AI Engineer Salary Negotiation
Get What You're Worth
Most AI engineers leave $30K-$50K on the table.
Learn to negotiate like you know your market value.
You're Underpaid.
And You Know It.
You accepted the first offer because you didn't know how to counter.
You see job postings paying 30-50% more for the same work you do.
You dread salary conversations because you don't know what to say.
Negotiate With Confidence.
The World-Class AI Engineer Cohort
Salary negotiation is a skill. Learn your market value, practice the conversation, and walk into negotiations knowing exactly what to ask for and how to get it.
Know Your Number
Research market rates for your exact skills
Build Your Case
Document your impact and unique value
Execute the Ask
Practice scripts that actually work
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.
Every Month You Wait Costs You Money
Frequently Asked Questions
What if they rescind the offer if I negotiate?
This almost never happens with legitimate companies. Employers expect negotiation. In my experience, fewer than 1% of offers are rescinded due to negotiation, and those were likely bad employers anyway. The far more common outcome: you get more money, better benefits, or both. The risk of not negotiating is guaranteed: you leave money on the table.
When should I bring up salary?
Never give a number first. When asked for salary expectations early, deflect with 'I'd like to learn more about the role first' or 'I'm flexible based on the total package.' Once you have an offer, that's when you negotiate. You have maximum leverage after they've decided they want you but before you've said yes.
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.