Is 'vibe coding' the hottest skill for IT jobs? With industry leaders riding the trend, it is the new must-have skill for coders
iStock Tech companies are now hiring engineers based on their ability to use AI coding tools, a skill dubbed 'vibe coding.' With firms like Visa, Reddit, and DoorDash listing it as essential, the trend promises faster product development. (Representational image: iStock)
Move over traditional coding tests—tech companies now want you to 'vibe' with code. A new trend called vibe coding is sweeping through Silicon Valley, and major companies like Visa, Reddit, DoorDash, and even Google are paying attention. This intuitive, AI-driven approach to software development is not only changing how code is written, but also who gets hired to write it. Forget perfect resumes; your mastery of AI code generators might just be your ticket to the next big role.According to Business Insider, job listings are no longer just asking for Python or JavaScript. Business Insider has uncovered a wave of job postings from industry giants like Visa, Reddit, DoorDash, and cybersecurity unicorn Snyk, explicitly demanding experience with or familiarity with AI code generators like Cursor and Bolt. This isn't just a niche requirement; for some, it's quickly becoming "essential."
Visa, for instance, recently posted three generative AI engineer positions in Austin that list familiarity with vibe coding tools as "essential." Reddit is actively seeking an engineer to integrate AI coding tools and engage directly with the broader vibe-coding community to "drive adoption." DoorDash and Snyk also feature similar requirements, with Snyk specifically seeking "deep expertise."Perhaps the most striking embrace comes from Y Combinator startup Domu Technology, which has declared "vibe coding experience" a "non-negotiable." Their job description boldly states that at least half of the hired candidate's current code should already be AI-generated.The underlying motivation behind this fervent embrace of vibe coding is singular: speed. These companies are desperate to "turbocharge" their engineering teams and boost "velocity" – the rate at which they can build and ship products.
CTO of Intuit, Alex Balazs, has approved multiple AI coding tools, including Cursor and Microsoft Copilot, stating he has "no regrets." He reveals that "a great engineer using one of these tools can be up to 40% faster in terms of coding." Streaming service Tubi wants an engineer to integrate AI tools to "boost velocity," and Udacity seeks to "accelerate" product development through AI-savvy hires. Visa's positions also specifically mention "rapid" code and prototype generation. The term "vibe coding" itself gained prominence from influential tech leaders. Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has openly shared his "delightful" experiences with "vibe coding" — a casual yet cutting-edge way of using AI tools to build webpages with minimal manual programming. Speaking at Bloomberg Tech , Pichai mentioned experimenting with AI-powered coding assistants like Cursor and Replit to create a custom webpage. He emphasized the immense power AI is bringing to web development, a level unseen in 25 years.
This shift isn't just about speed; it's about a more intuitive, AI-driven approach where developers become collaborators with AI, simply explaining their desired outcome in plain language rather than writing lines of code. OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy first popularized the concept, suggesting developers can "forget that the code even exists" as natural language prompts become the new programming interface. This trend is backed by massive user growth and investment, with Cursor hitting $100 million in annual recurring revenue and Amazon reportedly in talks to deploy Cursor for its staff. While vibe coding is undeniably gaining traction, it's crucial to understand it's not yet threatening the jobs of seasoned senior engineers. Experts clarify that AI code generators are primarily useful for automating "boilerplate code" and simpler tasks, freeing up engineers to focus on more complex, higher-level problems.
Mohammad Sanatkar, a former senior machine learning engineer at Waymo now running an AI agents startup, notes that these tools excel at tasks like building a website's front page, but "I don't think they are skilled enough to do core software improvements" or handle shipping production-ready code. Intuit's Balazs echoed this, stating his company appreciates engineers who "love leveraging AI" to solve problems, rather than exclusively seeking "vibe coders."
While the term may sound like Gen Z jargon, vibe coding has become a serious global movement. The cultural shift is undeniable. With powerful backers, exponential growth, and the support of tech leaders like Sundar Pichai, vibe coding may soon become as mainstream as GitHub. Vibe coding represents more than a toolset—it's a mindset. It breaks down the gatekeeping of traditional programming, making it more about creativity than technical ritual. Whether you're a beginner with big ideas or a seasoned coder looking to cut corners, AI has become a collaborator, not a competitor.
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