From Frontend Developer
to AI Engineer
Every AI product needs a frontend.
Your UI skills plus AI knowledge is a powerful combination.
AI Feels Backend-Heavy.
But Users Need Interfaces.
AI tutorials focus on Python and ML, not your JavaScript/TypeScript world.
You want to build AI products but don't know where frontend fits.
You're unsure if you need to abandon frontend or can leverage it.
AI Products Need Great UX.
The World-Class AI Engineer Cohort
ChatGPT's success is partly great UI. AI features need streaming responses, real-time updates, and intuitive interfaces. Combine your frontend skills with AI APIs to build the experiences users actually want.
Learn AI Integration
LLM APIs, streaming, real-time updates
Add Python Basics
Enough to prototype and understand backends
Build AI Interfaces
Chat UIs, AI features, smart components
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.
Full-Stack AI Developers Are Rare
Frequently Asked Questions
What AI roles suit frontend developers?
Several paths: (1) AI Product Engineer - build AI-powered features and interfaces, (2) Full-Stack AI Developer - own end-to-end AI products, (3) AI/UX Specialist - design and build AI interactions. Your streaming knowledge (WebSockets, SSE) is directly applicable to LLM responses. Your state management skills apply to conversation history. React/Vue/Svelte skills transfer to AI chat interfaces.
Do I need to learn Python as a frontend developer?
Some Python helps but isn't always required. Many AI APIs have JavaScript SDKs (OpenAI, Anthropic). For full-stack AI roles, learn enough Python to: call LLM APIs, work with embeddings, and prototype backends. You don't need deep ML knowledge. Focus on: Python basics (2-3 weeks), FastAPI for simple backends, and LangChain.js for JavaScript-native AI development.
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.