Archive · 28 Aug 2026
AI Pushes Companies Toward Polymath Engineers and Skills-Based Hiring
Companies are using AI to handle many repetitive engineering tasks.
Because of this, they want engineers who can do more than one narrow job.
These workers may understand technology, business, customers, and other fields.
They still need deep knowledge in at least one or two areas.
They also need to learn quickly and use AI tools.
Jobs such as product manager and Forward Deployed Engineer increasingly require these mixed skills.
Employers are also paying more attention to what people can do than where they studied.
Experts expect this kind of worker to become normal for senior jobs within three to five years.
AI is automating routine technical work, increasing demand for engineers who combine technical depth with broader business and creative skills.
Experts define polymath engineers as professionals with deep expertise in one or two areas who can connect adjacent disciplines and use AI tools effectively.
More than 60 per cent of enterprise leaders reportedly struggle most with solving problems across functions, driving demand for hybrid roles.
Forward Deployed Engineers, GTM Engineers, technical product managers, and transformation leaders are among the roles seeking cross-functional capabilities.
TeamLease Digital says 27-30 per cent of employers have adopted skills-based hiring, while over 60 per cent of Product Engineer postings require AI expertise.
- Who
- Companies, engineers, and hiring experts including Rob Vatter, Anuj Agrawal, and Neeti Sharma.
- What
- Companies are increasingly seeking polymath or T-shaped engineers who combine technical expertise, AI fluency, and cross-functional business skills.
- When
- The article was published on August 28, 2026; experts describe a trend expected to develop further over the next three to five years.
- Where
- The trend is discussed across enterprise workplaces, including India’s SaaS and AI economy.
- Why
- AI is automating routine work, while business problems increasingly span engineering, data, cloud, security, regulation, and commercial outcomes.
- Definition
- A polymath engineer has genuine depth in one or two areas and enough knowledge of adjacent disciplines to connect them.
- Enterprise challenge
- More than 60 per cent of enterprise leaders say solving problems across functions is their biggest challenge.
- Hiring trend
- Between 27 and 30 per cent of employers have adopted skills-based hiring.
- Product engineering
- Over 60 per cent of Product Engineer postings require AI expertise.
- Role examples
- Forward Deployed Engineers, GTM Engineers, technical product managers, and transformation leaders are cited as hybrid roles.
- Workforce shift
- Since ChatGPT’s launch, structured and repetitive cognitive roles reportedly fell 10-15 per cent, while analytical, creative, and leadership-intensive work grew 20-22 per cent.
- Forecast
- Neeti Sharma expects polymathic hiring to become a baseline expectation within three to five years.