Field Research Engineer

Prolific

9h•Remote

About The Position

Prolific is not just another player in the AI space – we are the architects of the human data infrastructure that's reshaping the landscape of AI development. In a world where foundational AI technologies are increasingly commoditized, it's the quality and diversity of human-generated data that truly differentiates products and models. We're seeking a Field Research Engineer to serve as Prolific's technical research partner to AI labs and enterprise customers. You'll 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 our services team. You'll contribute to how organizations approach evaluation, alignment, and human data challenges while shaping Prolific's own capabilities. Your work will directly impact how we understand, evaluate, and improve AI systems through high-quality human data. We believe that the next leap in AI capabilities won't come solely from scaling existing models but from integrating diverse human perspectives and behaviors into AI development. By providing this crucial human data infrastructure, Prolific is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of AI innovation—one that reflects the breadth and the best of humanity.

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)

Nice To Haves

Prior customer-facing or consulting experience is a plus but not required.

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