Computational Engineering Researcher (Task Author)
$200 per year
Key Skills
Job Description
Turn computational work from your own engineering research into paid evaluation tasks for AI models. Open to research-track Bachelor's students, Master's and PhD students, postdocs, and recent graduates. AfterQuery is building a network of researchers to author and validate research-grade scientific-computing tasks for AI models. A strong task is a real piece of computational work from your own research, something you've actually run and debugged: a finite-element or CFD solver, a reaction-engineering model, a physiological model, or a structural or electromagnetic simulation you implemented and validated. Each task has a main problem, a few connected subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests that check the result. The difficulty should come from the engineering science itself, not from withheld information. We're looking for researchers in: computational mechanics and finite-element methods; computational fluid dynamics; aerospace numerical modeling; chemical and reaction engineering; biomedical and physiological modeling; civil and structural computational mechanics; environmental modeling; and computational electromagnetics. Requirements Education: A Bachelor's student on a research track or with research experience (such as an REU, a thesis, or an RA or lab role), a Master's or PhD student, a postdoc, or a recent graduate in mechanical, aerospace, chemical, biomedical, civil, environmental, or electrical engineering with a computational focus. Technical: Hands-on experience writing your own code, preferably Python, to implement or validate engineering models and solvers. Using commercial software (such as ANSYS, COMSOL, or Abaqus) without your own code isn't enough. Work authorization: Must be able to work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship. Students on F-1 visas (including OPT/CPT) are not eligible. Contract and pay Flexible, independent-contractor work: $200 per approved task, about 2 hours each, with no cap on how many tasks you take on. Tasks go through review, and you may also review other experts' tasks against a short rubric. All accepted experts undergo standard background and identity verification. Responsibilities Design and author original research-grade evaluation tasks based on your own computational work Specify the metrics a strong solution should be judged by, without publishing the exact passing thresholds Revise tasks based on structured review feedback until they're approved Optionally review and calibrate tasks submitted by other experts in your domain Required Qualifications Bachelor's student on a research track or with research experience, Master's or PhD student, postdoc, or recent graduate in mechanical, aerospace, chemical, biomedical, civil, environmental, or electrical engineering with a computational focus Has written their own code, preferably in Python, to implement or validate engineering models and solvers Able to turn your own computational research into a well-specified task with a reference solution and tests Able to work independently and manage your own time. This is flexible, task-based work with no fixed weekly schedule Preferred Qualifications Research experience developing finite-element, CFD, or other numerical solvers Public code, a thesis, or papers that show your computational work Prior experience in data annotation, data labeling, or AI/ML evaluation work Why apply Work on your own schedule: task-based, not a fixed hourly commitment Contribute directly to how AI models are evaluated on real, expert-level scientific work Paid, flexible work: $200 per approved task (about 2 hours each), no cap on how many you take on
Core Responsibilities
Design original research-grade evaluation tasks based on computational engineering work, including a Python reference solution and tests. Define evaluation metrics, revise tasks based on review feedback, and optionally review tasks submitted by other experts.
Requirements
Applicants must be research-track bachelor's students with research experience, master's or PhD students, postdocs, or recent graduates in a relevant engineering field with a computational focus. They must have written code to implement or validate engineering models and be able to work independently as a contractor without visa sponsorship; F-1 visa holders, including those on OPT or CPT, are not eligible.
About AfterQuery
Industry: Software Development
Company size: 51-200 employees
AfterQuery is an applied research lab curating data solutions to accelerate foundation model development.