Materials Science and Engineering Expert
Listing checked October 29, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Key details
- Pay
- $115/hr
- Location
- Remote
- Job type
- contract
- Posted
- August 27, 2026
Overview
AfterQuery collects expert evaluation data that frontier AI labs use to measure model judgment, and this contract role puts you on the materials side of that work. You will write the selection and failure analysis scenarios that models get tested on, then score how well the models handle them. Expect to lean on structure property reasoning across a materials class you know well, whether that means metals, polymers, ceramics, or semiconductors. Work runs fully async with hours you set each week, minimum 10.
What You'll Do5
- Draft realistic materials scenarios that carry a case from initial selection through failure analysis.
- Write reference answers that lay out the structure property reasoning behind each recommendation.
- Review model responses for technical correctness and for whether the advice would hold up in practice.
- Call out answers that sound credible on the surface but would break down in service.
- Bring in characterization detail such as SEM, XRD, or DSC findings where a scenario calls for it.
Requirements5
- Degree in materials science and engineering or a closely related discipline.
- At least 2 years of professional materials engineering or R&D work.
- Recognized depth in one materials class: metals, polymers, ceramics, or semiconductors.
- Written English strong enough to document materials reasoning in a way reviewers can follow.
- Availability of 10 hours per week or more.
Who Should Apply
Materials engineers and R&D practitioners with 2 or more years of hands-on experience and a deep specialty in one materials class. Candidates who can explain a selection or failure decision in clear written English and commit at least 10 hours per week fit this work well.
Salary Insight
Pay runs from $100 to $130 per hour, sent weekly through Stripe, with your rate set from your experience rather than negotiated down after you start. That band sits well above typical materials engineering salaries for comparable advisory work, so it suits practitioners who bring real R&D depth.
Pay and demand for Sales Engineering & Solutions Consulting roles
Market estimates from live NearSkill listings — separate from this job's published terms.
This role · as published
$115/hr
Taken from the listing itself.
Typical pay · estimated
$83/hour
Median of 309 similar roles that publish pay · 43 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Most Sales Engineering & Solutions Consulting roles pay $62–$100 per hour. This role's pay sits above that range.
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
- 375
- Listed in last 30 days
- 212
- Remote
- 88%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (98) · Mercor (63) · AfterQuery (59)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- technical writing17%
- python12%
- ai evaluation9%
- matlab7%
Figures from Sales Engineering & Solutions Consulting roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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