Learn OpenAI API for AI Jobs.
Skills Employers Actually Want.
Stop watching tutorials that don't translate to job interviews.
Master production-ready OpenAI API skills that land AI engineering roles.
Tutorial Hell Doesn't Get You Hired.
The API changes constantly. What you learned last month might already be outdated.
You know basic calls, but production cost optimization? Rate limiting? Error handling? That's what interviews test.
No idea which features employers actually care about vs. shiny demos that don't matter.
Production Skills That Get You Hired.
The World-Class AI Engineer Cohort
Employers don't want API tourists. They want engineers who can build reliable, cost-effective AI systems. Learn the patterns that separate portfolio projects from production code.
Master the Fundamentals
Prompting, models, and API architecture
Learn Production Patterns
Error handling, costs, and reliability
Build Job-Ready Projects
Portfolio pieces that impress hiring managers
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.
The API Landscape Moves Fast. Your Career Shouldn't Wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the OpenAI API so important for AI jobs in 2026?
OpenAI's API is the backbone of most production AI applications. While competitors exist, OpenAI remains the default choice for enterprises building AI products. Hiring managers specifically look for candidates who understand GPT-4, embeddings, function calling, and the Assistants API. Knowing these APIs signals you can build real products, not just run notebooks.
Which OpenAI API features should I focus on for job readiness?
Focus on: 1) Chat Completions with system prompts and structured outputs, 2) Function calling for building AI agents, 3) Embeddings for RAG systems, 4) The Assistants API for stateful applications, 5) Cost estimation and token optimization. Skip the image generation and audio APIs unless specifically relevant to your target role.
How important is cost optimization for AI engineering roles?
Critical. Every hiring manager has horror stories of API costs spiraling. Demonstrating you understand token economics, caching strategies, model selection tradeoffs, and batch processing shows you think like a production engineer, not a hobbyist. This is often what separates senior from junior candidates in interviews.
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.