Senior Prompt Engineer job in New York, NY

Are you passionate about pushing the boundaries of generative AI and large language models (LLMs)? We are seeking a Senior Prompt Engineer to join a cutting-edge AI team based in New York, NY. This is a unique opportunity to shape how machines understand and respond to human language by crafting high-performing prompts and optimizing model behaviors. If you're creative, detail-oriented, and excited by the future of human-AI collaboration, this role is tailored for you.

Lead Prompt Engineering Efforts in a World-Class AI Team

A leading AI research and development firm in New York, NY is hiring a Senior Prompt Engineer to spearhead experimentation and design across natural language interfaces. In this role, you’ll develop prompt strategies that maximize model performance across diverse applications—from chatbots and copilots to search and automation systems. Ideal candidates will bring experience with LLMs, a strong understanding of NLP, and a sharp problem-solving mindset. Join us to help shape the next frontier of language-based AI.

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Prompt Engineer – New York, NY

Prompt Design & Optimization

Develop, test, and refine high-quality prompts to improve large language model performance across various use cases. Design effective prompt templates and iterate through experimentation to achieve optimal results for user interaction, accuracy, and reliability.

Model Evaluation & Benchmarking

Collaborate with ML researchers and engineers to design evaluation frameworks that measure LLM output quality, coherence, and alignment. Analyze performance across multiple dimensions and recommend prompt-driven adjustments to improve outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with product teams, UX designers, researchers, and developers to integrate prompt engineering into real-world applications. Translate technical language capabilities into user-friendly product experiences.

Domain Adaptation & Customization

Tailor prompts for domain-specific needs such as customer service, education, healthcare, or finance. Customize interactions based on user personas, tone, intent, and compliance requirements, ensuring prompts are contextually relevant and safe.

Innovation & Research

Stay ahead of advancements in generative AI and LLMs by exploring novel prompt engineering techniques, few-shot learning strategies, and system instructions. Contribute to the development of best practices and internal documentation.

Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement

Leverage user feedback and model performance data to iterate on prompts, improve content coverage, and reduce hallucinations or bias. Drive continuous improvement through data-driven experimentation and refinement.

Tooling & Automation

Build or leverage prompt testing tools, evaluation platforms, and internal dashboards to streamline experimentation workflows. Contribute to the development of reusable prompt libraries and prompt optimization frameworks.

Ethical & Responsible AI Practices

Ensure prompts align with ethical AI standards, reduce unintended bias, and comply with safety guidelines. Collaborate with policy and compliance teams to maintain responsible AI use in production environments.

Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

Create comprehensive documentation for prompt strategies, success metrics, and performance outcomes. Share findings and learnings across engineering, research, and product teams to inform future development.

Mentorship & Leadership

Provide guidance and support to junior engineers and cross-functional team members in understanding and applying prompt engineering principles. Act as a subject matter expert and thought leader in the AI prompt space.

What the Client is Looking for in You

As a Senior Prompt Engineer, the client seeks a technically skilled and creatively driven professional who can bridge the gap between natural language understanding and machine intelligence. You should be an innovative problem-solver with deep knowledge of large language models (LLMs), prompt design, and AI system behavior. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-evolving environments and enjoys transforming cutting-edge technology into real-world solutions.

Expertise in Language Models and Generative AI

The client is looking for a candidate with hands-on experience working with LLMs such as GPT, Claude, PaLM, or similar. You should possess a deep understanding of prompt engineering techniques, few-shot prompting, and instruction tuning. Familiarity with model behavior, optimization trade-offs, and output evaluation is essential.

Strategic and Experimental Mindset

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with an experimental approach, capable of running structured tests to refine prompts and improve model performance across multiple domains. You should bring a mix of scientific rigor and creative iteration to prompt development, along with the ability to translate abstract goals into measurable outcomes.

Strong Technical Foundation

You must have a solid background in computer science, NLP, machine learning, or related fields. Proficiency in Python, working with APIs, and tools for prompt evaluation and data analysis is highly desired. Familiarity with version control, collaborative workflows, and model evaluation metrics will help you excel in this role.

Collaboration and Communication Skills

The client values individuals who can collaborate cross-functionally with researchers, designers, and product teams. You should be able to clearly communicate prompt rationale, model limitations, and design choices to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Creative Problem Solver with Attention to Detail

You should have a creative and analytical mindset, capable of crafting prompts that produce accurate, safe, and context-aware responses. A strong eye for linguistic detail and model behavior nuances will be key to success in this role.

Commitment to Responsible AI

The client seeks someone committed to ethical and responsible AI development. You should be aware of fairness, bias, and safety issues in LLM outputs, and have a proactive approach to mitigating potential risks through thoughtful prompt engineering.

Driven by Impact and Innovation

Lastly, the client is looking for a prompt engineer who is motivated by real-world impact—someone who is excited by the potential of generative AI and dedicated to shaping its responsible evolution. If you are passionate about advancing how humans and machines interact through language, this is the role for you.

FAQs About the Role – Senior Prompt Engineer – New York, NY

1. What are the key responsibilities of the Senior Prompt Engineer in this role?

As a Senior Prompt Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, testing, and optimizing prompts to enhance the performance of large language models (LLMs). You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams, analyze model outputs, build prompt evaluation tools, and develop domain-specific prompt solutions. A core part of your role will be driving innovation in prompt engineering strategies and ensuring outputs are accurate, safe, and aligned with user intent.

2. What qualifications and experience are required for this position?

The ideal candidate should have a background in computer science, natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, or a related field. Experience working directly with LLMs (e.g., GPT, Claude, PaLM), developing prompt strategies, and optimizing model behavior is crucial. Proficiency in Python, familiarity with APIs, and hands-on experience with generative AI tools are highly desirable. Prior experience in AI product development or research is a plus.

3. What technical and soft skills are essential for this role?

Strong analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, and attention to linguistic detail are vital. You should be able to run experiments, evaluate results critically, and iterate quickly. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical teams are key. The client values individuals who are curious, self-driven, and comfortable working in fast-paced, research-heavy environments.

4. What challenges can I expect in this role?

You may face challenges such as managing unpredictable model outputs, balancing creativity with accuracy, reducing hallucinations or bias, and fine-tuning prompts for diverse domains. The evolving nature of generative AI requires adaptability, rapid experimentation, and staying current with industry best practices and advancements in LLM research.

5. What is the expected impact of the Senior Prompt Engineer on product development?

As a Senior Prompt Engineer, you will have a direct impact on user experience, model effectiveness, and product quality. Your work will influence how AI systems communicate, solve problems, and adapt to different contexts. High-performing prompts can significantly enhance product performance and scalability, making your role critical to both short-term success and long-term innovation.

6. What is the company’s culture and work environment like?

The company fosters a collaborative, mission-driven, and experimentation-focused culture. They value curiosity, creativity, and accountability. You’ll be part of a team that embraces cutting-edge technology, encourages knowledge sharing, and supports continuous learning. Engineers are empowered to take ownership of their work and drive meaningful change in AI products.

What Remuneration Can You Expect from This Job?

As a Senior Prompt Engineer based in New York, NY, you can expect a highly competitive compensation package reflecting the technical complexity and strategic value of this role within the generative AI space. Compensation for top-tier AI talent continues to rise due to growing demand and the mission-critical nature of large language model development. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

1. Base Salary

The base salary for a Senior Prompt Engineer in New York typically ranges from $160,000 to $220,000 annually, depending on your level of experience, company size, and expertise with large language models. High-growth AI startups and established tech companies may offer salaries above this range for top-tier candidates.

2. Performance-Based Bonuses

In addition to base pay, many companies offer annual or quarterly bonuses tied to individual performance, project milestones, and product impact. Bonuses for this role generally range between 10% and 25% of the base salary, with potential for higher incentives in high-stakes or mission-critical projects.

3. Equity & Stock Options

Given the innovative nature of AI product development, equity compensation is a common part of the package. Stock options or restricted stock units (RSUs) are often provided to align your long-term success with company growth. Equity packages can significantly enhance your total compensation, especially in startups or pre-IPO tech companies.

4. Long-Term Incentive Plans (LTIPs)

Select employers offer long-term incentive plans based on sustained technical or product contributions over several years. These may include milestone bonuses, retention grants, or additional equity refreshers to reward loyalty and innovation.

5. Benefits & Perks

As a Senior Prompt Engineer, you can expect a comprehensive suite of benefits, including:

Health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plans with company matching
Paid time off (PTO), sick leave, and parental leave
Professional development stipends or education reimbursement
Flexible working hours or hybrid/remote work options
Wellness programs and mental health support
Access to the latest AI tools and compute resources

6. Signing Bonuses & Relocation Assistance

For highly qualified candidates or those relocating to New York, companies may offer signing bonuses (typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000) and relocation assistance packages to ease the transition and secure top talent swiftly.

Total Compensation Potential

When combining base salary, performance bonuses, equity, and benefits, the total compensation package for a Senior Prompt Engineer can range from $200,000 to $400,000+ annually, depending on the company, role scope, and market competitiveness. In AI-focused organizations with strong growth potential, total compensation can be significantly higher—particularly when stock valuations grow over time.

How to Apply

If you're a creative, analytical, and technically skilled professional with hands-on experience in large language models (LLMs) and a passion for AI innovation, we invite you to apply for the Senior Prompt Engineer role in New York, NY. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of human-AI interaction and play a key role in advancing prompt engineering strategies within a fast-growing AI-driven organization.

To apply, please submit your updated resume along with a cover letter highlighting your experience in:

Developing and optimizing prompts for LLMs (e.g., GPT, Claude, PaLM)
Working with generative AI tools, APIs, and NLP frameworks
Solving real-world problems using prompt strategies and model tuning
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product outcomes
Analyzing, evaluating, and iterating on prompt performance and safety

Be sure to showcase any notable AI projects, research, or applications where your prompt engineering significantly improved model performance or user engagement.

This role offers a career-defining opportunity to work at the frontier of AI innovation, build scalable prompt systems, and contribute directly to next-generation AI products. Apply today to make your mark as a Senior Prompt Engineer in New York, NY.

For more information or to discover similar openings, visit our Prompt Engineering Executive Search Firm Page.

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Senior Prompt Engineer job in New York, NY

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