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Which Specialists Are Really Needed in the Market Now (and Why There Aren't Enough of Them)

The market is in a strange situation: there are many developers, but not enough of the right people. We examine who a product engineer is, why they are scarce, and how AI is changing the balance of power.

Authors: slavb18
  • AI
  • IT
  • Career
  • Startups

The market is currently in a strange situation.

On one hand - a huge number of developers, product managers, team leads, CTOs. On the other - companies are actively looking for people who are almost non-existent.

We're talking about a product engineer.

Who is a product engineer

This is not just a developer. And not just a product manager.

This is a person who can:

  • understand a business problem
  • formulate requirements
  • design a solution
  • write code
  • test
  • deliver to production

And all of this - almost single-handedly.

Previously, such people were more of an exception. Now - this is the new norm the market is moving towards.

Why this became possible

The main reason is AI development tools.

Tools like Cursor and Claude Code have emerged, which allow you to:

  • write code faster
  • work with unfamiliar technologies
  • generate tests
  • speed up routine tasks

In fact, one strong engineer with AI can now do what a whole team used to do.

But there's a nuance

Many think this means:

"Now anyone can build products using AI"

This is not yet the case.

There are two fundamentally different approaches:

1. Vibe-coding

When a person simply writes:

"Make an app"

This works for:

  • prototypes
  • landing pages
  • demos

But it almost doesn't work for:

  • complex logic
  • integrations
  • high-load systems
  • production

2. Product engineer + AI

This is already a reality.

Here:

  • the human thinks
  • AI accelerates

The engineer:

  • makes product decisions
  • designs architecture
  • reviews code

AI:

  • writes code
  • assists with tests
  • accelerates implementation

Why are such specialists scarce

The problem is that this is a hybrid role.

It requires simultaneously:

  • engineering mindset
  • product mindset
  • experience in independent development
  • ability to work with uncertainty

Usually, these are people who:

  • started their own startups
  • worked in small teams
  • took responsibility "from idea to production"

Objectively, there are not many such individuals.

How they are evaluated now

If before they asked about algorithms and frameworks, now the focus is shifting.

They look at things like:

  • how you use AI in development
  • how you've integrated it into your process
  • how you verify AI-generated code
  • where you don't trust AI
  • how you manage a project without a manager
  • whether you've built a product "single-handedly"

Essentially, they check:

do you know how to build a product, not just write code

What is changing in the market

There is a feeling that the market is moving towards a model of:

fewer people → more responsibility → higher speed

One strong product engineer with AI can replace:

  • several developers
  • part of a product manager's functions
  • part of a team lead's functions

What about the future of the profession

There's a main question:

will there be IT jobs for everyone?

There's no answer yet.

There are two scenarios:

1. Demand falls

If AI replaces developers faster than the market grows.

2. Demand grows

If development becomes cheaper → more products emerge → more people are needed

Historically, the second scenario usually occurred.

When something becomes cheaper - more of it gets produced.

Conclusion

The market currently needs more than just developers.

It needs people who can:

  • think like a product manager
  • build like an engineer
  • use AI as a tool

And take responsibility for the outcome.

Such people are still few.

And they are now becoming the most valuable resource.

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