About the Role
Prolific is establishing itself as the human data infrastructure for AI development, where the quality and diversity of human-generated data are crucial differentiators for AI products and models. This role involves serving as Prolific's technical research partner to AI labs and enterprise customers. The Research Engineer will directly engage with customers on AI evaluation and data collection projects, providing advice on methodology, designing frameworks, and delivering end-to-end research engagements as part of the services team. This position will contribute to how organizations approach AI evaluation, alignment, and human data challenges, while also shaping Prolific's internal capabilities. The work will directly impact the understanding, evaluation, and improvement of AI systems through high-quality human data.
Responsibilities
- Serve as Prolific's technical research partner on customer engagements with AI labs and enterprise AI teams
- Advise and prototype bespoke solutions like evaluation methodology, rubric design, data collection approaches, quality frameworks, verifiers and validation frameworks, as well as RL environments
- Own methodology for projects - from scoping through delivery - working alongside our services team
- Build trusted relationships with customer research and engineering teams
- Surface patterns from customer work that should become platform capabilities, partnering with Product and Engineering to shape roadmap priorities
- Work with Services and Account teams to qualify opportunities and shape proposals
- Share learnings across the Research Engineering function to strengthen our collective expertise
- Contribute to Prolific's research publications and external collaborations as opportunities arise
- Collaborate with product teams to translate research insights into practical applications
- Mentor team members on advanced AI concepts and emerging research
- Communicate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders
Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in AI/ML research, research engineering, or applied ML
- Strong knowledge of LLM evaluation methodologies, data collection design, and human feedback approaches
- Experience designing AI-assisted or model-in-the-loop workflows - you think creatively about where AI can augment human judgment
- Track record of executing research or applied AI/ML projects with clear outcomes
- Can build quickly when needed - you're comfortable prototyping solutions and build your own tooling
- Strong communicator across contexts - you can hold your own with AI lab researchers, translate methodology into actionable recommendations for customers, and bring internal teams along on what matters and why.
- Based in US, Canada, or Mexico (or able to work US timezone hours)
Qualifications
Prior customer-facing or consulting experience is a plus but not required.
Benefits
Competitive salary, benefits, and remote working within our impactful, mission-driven culture. Compensation packages for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. Many roles also include the opportunity to earn a cash variable element, such as a bonus or commission. Each job posting shows a salary range that reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hires, based on the role’s location as well as your skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter will also be happy to share the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.