About the Role
Prolific is building the human data infrastructure that's reshaping AI development. In a world where foundational AI technologies are increasingly commoditized, the quality and diversity of human-generated data truly differentiate products and models. This role seeks a Field Research Engineer to be Prolific's technical research partner to AI labs and enterprise customers. You will work directly with customers on AI evaluation and data collection projects, advising on methodology, designing frameworks, and delivering research engagements end-to-end as part of the services team. You will contribute to how organizations approach evaluation, alignment, and human data challenges, while also shaping Prolific's internal capabilities. Your work will directly impact how AI systems are understood, evaluated, and improved through high-quality human data. This position is at the forefront of AI innovation, leveraging a unique human data platform for groundbreaking research.
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. Prior customer-facing or consulting experience is a plus but not required.
- 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.
- Opportunity to earn a cash variable element, such as a bonus or commission.
- Access to unique human data platform and opportunities for groundbreaking research.