LTTS CEO: AI Expands Engineering, Drives Strategic Deals

L&T Technology Services (LTTS) CEO Amit Chadha asserts that Artificial Intelligence (AI) fundamentally expands the scope of engineering, rather than disrupting the IT sector. This shift drives demand for integrated, cross-disciplinary capabilities and strategic, transformation-led deals.

The Expanding Role of AI in Engineering

Chadha explains AI embeds intelligence directly into products and industrial processes, necessitating a blend of software, hardware, and AI. LTTS is actively pivoting towards full-stack Engineering Intelligence (EI) solutions. Their focus is on building next-generation products, moving beyond mere optimization.

This strategic move is evident in recent successes, as nearly 40% of LTTS’s deal wins are now AI-led or AI-influenced. AI is simultaneously improving productivity and accelerating execution cycles across projects. Consequently, LTTS anticipates adding approximately 1,000 people this year to meet the expanded demand for talent.

Evolving Workforce and Strategic Focus

The workforce structure is evolving into an “Eiffel Tower” model, emphasizing multi-disciplinary skills and deeper expertise in system design and integration. AI is seen as an embedded capability across engineering programs, re-architecting traditional services rather than replacing them outright.

LTTS’s five-year Lakshya Plan strategically targets several advanced AI-led technologies. These include Multisensory Intelligence, Signal Kinetics, and Personal Robotics. The plan also incorporates six key technology bets, prominently featuring Software Defined Mobility and Next-Gen Compute and AI Infrastructure.

Critical Skills and Market Outlook

For new engineers entering the field, convergence skillsets are increasingly crucial. These combine strong core engineering fundamentals with AI and data capabilities, alongside deep domain knowledge across various sectors. Client spending has also become more selective, prioritizing high-impact, innovation-led areas.

Important AI-related skills for the modern workforce encompass Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), model evaluation, and prompt engineering for LLM workflows. Further essential capabilities include Physical AI and edge computing expertise. These skills are vital for navigating the evolving technological landscape.

Despite regional variations influenced by geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, Engineering Research and Development (ER&D) investments remain robust. LTTS has demonstrated consistent growth, achieving a 12.4% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over five years. The company aims for a 13-15% CAGR over the next five, viewing the current market phase as a transition towards innovation-led and platform-driven growth.

This strategic shift underscores AI’s role not as a job destroyer, but as a catalyst for advanced engineering and specialized talent, driving future growth in the sector.