No matter how far artificial intelligence (AI) has come, meaningful innovation still depends on the humans who design, train, and apply it. In 2026, skilled professionals use AI to compose everything from computer code to creative assets.
As the technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, organizations across industries are racing to hire the talent behind it. Some businesses are looking to master the tools. Others are looking to develop them. All need experienced professionals to step ahead of the competition. Over the last three years, mentions of AI in job listings have increased by over 600% in the U.S.
Yet true expertise remains in short supply. The demand for AI skills and roles is growing faster than companies and professionals can adapt. Whether you’re looking to hire an AI expert or become one, explore the most in-demand AI jobs* in 2026 to thrive in the future of work.
- AI Engineer
- Machine Learning (MLOps) Lead
- AI Solutions Architect
- AI Agent Architect
- AI Researcher
- AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist
- AI Ethics & Compliance Officer
- AI Data Governance Manager
- GEO/AEO Specialist
- Conversational AI Designer
- AI Creative Director
- AI Content Strategist
- AI Product Manager
- AI Strategist
- AI Enablement Lead
- Chief AI Officer (CAIO)
*These roles are grouped by category and not listed in order of demand.
Top Technical AI Jobs
1. AI Engineer
U.S. job postings for AI engineers rose by 143% year over year in 2025, and LinkedIn ranked this role as the #1 fastest-growing job title in the U.S. in 2026.
Encompassing all specialized AI engineering roles, the title broadly refers to professionals who design, develop and implement AI tools, systems and processes.
These developers not only write the code and build models from scratch; they help product managers and business leaders understand and adopt the technology.
2. Machine Learning (MLOps) Lead
Building AI is one thing; operationalizing it is another. AI operations and MLOps leads are responsible for managing how machine learning models are deployed, monitored, and maintained in real-world environments.
These leaders ensure AI systems perform reliably at scale, overseeing infrastructure, automation pipelines, model retraining, and governance. Their work turns AI from a prototype into a business-critical system.
Last year, enterprise AI deployment reached record levels, and the MLOps market is projected to grow to $39 billion by 2034.
3. AI Solutions Architect
Entering 2026, 88% of businesses have used AI in at least one business function, and leaders everywhere plan to incorporate it into more. However, efficient adoption and integration remain a challenge. Across industries, companies are struggling to move critical AI projects forward.
Combining extensive research with experience, AI solutions architects assess which AI tools, products or services would be best for a company to build or use. Then, they help develop and implement the systems themselves, leading AI projects from proof of concept to completion.
While Ops leads ensure AI runs reliably at scale, Solutions Architects make sure it solves the right business problem.
4. AI Agent Architect
Imagine if AI could plan a launch, allocate budget, test messaging, and optimize performance without you having to prompt it through each task. Agentic AI doesn’t require the constant direction that generative AI does, but it does need architects to set it up for success.
AI agent architects orchestrate how autonomous AI models collaborate, when humans stay in the loop, and how guardrails are enforced. These professionals are responsible for ensuring agents behave predictably and meet performance standards.
As AI agent architects empower enterprises to multiply their efforts, they’re quickly growing in demand. 88% of leaders say they’re increasing their budgets for agentic AI, and 66% of AI agent adopters say they’re delivering measurable value through increased productivity.
5. AI Researcher
As every innovation begins with experimentation, AI researchers are the people who make the technology possible. They’re responsible for planning AI experiments, performing analysis, and publishing papers that advance projects, brands, and the field at large.
In recent years, organizations have exponentially increased their AI research efforts, publishing over tens of thousands of papers each year. Even during headcount reductions, many tech companies continued to prioritize and fill these roles.
AI researchers were also named among the top 5 fastest growing US jobs in 2026 by LinkedIn, and the demand for research scientists is expected to grow 20% by 2034.
Top Security & Governance AI Jobs
6. AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist
The smartest AI models often have the most complex risks. From prompt injection to data poisoning, these systems face unique threats that traditional cybersecurity simply isn’t built to catch. Companies need experts who can think like attackers to keep their infrastructure safe.
AI security specialists and “red teamers” act as ethical AI hackers. They launch simulated attacks to expose weaknesses, stress-test guardrails, and ensure models can’t be manipulated into generating harmful outputs.
With cyber threats evolving alongside technology, the financial commitment to defense is massive: Gartner forecasts that global spending on AI cybersecurity alone will total $2.5 trillion in 2026.
7. AI Ethics & Compliance Officer
In 2026, companies cannot afford to treat AI governance as an afterthought. Whether your organization is developing its own models or integrating third-party tools, you need to ensure everything you create is safe, ethical, and legally compliant.
This is the chief responsibility of AI ethics and compliance officers. Beyond developing your AI usage policies, they can help you audit systems for bias, enforce data privacy, and navigate global regulations like the EU AI Act.
From legislation to public concern, the push for accountability is reshaping corporate structure; experts predict that 60% of enterprises will establish AI ethics boards by the end of 2026.
8. AI Data Governance Manager
An AI model is only as good as the information it’s trained on. If that data is disorganized, inaccurate, or insecure, the AI will fail.
Data governance managers ensure all data used for AI projects is clean, accessible, and accurate. They define who has access to what information, ensure data quality standards are met, and manage compliance with privacy laws. Their work bridges the gap between IT, legal, and business teams.
As organizations realize that data strategy is AI strategy, the global AI data management market is expected to reach over $46 billion in 2026 and quadruple by 2031.
Top Creative & Marketing AI Jobs
9. GEO/AEO Strategist
By 2028, web traffic from traditional search engines is predicted to decrease by 50% due to the rise of AI-powered search.
In preparation, forward-thinking organizations are increasingly investing in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) expertise. GEO strategists, also known as AEO or AIEO experts, help companies improve how they’re surfaced, summarized, and cited by generative engines.
Blending SEO, content strategy, and technical AI knowledge, they optimize content to ensure organizations stay discoverable in an AI-first world.
10. Conversational AI Designer
Today’s chatbots and voice assistants are not the same as yesterday’s. Once limited to a few scripted responses, they’re now able to understand context, generate answers, and even perform complex tasks with the power of AI.
However, making these interactions feel natural requires more than just code; it takes a human touch. Combining UX design, script writing, and behavioral psychology, conversational AI designers craft the AI’s dialogue flow and personality. They’re responsible for the entire user journey, ensuring the AI can handle interruptions, context changes, and hesitation.
The global conversational AI market is projected to reach nearly $50 billion by 2030, and companies across industries are racing to automate support where possible.
11. AI Creative Director
Art direction. Copywriting. Video animation. You name it; AI can generate or elevate it, but not without creative directors to lead the way. While some critics remain skeptical, most creative teams are now bringing AI into their workflows, and the potential is almost undeniable.
Despite the limitations of present-day technology, skilled creative directors can already use it to produce award-winning work in a fraction of the time. But to do so, it takes a rare combination of technical prowess and creative expertise.
While companies are increasingly hiring for “AI creative directors,” even more are seeking creative directors who possess AI skills and can stay up-to-date on the latest trends.
12. AI Content Strategist
Even linguistics experts and present-day AI writing detectors struggle to tell the difference between AI-generated content and human text at times. There’s no question that the quality and accuracy of such content widely varies. However, the results aren’t just a testament to the technology; they’re a reflection of the user.
To produce effective content at record speeds, companies require skilled strategists who combine editorial instincts with AI fluency. These professionals guide how teams use generative tools to plan, scale, and optimize content while maintaining clarity, voice, and brand standards.
Although some leaders remain reluctant to lean on AI experts for content, AI-assisted writing has become standard practice in 2026, and AI writing skills are growing in demand.
Top Leadership & Enablement AI Jobs
13. AI Product Manager
Hundreds of new AI products seem to launch every few months, but studies show that 95% of AI pilots fail. The AI product manager’s role is to close the gap between technology and business to ensure their products are among the 5% that succeed.
From concept to market, these experts are responsible for directing the full product lifecycle. They define the vision for AI-driven products, prioritize features, and ensure that AI solutions meet customer needs.
As opportunities for new products, tools and startups grow with the technology, so do opportunities for AI product managers. Entering 2026, they’ve become increasingly popular at startups, tech companies, and brands across industries.
14. AI Strategist
As AI transforms jobs, work and businesses everywhere, AI strategists help organizations navigate the shift. These professionals evaluate where AI can drive value, assess readiness, and define scalable strategies that align with business goals.
Rather than focusing on technical development, AI strategists shape implementation roadmaps, prioritize use cases, and empower companies to get started with AI or elevate their practices. This expertise is especially in demand at mid-size and large companies where transformation depends on coordination across teams.
Gartner research reveals that most companies either have or plan to appoint AI experts to steer their strategy by the end of the year.
15. AI Enablement & Literacy Lead
While AI strategists set the direction, AI enablement and literacy leads drive adoption. These experienced AI experts help teams integrate the tools into their day-to-day workflows and close skill gaps through training, onboarding, and change management.
These professionals act as internal advisors and educators, helping organizations maximize the impact of their AI investments. They often lead cross-functional programs that bring together product, operations, and talent teams.
Recognizing the value of AI and the people behind it, over 90% of business leaders are budgeting for AI tools, upskilling, or enablement in 2026.
16. Chief AI Officer (CAIO)
Tasked with leading the AI revolution, chief AI officers (CAIOs) oversee both enterprise-wide AI strategy development and ethical implementation, ensuring that every AI investment aligns with business objectives.
While most companies don’t yet have full-time CAIOs in place, the demand continues to grow for fractional CAIOs. These leaders act as part-time executives for organizations that don’t yet have the capital or need for a full-time hire. In 2024, the White House required all federal agencies to create this role, and organizations across industries have since followed suit.
A 2025 CAIO Survey from IBM revealed that 1 in 4 companies now have CAIOs, and 66% expect most companies to hire CAIOs within two years.
Final Thoughts
As 2026 goes into full swing, the nature of AI jobs, the demand for talent, and your work itself are tentative to change as rapidly as AI tools. Keeping up isn’t easy, but it is essential.
Companies are paying professionals with AI skills 56% more than those without. If you know you need to make a hire or a career shift, but you’re not sure where to begin, don’t wait to act. Keep researching roles, seek expert guidance, and embrace the challenge of change.
AI isn’t just a trend; it’s the future, but it only works as well as you do. In 2026 and beyond, the employers and jobseekers with the strongest AI skills will be the ones to thrive. Join them.
It takes human talent to use AI to its fullest potential.
Onward Search specializes in talent and solutions at the intersection of creative and technology. For nearly 20 years, we’ve helped many of our 3K+ clients hire AI experts to develop chatbots, drive content automation, and advance AI initiatives. We also offer interactive training and full-scale enablement to help teams power productivity and creativity.
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