AI Engineer in Python
Career Path: From zero to job-ready in 10 months
This path takes you from Python fundamentals to deploying production AI systems. You'll start with core programming skills, then learn to work with LLMs through APIs and prompt engineering. From there, you'll build up your data analysis and machine learning skills before moving into embeddings, vector databases, and RAG architectures. Every step includes hands-on guided projects so you finish with a portfolio of real AI applications.
- Beginner friendly
- 10 months (5 hrs/week)
- Self paced
- 30 Courses
- 20 projects
Path overview
Python skills you'll learn
- ✓ Developing core Python programming and tooling skills for AI engineering workflows
- ✓ Interfacing with large language models through APIs, prompt engineering, and tool use
- ✓ Building and deploying production AI applications using FastAPI and Docker
- ✓ Analyzing and visualizing data using pandas, NumPy, and matplotlib
- ✓ Applying supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques with scikit-learn
- ✓ Implementing deep learning models using PyTorch
- ✓ Working with embeddings, vector databases, and semantic search
- ✓ Designing and building retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems
AI Engineer in Python path outline
11 steps · 30 courses
Part 1: Python Introduction [2 courses]
Build a solid Python programming foundation with core syntax, variables, loops, data structures, dictionaries, functions, and APIs. Complete a guided project building a food ordering app to put your skills into practice.
- Course 1
Introduction to Python Programming
4hWrite basic Python programs by working with variables, data types, lists, loops, and conditionals to support simple development tasks.
Course Objectives ▾
- Save and update values using variables
- Process numerical data and text data
- Create and update lists using Python
- Repeat a process using a for loop
- Use logical and comparison operators to apply conditions to variables
- Course 2
Python Dictionaries, APIs, and Functions
6hStructure Python programs by working with dictionaries, functions, and APIs to retrieve data, organize logic, and support larger application workflows.
Course Objectives ▾
- Create and update dictionaries
- Use an API to get information from the web
- Create your own functions
- Complete a project using Jupyter Notebook
Part 2: Intermediate Python [2 courses]
Advance your Python skills with object-oriented programming, decorators, regular expressions, list comprehensions, lambda functions, and error handling. Work with essential developer tooling including the command line, virtual environments, Git, and IDE setup.
- Course 1
Intermediate Python for AI Engineering
12hAdvance your Python development skills by using object-oriented programming, list comprehensions and lambda functions, decorators, regular expressions, and error handling in real projects.
Course Objectives ▾
- Use object-oriented programming (OOP)
- Create and use decorators
- Write regular expressions (regex)
- Use list comprehensions and lambda functions
- Incorporate error handling for user input validation
- Course 2
Tooling Essentials for Python Users
5hExplore essential tooling specifically tailored for Python enthusiasts through practical drills that stick.
Course Objectives ▾
- Master essential command-line tools to navigate, manage, and manipulate files and directories.
- Understand and implement virtual environments and environment variables to manage Python packages and configurations.
- Gain proficiency in using Git for version control to track changes, collaborate on projects, and manage code.
- Evaluate, select, and set up an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to enhance productivity and streamline the Python development process.
Part 3: LLM Fundamentals [3 courses]
Understand the capabilities and limitations of AI chatbots, then learn to work with LLMs programmatically. Use the OpenAI Chat Completions API, manage conversation context and tokens, apply prompt engineering techniques, and implement advanced patterns including function calling and MCP.
- Course 1
AI Chatbots: Harnessing the Power of Large Language Models with Chandra
2hExplore how AI chatbots and large language models are reshaping communication through guided interaction, real examples, and hands-on practice.
Course Objectives ▾
- Understand the basics of AI, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and chatbots.
- Learn how to craft effective prompts and interact with chatbots to improve learning outcomes.
- Explore practical use cases for AI chatbots in education, work, and personal projects.
- Gain hands-on experience using Chandra on the Dataquest platform.
- Course 2
Prompting Large Language Models in Python
6hExamine real-world applications of large language models by designing prompts, managing context, and building AI-driven workflows in Python.
Course Objectives ▾
- Utilize OpenAI's Chat Completions API to generate tailored AI-driven responses
- Manage conversation histories to maintain context in AI conversations
- Create custom Python functions for dynamic interactions with large language models
- Learn prompt engineering techniques to guide AI responses effectively
- Regulate token usage within the OpenAI API framework for efficient scripting
- Adopt best practices in prompt engineering to improve the quality of AI-generated text
- Course 3
Tool Use with LLMs in Python
6hLearn to build reliable LLM systems with structured outputs, function calling, and tool integration. Move beyond basic prompting to create maintainable workflows using validation, agentic loops, and the Model Context Protocol.
Course Objectives ▾
- Generate validated, structured outputs from LLM responses
- Implement agentic loops that handle multi-step tool execution
- Create reusable tool servers using the Model Context Protocol
- Design prompt templates and pipelines for reliability
- Handle errors and validation failures in LLM workflows
Part 4: AI Application Development [2 courses]
Deepen your API skills with authentication, rate limits, and query parameters, then build a multi-provider LLM gateway. Learn to create production AI APIs with FastAPI and deploy complete AI services using Docker and Docker Compose.
- Course 1
APIs for AI Applications
6hExplore APIs with Python to retrieve real-world data for AI-focused analysis and applications.
Course Objectives ▾
- Utilize APIs with GET requests.
- Master API query parameters, pagination, and JSON handling for AI applications in Python.
- Understand and apply various API authentication methods for AI data access.
- Course 2
Building AI Apps with FastAPI
10hBuild and deploy an LLM-powered API using FastAPI, Docker, and Docker Compose. From creating HTTP endpoints to running hardened, multi-container stacks.
Course Objectives ▾
- Build LLM-powered APIs with FastAPI using Pydantic validation and async operations
- Write Dockerfiles to containerize FastAPI applications
- Define multi-service architectures with Docker Compose configuration files
- Connect application services to PostgreSQL and persist data with volumes
- Apply production-ready patterns including health checks, multi-stage builds, non-root users, and image version tagging
Part 5: Data Analysis and Visualization [3 courses]
Learn to analyze and visualize data using pandas, NumPy, and matplotlib. Cover data cleaning, aggregation, combining datasets, string manipulation, and handling missing data. Build visualizations including line graphs, scatter plots, bar charts, and histograms.
- Course 1
Introduction to Pandas and NumPy for Data Analysis
13hDevelop practical skills with NumPy and pandas to explore, clean, and analyze data efficiently using real datasets and guided practice.
Course Objectives ▾
- Improve your workflow using vectorized operations
- Select data by value using Boolean indexing
- Analyze data using pandas and NumPy
- Course 2
Introduction to Data Visualization in Python
7hApply statistical reasoning to visualization by combining Python plotting tools with sound design choices to communicate patterns, trends, and insights clearly.
Course Objectives ▾
- Visualize time series data with line plots
- Define correlations and visualize them with scatter plots
- Visualize frequency distributions with bar plots and histograms
- Improve your exploratory data visualization workflow using pandas
- Visualize multiple variables using Seaborn's relational plots
- Course 3
Data Cleaning and Analysis in Python
11hPractice cleaning and preparing messy datasets in Python by aggregating, reshaping, and combining data for efficient, real-world analysis.
Course Objectives ▾
- Employ data aggregation techniques
- Combine datasets
- Transform and reshape data
- Clean strings and resolve missing data
Part 6: Probability and Statistics [5 courses]
Build a strong statistical foundation covering sampling, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and variability, probability rules, conditional probability, Bayes' theorem, and hypothesis testing. Apply these concepts through guided projects with real-world data.
- Course 1
Introduction to Statistics in Python
8hPractice core statistical techniques in Python to sample data, analyze variables, and visualize frequency distributions for real projects.
Course Objectives ▾
- Sample data using simple random sampling, stratified sampling, and cluster sampling
- Measure variables in statistics
- Create frequency distribution tables
- Course 2
Intermediate Statistics in Python
8hDevelop practical skills to summarize distributions, measure variability, and compare values using core statistical tools in Python.
Course Objectives ▾
- Summarize a distribution using the mean, the weighted mean, the median, or the mode
- Measure the variability of a distribution using the variance and the standard deviation
- Compare values using z-scores
- Course 3
Introduction to Probability in Python
4hBuild a practical foundation in probability using Python, covering random experiments, core rules, and counting techniques used in data analysis.
Course Objectives ▾
- Estimate theoretical and empirical probabilities
- Employ the fundamental rules of probability
- Employ combinations and permutations
- Course 4
Introduction to Conditional Probability in Python
5hExtend probability fundamentals to conditional reasoning, independence, and prior knowledge, culminating in a Naive Bayes spam filter.
Course Objectives ▾
- Assign probabilities based on conditions
- Assign probabilities based on event independence
- Assign probabilities based on prior knowledge
- Create spam filters using multinomial Naive Bayes
- Course 5
Hypothesis Testing in Python
3hPractice hypothesis testing in Python by running chi-square and permutation tests to evaluate real-world outcomes and statistical significance.
Course Objectives ▾
- Perform a permutation test
- Perform significance testing to understand an outcome's importance
- Define regular and multi-category chi-squared tests
Part 7: Machine Learning Foundations [4 courses]
Learn the machine learning workflow with supervised techniques like K-nearest neighbors and unsupervised methods like K-means clustering. Build the mathematical foundation with calculus and linear algebra essential for understanding how ML models work under the hood.
- Course 1
Introduction to Supervised Machine Learning in Python
7hDevelop a supervised machine learning workflow for classification by training, evaluating, and tuning models with scikit-learn on real-world datasets.
Course Objectives ▾
- Establish a machine learning workflow
- Implement the K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm for a classification task from scratch using Pandas
- Implement the K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm using scikit-learn
- Evaluate a machine learning model
- Find optimal hyperparameter values using grid search
- Course 2
Introduction to Unsupervised Machine Learning in Python
5hApply unsupervised machine learning techniques by building, evaluating, and interpreting k-means models to segment and explore unlabeled data.
Course Objectives ▾
- Identify applications of unsupervised machine learning
- Implement a basic k-means algorithm
- Evaluate and optimize the performance of a k-means model
- Visualize the model
- Build a k-means model using scikit-learn
- Course 3
Calculus For Machine Learning
2hExplore the calculus concepts that power machine learning, from rates of change and derivatives to the mechanics behind optimization algorithms.
Course Objectives ▾
- Define mathematical functions using calculus
- Employ intermediate machine learning techniques
- Course 4
Linear Algebra For Machine Learning
2hBuild hands-on linear algebra skills for machine learning by working with vectors, matrices, and systems used in real ML models.
Course Objectives ▾
- Define linear systems using linear algebra
- Employ intermediate machine learning techniques
Part 8: Intermediate Machine Learning with Python [5 courses]
Dive deeper into machine learning with linear regression, gradient descent, logistic regression, decision trees, and random forests. Learn feature engineering, model selection, cross-validation, and regularization to optimize model performance.
- Course 1
Linear Regression Modeling in Python
4hModel and interpret relationships between variables by constructing, evaluating, and applying linear regression for inference and prediction.
Course Objectives ▾
- Describe a linear regression model
- Construct a linear regression model and evaluate it based on the data
- Interpret the results of a linear regression model
- Use a linear regression model for inference and prediction
- Course 2
Gradient Descent Modeling in Python
3hOptimize machine learning models by implementing and applying gradient descent techniques to efficiently train and improve predictive performance.
Course Objectives ▾
- Code a basic Gradient Descent algorithm
- Recognize the limitations of basic Gradient Descent
- Contrast the basic Batch and Stochastic Gradient Descent uses
- Visualize Stochastic Gradient Descent using Matplotlib
- Apply Stochastic Gradient Descent in Python using Scikit Learn
- Course 3
Logistic Regression Modeling in Python
3hClassify and interpret categorical outcomes by constructing, evaluating, and applying logistic regression models for inference and prediction.
Course Objectives ▾
- Describe a logistic regression model
- Construct a logistic regression model and evaluate it based on the data
- Interpret the results of a logistic regression model
- Use a logistic regression model for inference and prediction
- Course 4
Decision Tree and Random Forest Modeling in Python
6hApply decision trees and random forest models to solve classification and regression problems while producing interpretable, high-performing predictions.
Course Objectives ▾
- Create, customize, and visualize decision trees
- Use and interpret decision trees on new data
- Calculate optimal decision paths
- Optimize trees by altering their parameters
- Apply the random forest prediction technique
- Course 5
Optimizing Machine Learning Models in Python
3hImprove machine learning model performance by applying optimization techniques such as cross-validation, regularization, and feature engineering in Python.
Course Objectives ▾
- Distinguish between different optimization techniques
- Identify the best optimization approach for your project
- Apply optimization methods to improve your model
- Employ machine learning tools on various optimization methods
Part 9: Deep Learning Foundations [1 courses]
Learn deep learning fundamentals using PyTorch, including tensors, autograd, building neural networks with nn.Sequential, training techniques, and regularization for deep networks. Apply your skills in a guided project predicting IPO listing gains.
- Course 1
Deep Learning Applications in PyTorch
8hExplore how PyTorch is used across major deep learning application areas including sequence models, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Course Objectives ▾
- Understand how core deep learning concepts translate across different application areas
- Identify common neural network architectures used for sequence modeling, NLP, and computer vision
- Recognize how data representation differs between text, sequences, and images
- Build and reason about PyTorch models for different deep learning tasks
- Understand the tradeoffs and challenges unique to each application domain
Part 10: Embeddings and Vector Databases [2 courses]
Understand how embeddings represent meaning as vectors, generate embeddings with APIs and open models, and measure similarity between them. Then build with vector databases using ChromaDB, covering document chunking, metadata filtering, hybrid search, production deployment, and semantic caching.
- Course 1
Understanding Embeddings
6hLearn how embeddings capture semantic meaning beyond keywords and power modern AI systems including search, RAG, and agent memory.
Course Objectives ▾
- Generate embeddings using sentence-transformers and API services
- Visualize high-dimensional embeddings using dimensionality reduction techniques
- Implement similarity metrics including Euclidean distance, dot product, and cosine similarity
- Build semantic search systems that find results by meaning rather than keywords
- Understand tradeoffs between self-hosted and cloud-based embedding services
- Course 2
Vector Databases and Search
12hLearn how vector databases enable fast semantic search at scale. Build production-ready systems with ChromaDB, implement hybrid search strategies, and explore caching patterns for LLM applications.
Course Objectives ▾
- Set up and query vector databases using ChromaDB with HNSW indexing
- Implement and evaluate document chunking strategies for optimal retrieval
- Build metadata filtering and hybrid search combining semantic and keyword matching
- Compare production vector databases including pgvector, Qdrant, and Pinecone
- Apply semantic caching and conversation memory patterns for LLM applications
- Deploy a complete knowledge base search system with evaluation metrics
Part 11: RAG Systems [1 courses]
Learn to build retrieval-augmented generation systems from architecture through production. Cover RAG retrieval and context management, diagnose common failure modes, defend against prompt injection, implement self-RAG with autonomous evaluation, and set up production monitoring and reliability.
- Course 1
Introduction to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
6hLearn to build Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems in Python, covering pipeline architecture, prompt design, query expansion, reranking, and debugging common failure modes.
Course Objectives ▾
- Understand what RAG is and the problems it solves compared to standalone language models
- Build a complete RAG pipeline covering retrieval, context management, and grounded generation
- Apply advanced retrieval techniques including query expansion and reranking
- Design effective prompts for grounded generation with source attribution
- Diagnose and resolve common RAG failure modes across retrieval and generation stages
Python projects you'll build
20 hands-on projects across the path
Winning Jeopardy
For this project, you'll take on the role of a Jeopardy contestant looking for any edge to win. You'll work with a dataset of 20,000 Jeopardy questions using Python and pandas to analyze question and answer text and uncover helpful patterns.
Investigative Statistical Analysis - Analyzing Accuracy in Data Presentation
For this project, we'll step into the role of data journalists to analyze movie ratings data and determine if there's evidence of bias in Fandango's rating system. We'll apply statistical analysis skills using Python.
Exploring eBay Car Sales Data
For this project, we'll assume the role of data analysts for a used car classifieds service to explore and clean a dataset of car listings from eBay Kleinanzeigen, a section of the German eBay website.
Finding the Best Markets to Advertise In
For this project, we'll assume the role of analysts for an e-learning company that wants to promote its programming courses. Using Python and pandas, we'll explore survey data from new coders to determine the two best markets to advertise in based on the number of potential customers and their willingness to pay.
Clean and Analyze Employee Exit Surveys
For this project, we'll assume the role of data analysts for the Department of Education, Training and Employment and the Technical and Further Education institute in Queensland, Australia to analyze employee exit surveys and uncover insights about why employees resign.
+ 15 more projects throughout the path
Earn your AI Engineer in Python Certificate
Add this Python certificate to your resume or LinkedIn to showcase your skills and stand out in job applications.
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