Krafton (259960.KS), the gaming company behind the "AI First" initiative, has launched an experimental hiring drive to recruit AI transformation (AX) engineers with no academic or career requirements whatsoever. The move reflects a growing recognition that companies need not only engineers who excel at model development but also those who can help non-development teams leverage AI. As practical, communication-oriented AI talent becomes increasingly scarce, competition among companies to secure such workers is intensifying.
According to the IT industry on the 27th, Krafton began focused recruitment of AI FDEs (Forward Deployed Engineers) on the 25th. FDEs are engineers primarily embedded in non-development organizations within a company to support AX initiatives. They are also referred to as "field-deployed engineers." This marks the first time Krafton has recruited FDEs, despite the company's aggressive push into AX — including establishing a deep learning division in 2022 and creating a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) position earlier this year. The FDEs will work alongside employees across Krafton's various divisions to identify tasks that can be automated with AI and develop solutions. The company aims to hire a double-digit number of FDEs.
What stands out is that Krafton has put the condition of "no degree or experience required" front and center. Even high school graduates without a separate degree can be hired as long as they demonstrate the ability to solve real-world industry problems using AI. Krafton has always classified educational background as an optional field on its application forms, but the company has reportedly never conducted a focused developer recruitment drive with no education or experience requirements like this before. Notably, Krafton plans to administer a job skills test to every single applicant who submits documents, in order to stay true to the spirit of the hiring initiative.
