
Materials Modeling Engineer - Remote Contract
Listing checked September 18, 2026 · pay as published by Handshake AI
Overview
Handshake AI seeks materials science and engineering modeling experts for part-time contract work supporting AI research. You will build expert-level questions and scenarios from real materials modeling and research engineering workflows. Your day-to-day includes reviewing AI answers for accuracy against computational simulation practices and writing structured critiques that help models improve. Work happens on your schedule with no minimum hours, and the project runs alongside your current role. Tools such as MATLAB or Materials Studio shape the technical depth expected here.
What You'll Do5
- 1Create expert-level training questions and scenarios grounded in real materials modeling and research engineering workflows.
- 2Review AI-generated responses for technical accuracy and relevance to computational modeling and materials simulation practices.
- 3Write structured feedback that pinpoints errors, gaps, and weak reasoning in AI outputs.
- 4Evaluate model performance against domain standards and research engineering norms.
- 5Complete tasks at your own pace with no set schedule or minimum hour requirement.
Requirements5
- 12+ years of professional experience in materials science, computational modeling, or research engineering.
- 2Background in roles such as Materials Scientist, Battery R&D Engineer, Computational Chemist, or Modeling & Simulation Engineer.
- 3Hands-on use of MATLAB, Materials Studio, or both.
- 4Strong written communication skills and close attention to detail.
- 5Ability to work on your own in a remote, asynchronous setting.
Who Should Apply
The ideal candidate brings at least two years of professional experience in materials science, computational modeling, or research engineering, with a title like Battery R&D Engineer or Computational Chemist. You have used MATLAB, Materials Studio, or both in real projects and can explain modeling choices in clear writing. This role fits people who already hold a full-time position and want project-based side work with flexible hours. Candidates who lack hands-on tool experience or who have less than two years in the field often score low on fit. Weak written feedback also sinks applications, because the job hinges on precise critiques of AI-generated technical content.
Salary Insight
The posting lists pay up to $80.00 per hour. For project-based AI evaluation in a specialized engineering field, that ceiling sits near the top of the range and often matches contributors with several years of applied materials modeling experience. No lower bound appears in the listing, so exact pay depends on the project and your background.
Pay and demand for Machine Learning & AI roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$75/hour
This role
up to $80/hr
Most Machine Learning & AI roles pay $55–$100 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Based on 512 similar roles that publish pay · 90 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
- 569
- Listed in last 30 days
- 250
- Remote
- 97%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (261) · Mercor (79) · SME Careers (60)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- python17%
- technical writing9%
- llm evaluation8%
- data annotation7%
Figures from Machine Learning & AI roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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Compensation
Up to $80/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
In your application, name the exact tools you use, such as MATLAB or Materials Studio, and describe one modeling or simulation project where your analysis changed a decision. Pair that with a short writing sample that critiques a technical answer, since the role tests both domain depth and structured feedback.
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