10 Best tech career paths to pursue

In the UK, job postings that require AI skills are growing 3.6 times faster than all job postings. As organisations look ahead, one theme stands out across every industry: technology is no longer a support function; it is the driver of growth, innovation and resilience. The question many professionals are asking is simple: which tech career paths should I pursue?   

Some roles are newly created, while others are long-established but have grown in importance as businesses increasingly rely on  their digital infrastructure.     

Here’s a guide to the most in-demand tech career paths.   

1. Prompt Engineer   

A prompt engineer guides large language models (LLMs) to generate precise and useful outputs. The role involves crafting the right prompts, choosing the most effective formats, phrases, and symbols—and continuously testing and refining them to optimise the performance of AI tools.  

What makes this role appealing is its combination of creativity, problem-solving, and technical insight. Prompt engineers translate ideas and business requirements into actionable AI outputs. For anyone interested in the intersection of language, logic, and innovation, this role offers the chance to work at the cutting edge of AI innovation.  

2. AI Project Manager  

Every successful digital product needs someone who can see the bigger picture — that’s the role of a product manager. They coordinate between designers, developers, and business leaders to make sure products meet customer needs and deliver value.   

This is an excellent career path if you enjoy strategy, communication, and problem-solving. It doesn’t always require deep technical knowledge, but requires the ability to bring people together and keep projects focused on outcomes. It’s a role with increasing influence and strong earning potential.   

Amin Manzari, an FDM Consultant, working as a BA/Project Manager for an energy company, shares his experience:   

“I am part of a team that delivers Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions across the business spectrum. My responsibilities encompass the identification, scoping, and management of these projects, thereby empowering my team to harness cutting-edge technology to generate substantial business value.”     

3. AI and Machine Learning Engineer   

According to LinkedIn’s Work Change Report 2025, AI is one of the fastest-growing tech domains in the UK. Jobs requiring AI skills are growing 3.6 times faster than the overall UK job market.   

In our latest white paper – Workforce 2.0: AI Adoption and the Future of Jobs, we surveyed senior business leaders across the retail, energy, banking, insurance, education, and public sectors to gather insights on the state of AI adoption and their vision for the future of the workforce. AI and machine learning engineers emerged as one of the top new roles in 2030.  

What makes this career so appealing is its mix of challenge and impact. You’ll need strong foundations in maths, coding, programming languages like Python, and data science. You’ll be working at the frontier of innovation.  

In this role, you’ll design the algorithms and systems that power everything from generative AI tools to advanced automation in industries like finance, healthcare, and retail.  

4. AI governance and AI Ethicist   

AI ethics practitioners have an important role, ensuring that AI developments meet ethical standards, promote responsible use, safeguard users, and adhere to human rights regulations through the guidelines and regulations they create.   

A key challenge for organisations looking to implement AI is a lack of data governance measures in place to ensure that data isn’t mishandled, overshared and is of good quality.    

John Blackburn, FDM Skills Lab Operations Manager, EMEA, explains:    

“This is an opportunity to allow the human to excel. The European Union (EU) created the EU Artificial Intelligence Act that went into force on 1 Aug 2024. An experienced Risk, Regulation & Compliance consultant would be able to adopt a new role, such as AI Governance, to meet such a regulation. The requirements might be new, but the process of understanding, development of controls and the auditing would likely remain similar.”  

5. Business and Data Analyst     

If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Data analysts top the list of future jobs according to a report by Multiverse. Analysts focus on finding patterns and explaining what’s happening, while data scientists go further, building models that predict what comes next.   

Every sector, from sport to healthcare to government, needs people who can turn numbers into insights. It’s a role that rewards problem-solvers and clear communicators.    

Luca Fossati, Global Head Coach of Data & Analytics at FDM Group, highlights:   

“Roles in this space span a broad range of tasks, from building reports to designing, implementing and managing data pipelines, to enforcing data governance best practices. AI can be employed to automate most of those and other tasks. For automation of small tasks, tools like Copilot come in handy. Thinking bigger, to the automation of whole pipelines, emergent technologies are RAG applications, vector databases and agentic workflows.”  

6. AI Coaches and Trainers     

AI Coaches and Trainers guide organisations through the adoption of AI tools. They work with teams to build confidence, develop practical skills, and foster a mindset that embraces AI-driven change. Demand for this role is growing rapidly, with an 11% increase in interest projected in 2025.  

This career is appealing for those who enjoy communication, problem-solving, and helping others succeed.   

Linzi Holmes, FDM Skills Lab coach, explains:  

“I see the role of AI coaches evolving to support both the adoption and mindset around using these tools. You don’t need to be technical to guide others through AI adoption – our coaches bring transferable skills like communication, critical thinking and process awareness that help our consultants and clients adapt to this new world with confidence.”  

7. Cybersecurity Analyst   

Research shows 72% US firms experienced ransomware attacks in the past year, with average recovery costs hitting USD 4.5 million, underscoring the critical need for cybersecurity professionals. On average there are 16,000 openings for information security analysts projected each year. 

In this role, you’ll protect organisations from threats, monitor systems for vulnerabilities, and respond when incidents happen.

This is one of the most rewarding paths for those who want both challenge and purpose. The work you do has real consequences, preventing data leaks, protecting customer trust, and keeping businesses running. With cybercrime on the rise, it’s also one of the most secure career choices, with strong long-term demand and opportunities to advance.   

8. Cloud Engineer   

The cloud underpins almost everything in the digital economy, from streaming services to online banking. Cloud engineers design and manage the systems that make this possible.    

It’s a field that is expected to see significant growth in the next decade as the UK continues to adopt cloud technology. Cloud computing roles now make up about 30% of all IT and tech job postings in the UK, and this is only going to rise.

If you enjoy working with large-scale infrastructure and solving technical puzzles, this path is worth exploring. You’ll gain expertise in platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud and play a critical role in helping organisations scale and innovate. Salaries are competitive, and because cloud adoption is still growing, your skills will only increase in value over time.   

9. DevOps Engineer  

Every digital product, from mobile apps to online services, needs to be built and deployed efficiently. That’s the job of a DevOps engineer. You’ll be the link between developers and operations teams, ensuring updates and new features can roll out quickly and securely.     

According to IT Jobs Watch, DevOps has climbed 17 places in job popularity over the past twelve months, with 13,643 job openings. That’s 8% of all permanent IT jobs.  

This is a career for those who thrive on collaboration and problem-solving. It combines coding knowledge with a strong understanding of systems, making it a great choice if you enjoy working across different areas of tech. With businesses striving for speed and agility, DevOps specialists are in high demand.   

10. Blockchain Engineer     

Blockchain is no longer just about cryptocurrency. Today, it’s transforming industries from supply chain management to secure digital identities. The global blockchain market is projected to reach USD 1.43 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 90.1% from 2025 to 2030.   

As a Blockchain Engineer, you’ll design and develop decentralised systems, create smart contracts, and help organisations explore innovative ways to use blockchain technology. This career is ideal for those who have strong problem-solving skills, curiosity for emerging technologies and want to be at the forefront of a rapidly growing field with enormous potential to shape the future.   

Conclusion   

The career paths shaping 2025 show just how diverse the world of tech has become. Whether your strengths lie in coding, data, design, or strategy, there is a role where you can thrive. What’s clear across them all is that demand for skilled people is rising, and opportunities are abundant.   

Considering your next move?  Explore how FDM can support your journey and help you stay at the forefront of digital transformation.   

If you are just starting out, the FDM Graduate Programme is a great opportunity to launch your career in tech, with expert coaching and the chance to work with our industry-leading clients. Enquire today.