After moving from Oxford to Manhattan, he worked as an editor for the punk and beatnik magazine "Long Shot" for one year before departing over creative differences. He then served as the poetry editor for Random House’s online magazine "Bold Type" for several years (2000–2004) and also edited the print and online magazine "nowCulture" (2000–2005). While at "Bold Type", he interviewed Kevin Young, Cynthia Zarin, Kenneth Koch, and Mark Strand. As books and literary editor for nowCulture.com (issued as two print annuals, "NC1" and "NC2"), Hilbert published up-and-coming authors from his own generation, including Matthea Harvey, Timothy Liu, Matthew Zapruder, Wells Tower, and Joshua Beckman. He also interviewed a number of authors for the magazine, including Gustaf Sobin, Alexandar Hemon, Matthew Kneale, and Joe Wenderoth. From 2005-2010 he edited the "Contemporary Poetry Review". On January 13th, 2017, Hilbert started a Dark Web poetry magazine called "Cocytus". It has included poems by A. E. Stallings, Erica Dawson, and Amit Majmudar.