Quality Engineering (QE) professionals are well-positioned to transition into AI Improvement Engineering roles due to their deep knowledge of testing, quality assurance, and processes. This transition expands their role significantly – from assuring quality in products to improving the entire system that delivers them. The role demands augmenting traditional QE skillsets with knowledge of AI/ML fundamentals, MLOps, data analysis, and modern DevOps toolchains. Key technical skills include proficiency in AI/ML concepts and workflows, data handling, observability, and automation tools. QEs also need to develop strategic and soft skills, such as mastering continuous improvement methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and Toyota Kata, as well as leadership, coaching, and change management.
In the age of AI, the QE role is evolving to encompass new responsibilities like AI governance, ensuring data quality for AI models, and evaluating model performance and reliability. QEs are shifting towards more advisory and strategic positions, overseeing AI agents and verifying their results. This integration of AI into QE is intended to augment human capabilities, allowing engineers to focus on more strategic aspects while AI handles routine tasks. Emerging roles for transitioning QEs include AI Reliability Engineer, MLOps Engineer, Improvement Engineer, and Engineering Excellence Architect.
Ultimately, Improvement Engineering in AI is about creating a virtuous cycle, using data and AI to drive improvements, leading to better systems, all fueled by a culture that values growth and excellence. This requires cultivating a continuous improvement culture where quality is everyone's responsibility, promoting a blameless culture, and embracing a scientific mindset for experimentation. By following a roadmap of skill development and cultural change, QEs can reinvent themselves, ensuring organizations not only build the right things but also build things the right way, and keep getting better at it.