---
title: "Learning path: Software engineer moving into AI"
url: https://manasdasgupta.com/paths/engineer/
description: "You write code and want to build LLM, RAG and agent applications and move into an AI engineering role."
author: Manas Dasgupta
last_verified: 2026-11-12
---

# Learning path: Software engineer moving into AI

> **Bottom line:** You write code and want to build LLM, RAG and agent applications and move into an AI engineering role. Follow the steps in order; each takes minutes, not hours, until the courses.


## Step 1 · Read the short answers
- [What is AI product development?](https://manasdasgupta.com/answers/what-is-ai-product-development/)
- [How do you evaluate an LLM feature before launch?](https://manasdasgupta.com/answers/how-to-evaluate-an-llm-feature/)

## Step 2 · Watch
- Should this feature use AI? A one-page test (11:20)
- Write the evaluation before the feature (14:05)
- Channel trailer: what this channel covers (02:00)

## Step 3 · Read
- [Build, buy or wait: an AI decision framework for technology leaders](https://manasdasgupta.com/writing/build-buy-or-wait/)
- [Evaluation-first: why AI products should be tested before they are built](https://manasdasgupta.com/writing/evaluation-first-ai-products/)

## Step 4 · Go deeper with a course
- [Gen AI - LLM RAG Two in One - LangChain + LlamaIndex](https://manasdasgupta.com/courses/llm-rag-langchain-llamaindex/)
- [Introduction to Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)](https://manasdasgupta.com/courses/introduction-to-retrieval-augmented-generation-rag/)
- [Agentic AI for Cybersecurity](https://manasdasgupta.com/courses/agentic-ai-for-cybersecurity/)
- [Selecting the Right LLM with Hugging Face](https://manasdasgupta.com/courses/selecting-the-right-llm-with-hugging-face/)
- [Troubleshooting Issues with Generative AI](https://manasdasgupta.com/courses/troubleshooting-issues-with-generative-ai/)
- [Practical Data Science using Python](https://manasdasgupta.com/courses/practical-data-science-using-python/)