The evolution of software engineering has progressed through distinct phases — from the hardware-focused computing of the 1950s to the data-driven internet era of the 2000s — each shaped by technological advances and shifting engineering needs. We are now entering the age of agentic engineering, where large language models (LLMs) form the foundation for intelligent agents that can interact with external systems, make decisions, and perform tasks autonomously. Unlike traditional software, these systems are non-deterministic, capable of hallucinations, and operate within an effectively infinite input space, requiring engineers to adopt new testing, evaluation, and design methodologies.
Agentic engineering introduces a new class of engineering roles with unique responsibilities — from agent architects and deployment engineers to agent product managers — each focused on designing, evaluating, and deploying intelligent agents powered by LLMs. These roles demand skills in prompt engineering, behavioral evaluation, conversational design, and user empathy rather than traditional coding alone. As this paradigm matures, companies like Hippocratic AI are hiring for these emerging positions, signaling a shift in the software landscape where building AI-driven agents becomes central to solving real-world problems.