About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified .

JOB SUMMARY

The AI Prompt Engineer will be responsible for designing, optimizing, and maintaining the prompts and interactions that power the university's large language model (LLM) applications across service desk automation, administrative assistance, and other AI-driven services. This role is critical in ensuring AI systems communicate effectively, produce accurate outputs, and deliver consistent user experiences across all university stakeholders. The position requires expertise in natural language processing, LLM capabilities, domain-specific knowledge, and the ability to translate business requirements into effective AI interactions.

This role is hybrid and in the office a minimum of three days a week to facilitate collaboration and teamwork. In-office presence is an essential part of our on-campus culture and allows for engaging directly with staff and students, sharing ideas, and contributing to a dynamic work environment. Being on-site allows for stronger connections, more effective problem-solving, and enhanced team synergy, all of which are key to achieving our collective goals and driving success.

* Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge and skills required for this position are normally obtained through a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, Computer Science, or related field; with a minimum of 2 years of experience working with large language models and prompt engineering, with demonstrated success in enterprise applications. Experience in higher education or similar complex organizational environments preferred.

Other necessary skills: LLM Expertise: Deep understanding of large language model capabilities, limitations, and optimal interaction patterns, with demonstrated experience designing effective prompts for enterprise applications.
Prompt Engineering Skills: Advanced proficiency in crafting, testing, and refining prompts that produce consistent, accurate, and appropriate AI outputs across diverse use cases and user types.
Natural Language Processing: Strong understanding of NLP concepts and techniques, including context management, semantic analysis, entity recognition, and conversational design.
Systematic Testing: Experience designing comprehensive test cases and evaluation frameworks to assess prompt effectiveness, identify edge cases, and ensure consistent AI system performance.
Domain Adaptation: Ability to adapt general AI models to specific domains through effective prompt strategies, content framing, and domain-specific terminology integration.
Technical Understanding: Sufficient technical knowledge to collaborate effectively with AI engineers and operations specialists on prompt implementation, optimization, and troubleshooting.
Analytical Skills: Strong analytical capabilities to evaluate prompt performance data, identify patterns in AI responses, and implement data-driven improvements to interaction designs.
Creative Problem-Solving: Creativity in developing novel prompt approaches to overcome model limitations and address complex use cases not easily handled by standard methods.
Content Design: Experience creating clear, structured content frameworks that guide AI systems to produce well-organized, user-friendly outputs in appropriate formats.
User Experience Focus: Strong user-centric mindset with the ability to design AI interactions that feel natural, helpful, and aligned with user expectations and needs.
Documentation Skills: Excellence in documenting prompt strategies, design patterns, and guidelines to ensure consistency across the organization and enable knowledge transfer.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including technical teams, subject matter experts, and end-users to gather requirements and refine AI interactions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Prompt Design and Optimization

Design, develop, and continuously optimize prompts for university AI systems across service desk automation, administrative assistance, and other applications. Create prompt strategies that produce accurate, consistent, and contextually appropriate AI outputs aligned with business requirements and user expectations.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Develop and implement comprehensive testing frameworks to evaluate prompt effectiveness across diverse scenarios and edge cases. Systematically test AI responses to ensure accuracy, safety, appropriateness, and alignment with university policies and standards. Identify and address prompt vulnerabilities and failure modes.

Domain-Specific Adaptation

Collaborate with subject matter experts to adapt AI interactions for specific university domains, including IT support, administrative processes, and academic contexts. Incorporate domain-specific terminology, workflows, and knowledge into prompt designs to enhance relevance and effectiveness.

Performance Analysis and Improvement

Analyze AI system outputs and user feedback to identify patterns, issues, and opportunities for improvement. Implement data-driven refinements to prompts based on performance metrics and real-world usage patterns. Monitor for and address model drift or inconsistencies in AI responses over time.

Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of prompt design patterns, strategies, and best practices. Develop prompt libraries, templates, and guidelines to ensure consistency across the organization. Share knowledge and insights with technical teams and stakeholders to advance organizational prompt engineering capabilities.

Position Type

Information Technology

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

111S

Expected Hiring Range:

$86,490.00 - $122,163.75

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Northeastern University

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AI Prompt Engineer