We’ve put together a summary of how AI is currently impacting software engineering jobs and hiring. As of early 2025, senior software engineers remain in strong demand, even as artificial intelligence reshapes the way software is built. Companies are adopting a more strategic approach to hiring, prioritizing flexibility, depth of experience, and the ability to thrive in AI-augmented environments.
Current Hiring Trends
- Job postings remained high, with over 220,000 new tech roles listed in January 2025.
- Senior engineers are prioritized, especially those who can work independently, lead projects, and architect systems.
- Non-tech industries are expanding their internal tech teams, outpacing traditional tech companies in total engineering hires.
- Entry-level hiring has slowed, but investment in internal mentorship and development is increasing.
The Evolving Role of Developers
- AI may cover some of the tedious, lower-level tasks of engineering, but it’s not replacing wisdom or talent.
- Senior engineers are becoming orchestrators of complexity, being hired to build and maintain entire systems, making team leadership more valuable than ever
- While the bar to building something has lowered, the challenge remains to build the right thing, which requires human experience and foresight.
- Engineers are “force multipliers”, wielding AI tools to wring the most out of them; nothing beats talented engineers working with powerful AI tools
- Enterprises still want people they can rely on, so if the system breaks, they have engineers who can hop on a call and troubleshoot it
Insights from Mission’s VP of Talent Acquisition and Partnerships, Stephane Balon
We asked our in-house hiring expert on what trends he’s noticing in the world of software talent acquisition. His insights are useful for both those hiring and those seeking jobs in AI development.
- AI tools are accelerating output, allowing senior engineers to ship faster and take on more strategic, high-leverage work.
- Interest in AI is high, but many candidates lack real depth beyond side projects or basic API use.
- Engineers with real ML experience, from model development to deployment in production, are in highest demand.
- Hiring teams must probe deeper, as knowledge of AI may be overstated on resumes.
- Mission pre-vets for applied expertise, ensuring only capable engineers are matched to AI-related roles, better positioning those hiring and the devs seeking work alike.
The Impact of AI on Engineering Roles
- AI is automating routine work, such as code generation, bug triage, and test writing.
- Junior roles are diminishing, while the value of experienced engineers who can supervise and steer AI output is increasing.
- AI literacy is now essential, with engineers expected to understand and integrate AI into pipelines, infrastructure, and development flows.
- New responsibilities are emerging, including prompt engineering, ML system oversight, and AI code validation.
Strategic Hiring in the AI Era
- Companies are sustaining or growing their engineering teams despite the rise of AI tools.
- Internal mobility is growing, with upskilling and role evolution helping fill gaps.
- External hiring is selective, focused on candidates who bring significant domain knowledge, autonomy, and adaptability.
Outlook for 2025–2026
- Growth is expected to continue, especially in sectors undergoing transformation like healthcare, energy, and defense.
- Versatile engineers will stand out, especially those who can span architecture, development, and AI integration.
- Salary increases will track inflation, though AI, cloud, and security specialists may see premium rates.
- The talent shortage persists, with projections showing increasing demand for senior and specialized engineering talent through 2030.
How Mission Can Help
- Mission provides experienced engineers, ready to lead, build, and deliver from day one.
- Our engineers are AI-fluent, already using tools like Copilot and LLMs in real workflows.
- Flexible hiring models are available, from full-time to fractional and short-term engagements.
- Vetting is handled up front, so teams get matched with the right talent faster, avoiding slow hiring cycles and poor fits.
Sources
The Role of a Software Developer in the Age of AI
Will AI Replace Software Engineers?
What Impact Will AI Have on the Demand for Programmers and Software Engineers? (Quora)
The Truth About AI and the Future of Jobs (Builder.io)
AI’s Impact In Its First Year In Software Engineering (Forbes)
What Happens to Software Jobs With the Rise of Generative AI? (Sachin Gupta on LinkedIn)
AI in Software Development: What It Means for Your Team (Pluralsight)
