Rahul is a Class of 2022 graduate from the MSc Data Analytics with over 5 years experience in data science, machine learning, and generative AI. He is currently working as an AI Engineer with Realizeit.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background:
I am an AI Engineer at Realizeit, with over five years of experience in data science, machine learning, and generative AI. I graduated with First Class Honours from the MSc in Data Analytics at the National College of Ireland, where I also discovered my passion for using AI to solve real-world problems. Before moving into industry roles in Ireland, I worked as a Research Analyst at the Indian Institute of Science, developing deep learning solutions for speech recognition in noisy environments. Alongside my professional work, I enjoy photography, robotics, and writing, which allow me to express creativity outside of technology.
How did you hear about your role ?
I am currently employed with Realizeit as an AI Engineer. I was sought out by a recruitment agency through LinkedIn. I was actively seeking roles in AI that matched the criteria for acquiring the Critical Skills Employment Permit (Stamp 1), and this position aligned perfectly with both my career goals and visa requirements
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to innovate while creating meaningful impact. Every day I work on cutting-edge AI solutions, from prompt engineering and model experimentation to building and deploying agents within our intelligent learning platform. The most rewarding part is seeing how these technologies translate into real improvements in the industry, making learning more adaptive and effective for employees. I particularly enjoy the problem-solving aspect, taking complex business needs, breaking them down into technical challenges, and designing AI Agents or AI solutions that deliver tangible results. This blend of research, creativity, and impact keeps the work both challenging and fulfilling.
What did the recruitment process involve and how did you prepare for it ?
The recruitment process involved multiple stages: an initial screening call to assess my qualifications and requirements, a technical interview focused on AI, research capabilities, and machine learning concepts, and a final round assessing requiring me to demonstrate said AI skills through a project I had completed before. To prepare for the technical interview, I revised key machine learning and generative AI concepts, reviewed my previous projects, and practiced explaining technical ideas in a clear, business-oriented manner. My prior experience at Data Science Wizards and academic research helped me demonstrate both hands-on expertise and innovative thinking. For the final interview, I created a custom chatbot, researching their website, company policies and providing the chatbot with secure guardrails and custom company information, so that it would only answer questions related to the company and flag any unrelated questions for the user to see. They were impressed with the work I had completed in 2 days, just for the interview, which I believe was vital towards procuring this role.
What is a typical day like in your current role ?
My typical day begins at 9 a.m. with research into different AI models and an evaluation of how they can be applied to Realizeit’s intelligent learning platform. A large part of my work involves prompt engineering, where I prepare data, test outputs, adjust to ensure consistency, and refine the process to avoid biased results. Once a solution is reliable, I convert it into an AI agent, integrate it within our continually developing agentic framework, and design communication protocols that allow agents to communicate with each other, making the entire process autonomous. I also set up logging, secure guardrails, and human-in-the-loop mechanisms where needed before deploying the agents to the platform for testing and eventual production release.
I manage this entire development cycle on my own, from initial research to deployment, while keeping close communication with the CTO who is my boss and supervisor to discuss use new cases and strategy. I also provide monthly briefings to the product and sales teams on the latest developments in generative AI and the progress of my work. Alongside these responsibilities, I stay current with emerging research and contribute to proofs of concept that explore how generative AI can further improve adaptive learning experiences.
Can you describe the visa process you underwent ?
As an international student from India, I secured an internship with Data Science Wizards (DSW) during my final semester and was offered a full-time position as a Data Scientist working under a Stamp 1G Graduate Visa. Although DSW was unable to sponsor a Stamp 1 Critical Skills Visa, I continued with the company for one and a half years, using that time to strengthen my knowledge, skills, and experience while exploring opportunities for long-term career growth. This preparation led me to transition into the AI Engineer at Realizeit, where I successfully applied for and obtained the Critical Skills Employment Permit.
What was your most memorable experience from your time at NCI ?
My most memorable academic experience was participating in the Enfuse Competition, where my team worked for five months on a real-world business problem of data classification and object detection for Ultrasound Ireland under the guidance of Anu Sahni, and secured 3rd place. The experience of collaborating with friends, analyzing and brainstorming ideas to solve this problem, and presenting to industry leaders was invaluable.
On a personal note, I also have fond memories of a day trip to Glendalough organized by NCI. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, enjoy the pristine beauty of the Wicklow mountains in Ireland, and capture these moments through my lens.
What has been the most challenging part of your graduate journey ?
The most challenging part of my journey was navigating the transition from being a student to securing the right role as an international graduate in Ireland. Balancing part-time jobs, academic projects, assignments, visa requirements, job applications, and interviews while striving to find a position that aligned with both my expertise and long-term aspirations was demanding. Like many of my peers, I faced countless rejections along the way, and finding a role that not only excited me but also met visa requirements was particularly difficult.
However, the journey from working as a research analyst in India, to joining a startup, working long hours, sharpening my skills, building experience in the field of Data and AI, ultimately led me to securing my current role in the field of Generative AI. Looking back, the struggles made the achievement even more rewarding, and I am grateful to now be working in a field I truly love.
Top 3 tips for students and graduates entering the Irish job market:
1. Build and nurture your network:
My first piece of advice is to focus on building and maintaining your network. Take the time to connect with recruiters, alumni, and professional contacts, and ensure you follow up with them regularly rather than just once. Recruitment agencies in Ireland play an especially important role, and keeping in touch with them can open opportunities when you least expect it. In my own case, the role I have today came through a recruiter who remembered my CV from months earlier and reached out when the right position became available.
2. Tailor your applications:
Secondly, always tailor your applications to the specific role you are applying for. Employers notice when you have taken the time to study the job description, align your CV to highlight the required skills, and ensure that your LinkedIn profile is accurate and up to date. This extra effort demonstrates genuine interest and significantly improves your chances of standing out in a competitive job market.
3. Stay resilient and strategic:
Finally, it is important to remain resilient and strategic. Rejections are part of the process, and they can be difficult, but persistence pays off. I personally applied for more than 220 jobs, received around 15 interviews, and only a few of those aligned with my expectations. Some of the roles I initially explored did not offer visa sponsorship, but they still provided valuable experience and visibility in the market. Sometimes, accepting an opportunity to prove your skills first can create the space to have a conversation about visa requirements later. By staying patient, determined, and open-minded, you can eventually find a role that is both the right fit and a step toward your long-term goals.