AI Jobs in Raleigh
The Research Triangle Hub
Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle with IBM, Cisco, SAS, and thriving biotech.
Land $130K-$220K+ roles in one of America's best tech markets.
Research Triangle Is Growing.
Standing Out Takes Strategy.
Duke, NC State, and UNC pump out AI talent, making local competition academically strong.
Pharma and biotech companies want AI engineers who understand life sciences applications.
Research roles differ from product engineering. Knowing which path fits you matters.
Your Research Triangle AI Strategy.
The World-Class AI Engineer Cohort
Understand what Research Triangle employers want. Position yourself for roles at IBM, SAS, biotech firms, and growing startups with Triangle-specific portfolio and interview prep.
Map the Triangle Market
Enterprise vs pharma vs startup approach
Triangle-Ready Portfolio
Projects that resonate with local employers
Land Your Role
Interview prep for Research Triangle companies
Meet Your Mentor
My aim has been the same for years: become a world-class AI engineer. Every career move I've made has been measured against that.
I started as a software tester on a $500/month internship in the Netherlands. Taught myself to code, learned to ship real systems, and worked my way to Senior Engineer at GitHub.
Then I left GitHub. I joined an AI research lab as Member of Technical Staff, where I currently build products for secure AI monitoring.
The cohort draws directly from my real experience so you can make progress fast.
I run this special cohort with only a few people because hands-on work with me is what it takes to bring you to become a world-class AI engineer.
Real Results
Vittor
AI Engineer
Built and deployed his portfolio piece, then landed the AI role
"The coaching played a huge part in my success. I focused on AI fundamentals, the certification path, and soft skills like professional writing. Having access to expert guidance gave me confidence during interviews and helped me feel I was on the right path.
I built my own platform (simple but functional) and deployed it on AWS. I used it in my portfolio and showcased it during interviews. The way complex topics were explained, especially the restaurant analogy for AI systems, really stuck with me. Focusing on doing the basics well was absolutely essential."
What You Will Get
8 Weekly Tuesday Sessions
3 hours each for 24 live hours total.
Project Scoping at Kickoff
We set the scope of what you'll ship and the milestones to get there before the live sessions start.
Code Reviews
Reviews of your code from Zen during the cohort.
Lifetime Demo Access
Every architecture demo is recorded and yours to keep.
Demo Day
You present what you built and get feedback from Zen, with a recording you can use in your portfolio.
12 Months Community Access
Included with the cohort.
Research Triangle AI Investment Grows in 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What do AI engineers earn in Raleigh?
Raleigh AI engineer salaries range from $120K-$150K for junior roles to $170K-$220K+ for senior positions. SAS, IBM, and Cisco pay competitively with national tech rates. The key advantage is significantly lower cost of living than coastal hubs. No state income tax on some retirement income and reasonable property taxes make your effective compensation go further.
What companies hire AI engineers in Raleigh?
The Research Triangle has diverse AI employers: IBM maintains a major presence with AI research and enterprise solutions. SAS headquarters focuses on analytics and AI products. Cisco has significant AI and networking teams. Biotech and pharma companies like Biogen need AI for drug discovery. Red Hat brings open source AI work. Growing startups benefit from university partnerships with Duke, NC State, and UNC.
How much time will this take?
You'll spend 3 hours every Tuesday in the live session and roughly 3 hours of async work in between, for 8 weeks. The Tuesday session time is fixed.
I've signed up for cohorts before and dropped out. How is this different?
It probably isn't, and you should hold the money. Most cohort dropouts are people who couldn't articulate what they were shipping when they signed up. That's why the consult exists, and why I turn down most applications. If we get on the call and you can't tell me what you'll have shipped at the end of week 8, I'll point you to the AI Native Engineer community until you can.
I'm not pivoting careers. I want to build a product. Does this still work?
Yes, the cohort works for people shipping their first serious AI system whether the goal is to land a senior role or to launch a product. The shipped system serves both equally well.
Do I need prior AI experience?
You need to be able to code in Python or TypeScript. Complete beginners can follow the classroom they get access to before the cohort sessions to come in well-prepared.
What does it cost?
It's a four-figure investment that we discuss during the 30-minute consult, alongside whether the cohort is the right fit for your project.
Can I do this while working full-time?
Yes, most attendees do. The live session is one Tuesday a week and the async work fits around your existing schedule, as long as you can carve out roughly 6 hours a week.
I accept those who have the highest chance of success.
In the 30-minute call we discuss your goals and whether you are ready for the program.