WhatsInDemand / will AI replace…
Will AI replace design engineers?
Based on live job postings — updated November 2026
Not yet — employers aren't cutting design engineers. They're asking them to use AI.
There are 500 live design engineers openings right now. Across the roughly 3,300 fast-growing companies we track, 15% of current design engineers openings now ask for AI skills. The work is changing, not going away.
500live openings
15%ask for AI skills
6%remote
127companies hiring
What AI is actually changing
Employers still ask most for: Communication, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Python, Mechanical Engineering, Collaboration — the parts of the work people are hired to own.
Who's hiring right now
| Company | Open roles |
|---|---|
| SpaceX | 72 |
| Astera Labs | 41 |
| Anduril Industries | 29 |
| K2 Space | 26 |
| Applied Engineering | 18 |
| Skydio | 10 |
See the full Design Engineer data page →