What is feature engineering?

Feature engineering is a process within machine learning that transforms raw data into features that a machine can recognize as part of the problem to be solved. It's a way of manually improving the observations and variables that a machine is learning based upon the data that you have. Features are tables that consist of the variables and observations that are meaningful to the problem you're trying to solve. Feature engineering consists of determining which features work best with the problem you're solving, creating the features, checking how the features work, and improving them.

Why is it important to learn feature engineering?

It's important to learn about the process of feature engineering because it can influence the result of solving a problem better than relying on algorithms alone, which means you can better solve problems based on the data that you have. When you use feature engineering properly, you can exert a positive influence on the results you achieve from the data that you're working with. To put it simply, the better features you put into the machine, the better problem solutions you'll see as a result. That's where a thorough knowledge of feature engineering comes in. The better you are at inputting features, the better you'll be at making the most of your data.

What are careers that rely on knowledge of feature engineering?

Data analysts and engineers call upon their knowledge of feature engineering in their careers. Engineers in a host of disciplines analyze, clean, and improve the data that they work with every day, and you'll find data specialists who work with feature engineering in fields as vast as healthcare, aerospace, and defense. The growing fields of mobile gaming and e-commerce also hire feature engineers to better analyze the data that they depend on.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn feature engineering?

Whether you're looking to learn the basics of feature engineering or acquire more advanced knowledge, taking online courses on Coursera and partners like IBM and Google can help you learn the concepts and practical applications of feature engineering. You can learn about how feature engineering works in certain applications like Google Cloud or MATLAB or aim for a specialized certificate. No matter which of the feature engineering courses you choose to take, you'll have the opportunity to learn new skills that may be beneficial to your career.

What are the benefits of taking an online Feature Engineering course?

Online Feature Engineering courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Feature Engineering skills. Choose from a wide range of Feature Engineering courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Feature Engineering courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Feature Engineering, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Feature Engineering Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Feature Engineering Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Feature Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Dataflow, Tensorflow, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Data Pipelines, Keras (Neural Network Library), Data Processing, Data Transformation, Data Modeling, Real Time Data, Machine Learning
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Workflow: Feature Engineering and Bias Detection
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Data Ethics, Unsupervised Learning, Dimensionality Reduction, Text Mining, Applied Machine Learning, Data Transformation, Anomaly Detection, Exploratory Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Quality Assurance, Data Validation, Machine Learning Algorithms, Data Visualization, Python Programming
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
75 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Claude Code: Software Engineering with Generative AI Agents
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Version Control, Generative AI Agents, Git (Version Control System), Continuous Integration, Scalability, Generative AI, Software Quality Assurance, Software Development, UI Components, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Automation, Software Testing, Software Design, Software Development Methodologies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Feature Engineering en Español
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Dataflow, Tensorflow, Data Transformation, Data Processing, Keras (Neural Network Library), Machine Learning Methods, Data Modeling, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Statistical Methods
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Software Design Patterns, Requirements Analysis, Software Architecture, Acceptance Testing, Software Development Methodologies, Unified Modeling Language, Software Development Life Cycle, Configuration Management, Software Quality Assurance, Debugging, Software Design, Process Driven Development, Software Engineering, Software Testing, Object Oriented Design, Functional Requirement, Data Modeling, Systems Design, Project Management, Project Planning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
530 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Software Design, Scrum (Software Development), Software Engineering, Software Design Patterns, Agile Methodology, Software Development, Programming Principles, Application Development, Cloud Development, Web Development, Back-End Web Development, Front-End Web Development, Computer Programming, Integrated Development Environments, Python Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Khalifa University
Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Management Systems, Environment Health And Safety, Environmental Monitoring, Accident Reporting, Workers Compensation, Occupational Safety And Health, Safety Training, Fire And Life Safety, Accident Prevention, Environmental Regulations, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Laws, Environmental Resource Management, Risk Management, Risk Management Framework, Environmental Engineering and Restoration, Risk Analysis, Environment and Resource Management, Engineering Management, Engineering
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Simplilearn
Generative AI in Software Engineering Certification
Skills you'll gain: Software Documentation, Generative AI, Test Automation, Mockups, User Interface (UI), Software Development Tools, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Software Testing, Software Design, Vulnerability Assessments, User Experience Design, Application Security, Maintainability, Prompt Engineering, Test Case, Software Architecture, Code Review, Secure Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Debugging
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Generative AI Engineering with LLMs
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Generative AI Agents, Natural Language Processing, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), ChatGPT, Data Pipelines, Artificial Intelligence, Text Mining, Data Ethics, Artificial Neural Networks, Application Development, Deep Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Performance Tuning, Semantic Web, Reinforcement Learning
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
608 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Keras (Neural Network Library), Supervised Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Regression Analysis, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Applied Machine Learning, Generative AI Agents, Natural Language Processing, Tensorflow, Artificial Neural Networks, OpenAI, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Data Science
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
21K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Mathematics for Engineers
Skills you'll gain: Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Matlab, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Finite Element Methods, Integral Calculus, Mathematical Software, Mechanical Engineering, Calculus, Algebra, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Engineering, Simulation and Simulation Software, Advanced Mathematics, Geometry, Computational Thinking, Estimation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Scrimba
AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Image Analysis, OpenAI, Cloud Applications, Generative AI, Application Deployment, API Gateway, Cloud Hosting, Generative AI Agents, ChatGPT, Cloud Security, User Interface (UI), Data Ethics, Application Programming Interface (API), Development Environment, Open Source Technology, Performance Testing, Artificial Intelligence, JavaScript Frameworks, Software Engineering
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
229 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months