construction equipment/automotive repair.
*Your experience must be* *clearly described* *within the* *work experience* *section of your application to meet minimum qualifications.*
Necessary Special Requirement:
- Colorado Class B Commercial Driver's License CDL (within 6 months of employment)
License/Certifications:* ASE Certification (Automotive Service Excellence)
Substitution:
Successful completion of a formalized apprenticeship program or degree through an accredited, non\- correspondence vocational or trade school that resulted in demonstrated competencies equivalent to those learned through the required experience may substitute for experience on a year for year basis. Please attach transcripts if you are using this substitution. Transcripts must include the name of the institution, your student ID \#, a listing of the course curriculum, the degree earned and the date awarded.
Required Competencies:* Self motivation
- Tactful and diplomatic interpersonal skills
- Exceptional discernment and decision making skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Determination to pay special attention to details and follow instruction
- Proficiency in vehicle maintenance
- Ability to perform general building maintenance duties
- Ability to fabricate metal and perform welding repairs
- Ability to plan and implement a project from start to finish
- Ability to read blueprints
- Ability to effectively work with inmates through daily supervision and instruction while working in a variety of settings
- Knowledge of and ability to apply security procedures
- Ability to respond to emergency situations involving inmates or physical plant issues
- Determination to follow policy and provide efficient, effective service while utilizing state resources responsibly.
- Ability to climb stairs and ladders and work in high, tight, and confined spaces.
- Self\-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations.
- Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure, and observant throughout their shift.
- Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high\-stakes interaction.
- Ability to read and comprehend the English language
- Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing
Preferred Qualifications:* Related State of Colorado work experience
- Proficiency in welding and metal fabrication
- Proficiency in other construction building trades
- Heavy Construction Equipment Operator experience
ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BY THE CLOSING DATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
Be sure the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and “see resume” statements will not be accepted in lieu of the “Work Experience” section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.
Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.
Please note that while this change in role may constitute a change in title and/or responsibility, salary adjustments are not guaranteed and may be influenced by factors such as internal pay equity, budget constraints, market benchmarks, or the individual’s current compensation level. Any changes to compensation will be determined separately and communicated accordingly.
If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.
If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23\-058\), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution. *In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10\) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10\) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process* Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855\-524\-5627 Mon\-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
\*\*You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records\*\* Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC’s consideration of application for employment.* Must be 21 years of age
- Possess a valid driver’s license. Drivers must maintain a valid, non\-restricted Colorado driver’s license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards (Download PDF reader). Eligibility to drive a State\-owned vehicle, includes holding a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of employment or residency change and meeting specific driving record criteria. Serious traffic violations, including DUIs or reckless driving, can disqualify drivers for up to seven years. All State Vehicles are monitored by telematics for safe operation and employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy while using an agency State Fleet vehicle.
- Possess a high school diploma or GED
- Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601\-15609\. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents.
- Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDOC uses e\-Verify, an Internet\-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. CDOC does not sponsor non\-residents of the United States.
- Successfully pass all modules of the six\-week Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics.
- Possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics
+ Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist
+ Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down
+ Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows
+ Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows
+ Swing a baton in a striking technique
+ Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;
+ Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions
- Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment
- Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security
- Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury
- Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently
- Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations
- Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner
- Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders
- Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments
- Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings
- Willing and able to travel
- Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule
- TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire
Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Should applicant’s background reveal criminal charges, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Department of Corrections with written/official disposition of any charges.
The CDOC is committed to a work environment free from illegal drugs and alcohol. Employees (see exception below) may use marijuana in their personal time but are prohibited from working while under the influence of any substance, including marijuana. A drug test will be administered to all new employees; employees must successfully pass. Random drug screening will occur throughout employment.
Exception: Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified employees are prohibited from the use of marijuana. Health care professionals must check their licensing requirements regarding marijuana use.
Appeal Rights: If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa\_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203\), or faxed (303\.866\.5038\) within ten (10\) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303\) 866\-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801\-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
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After submitting an application, you should receive an immediate email acknowledging your submission. If you do not get the email, please check to ensure you have actually submitted the application and typed the correct email address on the application.
Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked daily as time sensitive correspondence WILL take place via email. You may receive email notifications from a Colorado Dept. of Corrections employee or from this email address: info@governmentjobs.com. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email; if you do not receive correspondence soon after the closing date or if you have questions about this job announcement, please contact Liz Ramos at liz.ramos@state.co.us.
SCHEDULED DATES OF POSSIBLE APPLICANT ASSESSMENTS (I.E., EXAMS, ORAL BOARDS, WRITTEN EXAMS) WILL NOT BE MADE UP. IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW AT THE APPOINTED DATE/TIME, MAKE\-UPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non\-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.
The Colorado Department of Corrections is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre\-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Employee Relations Specialist, Kristen Lange, at doc\_employeerelations@state.co.us or call 719\-728\-0270\.
ALL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITIES AND BUILDINGS ARE TOBACCO FREE.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PROTECTED CLASSES TO APPLY.
Salary Context
This $60K-$84K range is below the median for AI/ML Engineer roles in our dataset (median: $100K across 15465 roles with salary data).
View full AI/ML Engineer salary data →Role Details
About This Role
AI/ML Engineers build and deploy machine learning models in production. They work across the full ML lifecycle: data pipelines, model training, evaluation, and serving infrastructure. The role has evolved significantly over the past two years. Where ML Engineers once spent most of their time on model architecture, the job now tilts heavily toward inference optimization, cost management, and integrating LLM capabilities into existing systems. Companies want engineers who can ship production systems, and the experimenter-only role is fading fast.
Day-to-day, you're writing training pipelines, debugging data quality issues, setting up evaluation frameworks, and figuring out why your model performs differently in staging than it did on your dev set. The best ML engineers are obsessive about reproducibility and measurement. They instrument everything. They know that a model is only as good as the data feeding it and the infrastructure serving it.
Across the 26,159 AI roles we're tracking, AI/ML Engineer positions make up 91% of the market. At Colorado Department of Corrections, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.
Demand for AI/ML Engineers has been strong and consistent. Unlike some AI roles that spike with hype cycles, ML engineering is a foundational need. Every company deploying AI models needs people who can keep them running, and the gap between research prototypes and production systems keeps growing.
What the Work Looks Like
A typical week might include: debugging a data pipeline that's silently dropping 3% of training examples, running A/B tests on a new model version, writing documentation for a feature flag system that lets you roll back model deployments, and reviewing a junior engineer's PR for a new evaluation metric. Meetings tend to be cross-functional since ML touches product, engineering, and data teams.
Demand for AI/ML Engineers has been strong and consistent. Unlike some AI roles that spike with hype cycles, ML engineering is a foundational need. Every company deploying AI models needs people who can keep them running, and the gap between research prototypes and production systems keeps growing.
Skills Required
Python and PyTorch dominate the requirements. Most roles expect experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and familiarity with ML frameworks like TensorFlow or JAX. RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) has become a top-3 skill requirement as companies integrate LLMs into their products. Docker and Kubernetes show up in about a third of postings, reflecting the production focus of the role.
Beyond the core stack, employers increasingly want experience with experiment tracking tools (MLflow, Weights & Biases), feature stores, and vector databases. Fine-tuning experience is valuable but less common than you'd think from reading Twitter. Most production LLM work is RAG and prompt engineering, not fine-tuning. If you have both, you're in a strong position.
Companies that are serious about AI/ML hiring tend to post specific infrastructure details in the job description: the frameworks they use, their model serving stack, their data pipeline tools. Vague postings that just say 'ML experience required' without specifics are often companies that haven't figured out what they need yet.
Compensation Benchmarks
AI/ML Engineer roles pay a median of $166,983 based on 13,781 positions with disclosed compensation. Mid-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $131,300. This role's midpoint ($72K) sits 57% below the category median. Disclosed range: $60K to $84K.
Across all AI roles, the market median is $184,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $244,000. The 90th percentile reaches $309,400. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Engineering Manager ($293,500) and AI Architect ($292,900). By seniority level: Entry: $76,880; Mid: $131,300; Senior: $227,400; Director: $244,288; VP: $234,620.
Colorado Department of Corrections AI Hiring
Colorado Department of Corrections has 5 open AI roles right now. They're hiring across AI/ML Engineer. Positions span Sterling, CO, US, Colorado Springs, CO, US, CO, US. Compensation range: $84K - $115K.
Location Context
Across all AI roles, 7% (1,863 positions) offer remote work, while 24,200 require on-site attendance. Top AI hiring metros: Los Angeles (1,695 roles, $178,000 median); New York (1,670 roles, $200,000 median); San Francisco (1,059 roles, $244,000 median).
Career Path
Common paths into AI/ML Engineer roles include Data Scientist, Software Engineer, Research Engineer.
From here, career progression typically leads toward ML Architect, AI Engineering Manager, Principal ML Engineer.
The fastest path into ML engineering is through software engineering with a self-directed ML education. A CS degree helps, but production engineering skills matter more than academic credentials. Build something that works, deploy it, and measure it. That portfolio project is worth more than a Coursera certificate. For career growth, the fork comes around the senior level: go deep on technical complexity (staff/principal track) or move into managing ML teams.
What to Expect in Interviews
Expect system design questions around ML pipelines: how you'd build a training pipeline for a specific use case, handle data drift, or design A/B testing infrastructure for model deployments. Coding rounds typically involve Python, with emphasis on data manipulation (pandas, numpy) and algorithm implementation. Take-home assignments often ask you to build an end-to-end ML pipeline from raw data to deployed model.
When evaluating opportunities: Companies that are serious about AI/ML hiring tend to post specific infrastructure details in the job description: the frameworks they use, their model serving stack, their data pipeline tools. Vague postings that just say 'ML experience required' without specifics are often companies that haven't figured out what they need yet.
AI Hiring Overview
The AI job market has 26,159 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 2,416 entry-level, 16,247 mid-level, 5,153 senior, and 2,343 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 7% of the market (1,863 positions). The remaining 24,200 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.
The market median for AI roles is $184,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $244,000. The 90th percentile reaches $309,400. Highest-paying categories: AI Engineering Manager ($293,500 median, 28 roles); AI Architect ($292,900 median, 108 roles); AI Safety ($274,200 median, 19 roles).
Demand for AI/ML Engineers has been strong and consistent. Unlike some AI roles that spike with hype cycles, ML engineering is a foundational need. Every company deploying AI models needs people who can keep them running, and the gap between research prototypes and production systems keeps growing.
The AI Job Market Today
The AI job market spans 26,159 open positions across 15 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (23,752), AI Software Engineer (598), AI Product Manager (594). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.
The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (2,416) are outnumbered by mid-level (16,247) and senior (5,153) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 2,343 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.
Remote work availability sits at 7% of all AI roles (1,863 positions), with 24,200 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.
AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $184,000. Top-quartile roles start at $244,000, and the 90th percentile reaches $309,400. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.
Category matters for compensation. AI Engineering Manager roles lead at $293,500 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $122,200. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.
The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Rag (16,749 postings), Aws (8,932 postings), Rust (7,660 postings), Python (3,815 postings), Azure (2,678 postings), Gcp (2,247 postings), Prompt Engineering (1,469 postings), Openai (1,269 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
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