Companies face hardware talent crunch amid AI boom
India faces a significant shortage of AI hardware engineers, including HVAC, robotics, and industrial automation specialists, as AI adoption surges. This demand, driven by smart manufacturing, EVs, and data centres, has led to a 35% salary increas...
It is not just the dearth of AI software engineers; India Inc is also grappling with a growing shortage of AI hardware engineers or experts who can handle physical infrastructure to support AI solutions.
The ongoing boom in artificial intelligence has created a high demand for engineers specialising in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; those who design, build, program and maintain robotic systems; and industrial automation specialists, executives at recruitment and search firms told ET.
According to an analysis conducted by recruitment firm Randstad for ET, demand has increased by 178% for robotics technicians, by 90% for HVAC engineers and 45% for industrial automation technicians over the past three years. The AI wave has also created a huge demand for trainers to train and skill the workforce on AI platforms.
“We are seeing a sharp rise in demand for robotics, industrial automation and HVAC specialists driven by smart manufacturing, EVs and data centre growth. Prompt engineering and AI training are among the newest roles created by GenAI adoption,” said Ritu Sethi, partner-technology at ABC Consultants.
The biggest challenge is a shortage of deployable talent, which has led to an about 35% increase in salaries for automation and HVAC specialists, said experts. “Companies across tech, GCCs (global capability centres) and industrial sectors are offering premium compensation, ESOPs, retention bonuses and accelerated career growth to attract this talent,” said Sethi.
There are currently 11,664 vacancies for HVAC engineers in India, more than 4,000 openings for industrial automation engineers and close to 2,000 jobs for robotic engineers, according to the Randstad analysis.
“Every AI application and cloud service runs on a data centre that requires precision cooling, reliable power systems, and continuous maintenance, and professionals with these skills are in short supply globally,” said Sanketh Chengappa, director and business head, Professional Staffing at Adecco India.
One-third of this demand is driven by GCCs, data centre operators and advanced manufacturing organisations. “The AI boom is no longer just a software story, it is creating demand across the entire ecosystem that enables AI deployment,” Chengappa said.
