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Prompt Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

AI/ML Engineer, Applied Data Science

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$141K - $169K/yr

Do you enjoy the craft of prompt engineering, retrieval optimization, and grounding? Can you build AI systems that are not just impressive demos, but reliable production tools? The Applied Data ...

The AI Prompt & Workflow Designer is the strategic architect and hands-on lead responsible for the ... Partner closely with Customer Experience SMEs, Enterprise Technology, Product, and Engineering ...

AI Lead (SAP Background Required)

Torrance, CA · On-site +1

$106K - $139K/yr

This role requires strong experience in LLMs, prompt engineering, RAG pipelines, and AI-driven automation, with a focus on POCs → production deployment. Candidates having experience building and ...

GenAI Architect / AI Architect (LLM, Prompt Engineering, RAG, AWS/Azure) Location: Torrance, CA (Onsite) Duration: 6+ Months Consultants local to CA preferred Job Summary We are looking for a hands ...

... prompt engineering to context management, tool calling, and response streaming • Drive architectural decisions that shape our voice AI pipeline, including integration with STT, TTS, and LLM ...

Build, test, and refine prompts that power AI agents using prompt engineering and analytical problem-solving. * Design systems that enable scalable, high-accuracy iteration on prompt workflows.

Develop and optimize prompt engineering strategies for LLM-based systems * Build and deploy RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines * Integrate LLMs via APIs (Azure OpenAI preferred) into ...

AI/ML Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$111K - $153K/yr

Develop and optimize prompt engineering strategies for LLM-based systems * Build and deploy RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines * Integrate LLMs via APIs (Azure OpenAI preferred) into ...

Apply AI-enabled productivity tools and demonstrate working familiarity with AI agents (e.g., Codex, Claude Code), including prompt engineering, AI workflows, evaluation methods, and testing ...

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Prompt Engineering information

See California salary details

$32.1K

$62.2K

$94.2K

How much do prompt engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for prompt engineering in California is $62,152.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,400.00 and $71,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Prompt Engineering job?

A Prompt Engineering job involves designing, refining, and optimizing prompts to improve the performance of AI language models. Prompt engineers work with large language models (LLMs) to generate accurate, relevant, and high-quality responses. They experiment with different phrasing techniques, fine-tune AI outputs, and collaborate with developers to enhance model capabilities. This role is essential in ensuring AI systems provide reliable and useful responses for various applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Prompt Engineering position, and why are they important?

To excel in Prompt Engineering, a strong grasp of natural language processing (NLP), machine learning concepts, and analytical thinking is essential, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with AI platforms, code repositories (such as GitHub), and prompt development tools is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, creativity, and cross-functional communication skills help Prompt Engineers effectively collaborate and refine model outputs. These capabilities enable the creation of precise, effective prompts driving high-quality AI responses in rapidly evolving technical environments.

What are the most common challenges faced by Prompt Engineers in their daily work?

Prompt Engineers frequently encounter challenges such as ensuring the clarity and relevance of prompts to achieve accurate AI responses, troubleshooting inconsistent model behavior, and staying updated with evolving AI technologies. Balancing experimentation with efficiency is often essential, as iterative testing and refinement are core parts of the workflow. Collaboration with data scientists, product managers, and other engineers is common, requiring adaptability and strong communication skills. These challenges make the role dynamic and rewarding for professionals who enjoy problem-solving and innovation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Prompt Engineering jobs in California? The most popular types of Prompt Engineering jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Prompt Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Prompt Engineering job openings:
AI/ML Engineer, Applied Data Science

AI/ML Engineer, Applied Data Science

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$141K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 670 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish.
Are you passionate about taking AI from prototype to production at scale?
Do you enjoy the craft of prompt engineering, retrieval optimization, and grounding?
Can you build AI systems that are not just impressive demos, but reliable production tools?
The Applied Data Science team within Legal Operations is building production-grade AI for a global legal organization. The AI/ML Engineer role is central to this mission - prototyping AI solutions, then scaling them to production systems that attorneys rely on every day.
Description
The AI/ML Engineer builds AI capabilities from prototype to production. You will develop prompt engineering solutions, RAG pipelines, AI agents, and evaluation frameworks - starting with rapid prototypes to validate use cases, then engineering them into scalable, production-grade systems. This role requires both the creativity to explore what's possible and the rigor to build what's reliable.
Minimum Qualifications
4+ years of delivering solutions in AI/ML engineering, NLP, or related roles
Strong proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar)
Experience with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar)
Experience with RAG architectures and vector databases
Understanding of prompt engineering techniques and best practices
Experience taking AI systems from prototype to production
Experience with evaluation frameworks for AI systems
Supporting AI applications in production
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with LangChain, LlamaIndex, or similar LLM orchestration frameworks
Experience with agentic AI frameworks (LangGraph, CrewAI, or similar)
Familiarity with knowledge graphs and GraphRAG patterns
Experience with AI evaluation tools (RAGAS, DeepEval, or similar)
Knowledge of legal domain and legal NLP applications
Experience with guardrails and safety frameworks (Guardrails AI, NeMo Guardrails)
Understanding of MCP (Model Context Protocol) or similar integration patterns
Experience deploying and monitoring AI systems at scale
Track record of shipping AI products that users rely on

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976