Data Engineering Expert - Remote Contract
Listing checked September 22, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Overview
AfterQuery hires data engineers for remote contract projects that run for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. You will build and deploy data infrastructure, document pipeline architecture, and resolve failures using tools such as DBT, Kafka, Spark, Snowflake, or Redshift. The role calls for 1 to 3 years of professional experience in data engineering or ETL work. The listing notes a 40-hour commitment each week, while individual project assignments can require 10 to 20 hours per week. Pay is estimated at $60 to $100 per hour, and the work comes from an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company.
What You'll Do5
- 1Write technical documentation for data flows, pipeline designs, and architecture decisions.
- 2Build and deploy data infrastructure on cloud platforms with tools such as DBT, Kafka, Spark, Snowflake, or Redshift.
- 3Work through async channels on data integration and warehousing projects.
- 4Diagnose and fix data pipeline failures.
- 5Resolve performance issues in data pipelines.
Requirements4
- 11 to 3 years of professional experience in data engineering, ETL development, or a related field.
- 2Proficiency in one or more of these tools: Moreso, DBT, Kafka, Spark, Snowflake, or Redshift.
- 3Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or another technical discipline.
- 4Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work on technical tasks with little supervision.
Who Should Apply
The ideal candidate has 1 to 3 years in data engineering or ETL work, can point to real projects with DBT, Kafka, Spark, Snowflake, or Redshift, and holds a technical degree. This contract fits engineers who want short remote assignments from a Y Combinator-backed startup and can manage async collaboration. The role is less suitable for someone who needs live meetings each day, heavy onboarding, or one long-term team. Candidates often score low when they do not list the programming languages they use, because the application process requires that detail. Another common rejection point is showing coursework without professional pipeline or infrastructure work.
Salary Insight
Pay is project-based and starts at an estimated $60 per hour, with top end at $100 per hour. For a short remote contract, that range often aligns with engineers who have hands-on pipeline or ETL experience rather than those learning their first data stack. The listing does not mention benefits, overtime, or a fixed salary.
Pay and demand for Data Engineering roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$75/hour
This role
$60–$100/hr
Most Data Engineering roles pay $54–$90 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Based on 391 similar roles that publish pay · 58 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
- 476
- Listed in last 30 days
- 226
- Remote
- 92%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (205) · Mercor (62) · Turing (42)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- python21%
- JAVA9%
- Typescript9%
- technical writing8%
Figures from Data Engineering roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
Compare your resume against these rolesLocation
Compensation
$60–100/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
List every programming language you use, and pair each with a concrete project. For example, name the language first, then add the measurable work you did with it. This detail satisfies the stated application requirement and helps reviewers confirm your fit.
See NearSkill jobs more often in your search
Application & verification flow
1Instant rubric match
Your resume is scanned against this role’s requirements to check qualification fit.
2Screened before the employer sees it
Only profiles that clear screening are passed on.
3Outcome by email
We notify you at the address on your resume once the screening is reviewed.
Similar open positions
Explore active roles that match your skills and interests.
AfterQuery
VerifiedSoftware Engineering Expert - Remote Contract
AfterQuery, an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company, seeks software engineers for a remote contract that runs 2 to 3 weeks. You will handle project-based assignments across software development, debugging, code review, and technical implementation while working in varied stacks. The schedule stays asynchronous, and you commit about 10 hours each week, with pay from $50 to $100 per hour. Projects arrive one at a time, so you choose the work you accept and build a portfolio from real engineering problems.
AfterQuery
VerifiedSoftware Developer Expert (Remote Contract)
AfterQuery hires a Software Developer Expert for a remote contract that runs across a 2 to 3 week project window. Work covers software development, debugging, code review and technical implementation. You accept projects one at a time. The company is an early-stage Y Combinator-backed startup, so each task ties to real engineering problems across different codebases. The listing sets a 10-hour weekly commitment, while individual projects can ask for 10 to 20 hours per week, with contract pay between $50 and $100 per hour. Preferred tools include Git, CI/CD pipelines and cloud services such as AWS or GCP.
AfterQuery
VerifiedSQL Analytics Engineer Expert - Remote Contract
AfterQuery needs analytics engineers to craft SQL scenarios for frontier AI labs. You work from raw tables to tested models, then explain each modeling and query choice. The work spans BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, and dbt transformations, with grading on correctness and warehouse cost. You set your hours each week, and the role is 100% remote and async, with about 10 hours expected. Pay is $60 to $100 per hour, paid each week via Stripe.
AfterQuery
VerifiedMachine Learning Data Science Expert - Remote Contract
AfterQuery, an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company, seeks remote machine learning and data science experts for contract projects. The work matches tasks common to data science, ML engineering, AI research, or analytics roles, and it runs over the next 2 to 3 weeks on your own schedule. Projects arrive one at a time, with a listed baseline of 10 hours a week and expected commitments of 10 to 20 hours per week for accepted work. You will build and evaluate models, develop predictive models, and tune hyperparameter settings while documenting your methods. Pay starts at $60 per hour and can reach $100 per hour, and the project format helps you add real-world ML work to your portfolio.
Micro1
VerifiedData Engineer
A full-time remote role for a data engineer who can build and maintain scalable ETL pipelines and handle both structured and unstructured data. You will transform raw information into reliable datasets that support research, analytics, and AI model work, with exposure to machine learning tools viewed as valuable. You’ll collaborate with researchers, data scientists, and engineers to prep data for AI initiatives, and you’ll work with familiar tools and environments to ensure solid data quality.
Mercor
VerifiedData Engineering Expert (UK-Based, AI Lab Contract)
Mercor seeks UK-based data engineering professionals for a short, intensive project with a globally leading AI lab, running 14 September to 10 October 2026 at 40 hours per week. You create the professional documents and deliverables you already produce in your field, then work with experts from two other domains to refine them. Project leads log those outputs and use them to build tasks and rubrics for training and evaluating frontier AI models. The core stack covers SQL, Python, and tools such as Spark, Airflow, dbt, Snowflake, BigQuery, or Databricks across AWS, GCP, or Azure. Some roles focus on hands-on delivery, others on documenting and structuring that work.