Head of Data Science & Applied AI

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 commoditised, it's the quality and diversity of human-generated data that truly differentiates products and models.

The Role

Lead the technical team that’s revolutionising how AI learns from humans. At Prolific, you’ll build and direct the data science and AI/ML engineering function that powers the world’s leading platform for human feedback collection – enabling AI developers to efficiently incorporate human intelligence into their models. Your team will solve challenges across the full ML/AI spectrum: creating intelligent systems that optimise feedback quality, design behavioural modelling at scale, and developing breakthrough methods for effective human-AI interaction. This isn’t just another technical leadership role; you’ll directly shape how the industry incorporates human intelligence into the next generation of AI systems, with immediate access to a unique human data asset that positions you to make outsized impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute Prolific's data science and applied AI strategy
  • Build and scale high-performing teams of data scientists and AI/ML engineers, with a strong culture of excellence, innovation, and impact
  • Partner directly with executive leadership to identify breakthrough opportunities where our human data advance AI capabilities
  • Create a technical vision that positions Prolific as the leader in human-centered AI development
  • Establish a technical culture that attracts and retains exceptional talent in a competitive market
• Technical Direction
  • Lead the development of sophisticated ML/AI systems that enhance how human feedback is collected, validated, and utilised
  • Spearhead the creation of robust measurement frameworks and experimental designs to quantify our platform's capabilities and support emerging AI evaluation needs
  • Establish technical standards and best practices across data science and AI engineering
  • Balance technical innovation with operational excellence and business impact
• Cross-Functional Impact
  • Translate technical capabilities into competitive advantages for the platform
  • Collaborate with platform engineering to create seamless integration paths for your team’s innovations
  • Partner with research to rapidly operationalise promising approaches
  • Work with product teams to enhance platform capabilities through intelligent systems
  • Influence how the AI industry approaches human feedback through thought leadership

What You’ll Bring

• 6+ years of experience in data science, AI/ML engineering, or related fields – preferably in leadership roles
• Proven track record of building and scaling high-performing teams
• Experience applying both traditional machine learning and modern AI techniques to solve real business problems
• Strategic vision for how human data can fundamentally improve AI systems
• Experience working with behavioural data, human feedback systems, or AI evaluation methodologies preferred – with interest in exploring innovative applications
• Ability to work quickly in a fast-paced challenging environment and deliver high-quality results to stakeholders
• Experience collaborating effectively with platform engineering and research teams
• Demonstrated ability to balance innovation with practical delivery of robust, scalable systems
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence at all levels of the organisation
• Strategic mindset with hands-on technical capabilities and a practical approach to problem-solving

Why Prolific is a great place to work

We’ve built a unique platform that connects researchers and companies with a global pool of participants, enabling the collection of high-quality, ethically sourced human behavioural data and feedback. This data is the cornerstone of developing more accurate, nuanced, and aligned AI systems. We believe that the next leap in AI capabilities won’t come solely from scaling existing models, but from integrating diverse human perspectives and behaviours 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. Working for us will place you at the forefront of AI innovation, providing access to our unique human data platform and opportunities for groundbreaking research. Join us to enjoy a competitive salary, benefits, and remote working within our impactful, mission-driven culture.