In the race to harness artificial intelligence, DevOps teams are discovering that their greatest asset isn’t code—it’s the minds behind it.

The IT field is moving swiftly toward automation. According to GitLab, 90% of organizations currently or plan to use AI in the software development process. Yet 81% of professionals say they need more training to fully leverage the technology at work.

This unearths a growing challenge for companies: adapting hiring strategies to attract developers who can thrive in AI-enhanced environments.

As a leading technical recruiting firm, Capstone IT has witnessed firsthand how key competencies have evolved as DevOps teams automate. This article will guide you through those sought-after skills and provide key tips for hiring software developers with AI capabilities.

3 Essential Software Developer Skills for AI-Powered DevOps

Artificial intelligence can boost efficiency and quality across the DevOps lifecycle. However, harnessing its full potential requires strategic software developers who offer more than coding language fluency and data structure expertise. These three skills can separate high-performing, AI-savvy developers from other candidates:

1. Prompt Engineering

There’s a science to effective code generation. While tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can quickly produce blocks of code, they rarely produce optimal outputs straight away. Quality prompts, which provide the context and parameters AI models need for appropriate outputs, are key to streamlined development. That’s why companies are increasingly seeking strong prompt engineers to unlock efficiency in the DevOps lifecycle.

Strong prompt engineers are precise. They communicate instructions with clarity and maintain an iterative mindset. These strengths enable developers to create strong AI commands while experimenting with specific words and sentence structures to produce the best outputs.

2. Problem Formulation

Prompt engineering remains a critical skill for the foreseeable future—but forward-thinking companies must hire with the next phase of software development in mind. As AI models improve their understanding of natural language, Harvard Business Review reports the need for effective problem formulation will rise.

Generative AI has the potential to guide large-scale solutions. For instance, it can offer recommendations for strengthening cybersecurity systems or modernizing legacy applications. However, only developers who can fully and effectively communicate problems can enable AI to produce optimal suggestions.

How can you identify great problem formulators? They’ll show exceptional analytical thinking skills and understand how different parts of a system interact. This will enable them to identify underlying problems—including their scope, variables, and constraints like budget limitations—and the potential ripple effects of solutions. Developers who regularly take this detail-oriented approach can break down complex issues into smaller pieces, which AI models can translate into tailored (rather than generic) suggestions.

3. Innovation

What does it take to hire software developers who will add value to an increasingly streamlined DevOps lifecycle? Seek out creative thinkers. Innovation is a human-driven process that remains largely untouched by highly algorithmic AI.

As developers increasingly step into high-level strategy roles, those who offer both creativity and technical expertise can build upon generated content. Simultaneously, they can identify new opportunities to integrate AI into existing processes.

Innovative software developers are also essential for addressing the ethical and societal implications of AI usage. They bring a human-centric perspective to development, considering factors such as user experience, accessibility, and potential societal impacts that AI models alone might overlook. This perspective empowers developers to drive progress—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—while thinking critically about optimal outcomes.

Optimizing Hiring Strategies for the Future of DevOps

As competition for AI-savvy candidates heightens, it’s important to differentiate your business in the recruiting process and adjust your evaluation tactics. Here are some strategies you can use to hire software developers who can lead your DevOps team toward the future.

Implement practical AI tests within your technical assessments. For a portion of your test, consider requiring candidates to demonstrate or document how they would use AI tools to streamline development processes. Strong candidates will demonstrate critical thinking, carefully crafting prompts and reviewing generated code, rather than simply accepting immediate outputs.
Offer training and development opportunities. AI is still a new terrain for many software developers. However, innovative top talent is likely to seek out companies that are investing in employee upskilling and a culture of continuous learning. Highlighting the AI-focused professional development opportunities you offer can attract professionals who will effectively adapt to the evolving DevOps landscape.
Showcase your company’s cutting-edge AI projects. Candidates will likely be interested in how they’ll be using artificial intelligence at your company. Providing tangible examples of the tools you’ve implemented—as well as case studies or stats about your AI development success—can attract savvy talent who can build upon your organization’s capabilities.
Partner with college programs or coding bootcamps that emphasize AI skills. Incoming graduates are increasingly providing formal training around AI development skills. Focusing on these cohorts, whether by offering internship opportunities or educational programs, allows you to build relationships with future software developers, who can offer critical skills as competition heightens.

Working with an IT staffing firm can further expedite your efforts to hire software developers with strong AI skills. At Capstone IT, our experienced recruiters have extensive networks within the technology field—including access to passive candidates—and deep industry knowledge that allows us to accurately assess applicants’ technical capabilities. Partner with us to gain collaborators who will align our proven IT recruitment processes with your business goals, DevOps hiring needs, and market trends.