Build the capability to lead India into an AI-native economy.
For working professionals. Learn online in two weekday sessions, build with instructors on campus every Saturday, and leave with the proof of work AI roles ask for.
Online + Saturdays on campus
An industry project in every module
ML Engineering or FDE trackBuild with the tools AI teams use:
Why this program
Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Accenture, Wipro, Sarvam AI, Emergent and 50 more companies told us where their AI work gets stuck.
~9 lakh
AI roles India is short of right now
72.4%
Talent gap in AI deployment engineering
Under 1,500
Specialised Forward Deployed Engineers in all of India
Gap 1
Gap 2
Figures from the India AI Workforce Analysis by Quess Corp, 2026.
Who it is for
What most teams now ask for is the AI layer on top of your experience, and proof that you can build with it.
I can build software all day. The moment an AI feature comes up, I am on the sidelines.
You already ship software. Add the AI layer and the system design behind it, so you can own the AI features your team ships.
Quick look at the program
Duration
2 years: a common core, then a specialisation track
Format
Two online sessions on weekdays, a full Saturday on campus
Time commitment
10 hours a week
Eligibility
Working professionals ready to build in code
Specialisation track
ML Engineering · Forward Deployed Engineer
Credential
Scaler certificate, plus a BITS Pilani M.Tech we recommend
Proof it works
We built SST on one bet: students who build every week get hired faster than students who sit through lectures. Its first batch is proving it, on this same campus. Hybrid takes that bet to people who already have years of work experience.
SST is Scaler's four-year, residential program in Computer Science and AI.
₹0 LPA
Average CTC in SST's first placement cycle
0%+
Of those offers are for AI-specific roles
₹0 LPA
Highest CTC, through a pre-placement offer
0%
Of eligible students got an internship by their second year
Placement figures: SST's first cycle, pre-placement offers made before the season opened. Internships: SST Internship Report 2025, audited by B2K Analytics.
How Hybrid works
Seven ideas shape how the program runs, from the Saturday Lab to the people who teach you.
Two 2-hour online sessions on weekdays, then a full Saturday in the campus Lab in Electronic City: three hours of theory and three hours of building.
Your mentors work on AI systems today, and many of them hire for the roles you are aiming at. They review your code line by line and unblock you while you build.
40 seats, filled through applications and interviews. The people building beside you come from engineering, data and other roles, and they stay in your network after the program ends.
Weekday learning, then a Saturday on campus you show up for. Two years is a long time, and the rhythm and the batch are what get people to the end.
Every module has a project you build yourself. Your Flagship project grows from a RAG assistant into a deployed, monitored system you can demo and defend.
Each module brings a project from a different industry, from legal to retail to energy. Year 2 ends with a real partner brief, delivered in sprints and defended in front of a panel.
Learners often ask whether a degree is worth adding. If your next role screens on formal credentials, we think it is, so we recommend an Online M.Tech in AI/ML from BITS Pilani alongside the program.
Curriculum
Year 1 is a common core everyone takes, from AI tools and Python to production systems. In Year 2 you choose ML Engineering or Forward Deployed Engineer. The last four months go into your next move, and we work on it with you.
In class: MobilityHub
A support bot over MobilityHub's FAQs, a complaint-triage workflow and a refund agent that waits for approval.
Start with AI tools before any code: how LLMs work, when to trust their answers, and how to build assistants and simple agents without writing code.
What you'll learn
Want to dive deeper into the details?
Ready to join Scaler and take your first step towards success?
Specialise
Both tracks build on the same Year 1 core, and you choose one in week 52. ML Engineering goes deeper into models. FDE goes deeper into shipping AI for clients.
Train, deploy and monitor machine learning models at scale, from data pipelines to serving predictions. It also prepares you for AI Engineer roles.
Work with a client's teams to understand their problem, then design, build and run AI systems inside the client's environment.
Train, deploy and monitor machine learning models at scale, from data pipelines to serving predictions. It also prepares you for AI Engineer roles.
Work with a client's teams to understand their problem, then design, build and run AI systems inside the client's environment.
Where it takes you
Year 1 prepares you for AI Engineer interviews. Year 2 takes you towards ML Engineer or Forward Deployed Engineer roles. With experience, those lead to roles like Staff AI Engineer, AI Architect and Head of AI Engineering.
1.3M
New AI jobs created worldwide in two years.
LinkedIn and World Economic Forum, Jan 2026
3.2 : 1
Open AI roles per qualified candidate. 1.6 million jobs, about 518,000 people.
ManpowerGroup survey, 2026
70%+
Salary premium senior AI specialists earn over peers without AI skills.
PwC and Acceler8 Talent, 2025 to 2026
~₹70 L
Upper range for generative AI engineers in India.
OdinSchool and BuildFastWithAI, 2026
Projects
You work on three kinds of projects: MobilityHub, a ride-operations company the class builds for over two years; your own Flagship project; and a project from a different industry in each module. Year 2 ends with a real partner brief.
See every project brief
The full project list, module by module.
Inside the lab
01
Three hours of theory on the week's topic
02
Three hours of building, led by an instructor
03
Get your code reviewed and fix real bugs
04
Demo your work and defend your choices
instructors / mentors
Scaler instructors and mentors aren't watching the AI shift from the sidelines. They're building through it, and they bring that into every session.
Taught by Anshuman Singh
Two-time ACM ICPC World Finalist. Built Facebook Messenger as a founding team member.
4.9
Taught by Shivank Agarwal
A decade at Microsoft and Oracle. Now SVP of Engineering at Scaler, building next-gen engineers.
4.7
Taught by Naman Bhalla
Google Kickstart global rank 135. ACM ICPC rank 37. Built Scaler Topics from scratch.
4.8
Taught by Shivam Prasad
Decade of production deep learning across CV, NLP, and speech. Research at IISc Bangalore.
4.7
Taught by Akash Rajpuria
Interspeech 2021 published researcher. AWS ML certified. Built BERT-powered search at Pfizer.
4.7
Taught by Saurabh Kango
Ex-LinkedIn Analytics Lead and Airbnb Data Scientist. Guided 100+ students in analytics and BI.
4.8Taught by Anshuman Singh
Two-time ACM ICPC World Finalist. Built Facebook Messenger as a founding team member.
4.9Taught by Shivank Agarwal
A decade at Microsoft and Oracle. Now SVP of Engineering at Scaler, building next-gen engineers.
4.7Taught by Naman Bhalla
Google Kickstart global rank 135. ACM ICPC rank 37. Built Scaler Topics from scratch.
4.8Taught by Shivam Prasad
Decade of production deep learning across CV, NLP, and speech. Research at IISc Bangalore.
4.7CERTIFICATE
Recommended degree pathway
Hybrid is a certificate program, and what gets you hired is what you build here. Some roles still filter on a formal degree, though. For those, we recommend pairing Hybrid with an Online M.Tech in AI/ML from BITS Pilani.
01
Weekday online learning and a Saturday on campus
Practitioner mentors and line-by-line code reviews
Industry projects, a partner capstone and a portfolio of built work
Career assistance
02
An Online M.Tech in AI/ML, awarded by BITS Pilani
Built for working professionals, over 2 years
Admission, coursework and exams set by BITS Pilani
Want to understand the degree route before you decide?
This degree is a separate academic programme offered and awarded by BITS Pilani. Admission is at the sole discretion of BITS Pilani. Eligibility, coursework, examinations, fees and completion requirements are set by BITS Pilani, and the degree is granted only when those requirements are met.
Outcomes
Scaler has been moving working professionals into better tech roles since 2019. Here is the record, in full.
0
learners completed a Scaler program in 2024 and 2025
0%
overall placement rate across Scaler programs
0x
average salary growth after the program
0+
hiring partners, including big tech and AI startups
Source: Scaler Career Report, assessed by B2K Analytics, covering learners who completed a program between 2024 and 2025. These are results from Scaler's existing programs and are shared as a past record. They are not a guarantee for this program.
Download the full placement report and get detailed insights
Stories
Numbers tell part of the story. These are the role shifts behind them.
Shivam Prakash
Computer Scientist, Adobe
“This journey has been an incredible blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, equipping me with the skills to tackle real-world challenges in the dynamic field of AI and ML. I'm excited to leverage this knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation.”
Sahil Bansal
Data Scientist, Fractal
Rajesh Somasundaram
Machine Learning Ops Engineer-2, NinjaCart
Arun M V
Applied scientist, GoKwik
Divyanshu Tanter
AI Researcher and Developer, Dassault Systems
“In just 2.5 months of joining Scaler, I not only learned the fundamentals but also advanced-level concepts in Data Science and Machine Learning. The structured approach, comprehensive curriculum, and unwavering guidance of mentors like Srikanth Varma Chekuri, Naman Bhalla, Mudit Goel , and a fantastic cohort of peers made this journey incredibly rewarding.”
Akshat Arora
Data Scientist, Landmark Group
Madhuri Kukreja
Associate Analyst, Razorpay
Sayyam Bhandari
Data Engineer, Amazon
“Scaler Academy's program is truly exceptional, providing me with the skills and confidence necessary to thrive in the field of Full-Stack_Data Engineer. The practical projects and real-world scenarios prepared me well for the challenges ahead”
Vempali B N V D Sivasanthosh
Full Stack data Engineer, Fractal
Career assistance
From the first career conversation to the last interview round, someone from our team works on your next move with you.
We map the roles you should target and what is missing today.
Your Flagship project, capstone and MobilityHub work, shown as proof of production work.
System design, AI-assisted coding and behavioural rounds, plus take-home rounds for FDE learners.
Curated job openings, hiring drives and direct recruiter connects.
EMI starting at
₹16,666/month
Total ₹15,34,400
You can pay in monthly instalments. Ask an advisor for the full breakdown.
What's included
Saturdays on campus
Every Saturday for two years: theory, then hands-on building with instructors
Industry and partner projects
A project in every module, and a partner capstone in Year 2
Practitioner reviews
Line-by-line feedback on your code
Career assistance
Career counselling, mock interviews and introductions to hiring companies
Admissions
40 seats in the first batch. Every applicant is interviewed.
Tell us about your work and what you want to build next, then pay the application fee to move to review.
Come to the campus, meet the team and see the Lab before your interview.
Meet the program team to talk through your goals, your experience and your Saturday availability.
It holds your seat once you clear the interview.
Get your batch details, schedule and first-phase plan before the program starts.
Community
Frequently asked questions
Still having doubts regarding program details?
Reach out to the team for more information.
Disclaimer
Hybrid is a certificate program from Scaler. The Online M.Tech in AI/ML is a separate program from BITS Pilani, and BITS Pilani sets its own admission, coursework, exams and fees.
