AI Engineer Roadmap (India - 2025 Edition)
Step 1: Strong Foundation (1-2 Months)
Goal: Master programming & math basics
- Languages: Python (most important), some R (optional)
- Math: Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Calculus
- Resources:
- Python: W3Schools, Python Docs
- Math: Khan Academy, 3Blue1Brown (YouTube)
Step 2: Data Handling & Preprocessing (1 Month)
Goal: Learn to work with data
- Tools/Libraries: NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn
- Skills: Data cleaning, transformation, visualization
- Project: Analyze a real-world dataset (Kaggle, UCI)
Step 3: Machine Learning (2-3 Months)
Goal: Understand ML models & pipelines
- Core Concepts: Supervised vs. Unsupervised, Overfitting, Cross-validation
- Algorithms: Linear Regression, Decision Trees, SVM, KNN, Clustering
- Libraries: scikit-learn
- Project: Predict house prices, customer segmentation, etc.
Step 4: Deep Learning (2-3 Months)
Goal: Learn how neural networks work
- Concepts: Neural Networks, CNNs, RNNs, Activation Functions, Loss Functions
- Frameworks: TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch
- Project: Image classifier, sentiment analysis, chatbot
Step 5: Specialized AI Fields (Ongoing)
Goal: Focus on a niche (based on your interest)
- NLP: Text preprocessing, Transformers, BERT, LLMs
- Computer Vision: OpenCV, YOLO, Image segmentation
- Reinforcement Learning: Q-Learning, OpenAI Gym
- MLOps: Docker, Flask/FastAPI, AWS/GCP
Step 6: Portfolio & Resume (1 Month)
Goal: Show proof of work
- Portfolio Website: Use GitHub Pages or a simple HTML/CSS site
- Projects to Include:
- 1 ML Project (e.g., credit risk prediction)
- 1 DL Project (e.g., face mask detection)
- 1 End-to-End (API + ML model deployment)
- Resume Tips:
- Add GitHub, LinkedIn, and relevant certificates
- Focus on outcomes (accuracy %, performance)
Step 7: Start Applying + Practice Interviews
- Job Portals: LinkedIn, Naukri, Hirist, Instahyre
- Interview Prep: Leetcode (Python), System Design (for AI), Behavioral Qs
- Certifications (optional):
- Google AI/ML Certificate
- DeepLearning.AI (Coursera)
- AWS Machine Learning Specialty (for cloud roles)
