From QA Engineer
to AI Engineer in 8 Weeks
Your testing mindset and quality focus are exactly what AI systems need.
Stop feeling stuck in QA. Build the coding skills to land AI roles paying 50% more.
Your Testing Skills Are Valuable.
But QA Feels Like a Dead End.
You spend your days writing test cases for code you wish you could build yourself.
QA salaries have plateaued while AI engineers earn 50-100% more for similar experience levels.
You understand how software should work, but limited coding experience blocks your path forward.
Your QA Mindset Is Your Secret Weapon.
The World-Class AI Engineer Cohort
AI systems need rigorous testing, edge case thinking, and quality obsession. Most ML engineers skip these skills entirely. Your QA background gives you advantages they will never have. The gap is Python proficiency and ML fundamentals, not starting from zero.
Code Foundation
Build Python skills that complement your testing instincts
AI Testing to Building
Go from testing AI systems to building them
Position Your Edge
Stand out with quality-focused AI engineering
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.
AI Teams Desperately Need Quality Thinking
Frequently Asked Questions
What QA skills actually transfer to AI engineering?
More than you realize. Edge case thinking, systematic debugging, test design, understanding system behavior, and quality obsession all transfer directly. AI systems are notoriously hard to test and validate. Most ML engineers have no testing background and ship brittle systems. Your QA mindset is genuinely rare and valuable in AI.
Can I become an AI engineer with limited coding experience?
Yes, but coding is the primary gap to address. The good news: you do not need years of software engineering. You need focused Python skills, understanding of data structures, and ability to work with ML libraries. Most QA engineers can build sufficient coding skills in 8-12 weeks of dedicated practice. Your analytical mindset actually accelerates learning.
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.