
Mechanical Hardware Design Engineer
Listing checked September 13, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Key details
- Pay
- $135/hr
- Location
- Remote
- Job type
- contract
- Posted
- September 11, 2026
Overview
AfterQuery is assembling a research cohort of senior mechanical and hardware specialists to probe how frontier AI models handle difficult, real-world engineering problems. You would work across CAD, RTL, and robotics territory, deciding what counts as a correct answer and what separates a passable solution from an expert one. The work sits in research and evaluation, not production design, so the output is technical writing, reference solutions, and grading rubrics rather than shipped hardware. Everything runs remote and asynchronous, which means it can slot alongside existing engineering work.
What You'll Do8
- Build realistic engineering problems and scenario sets drawn from your own specialization, whether that is CAD modeling, RTL design, or robotics.
- Write expert-level reference answers that show how each problem should be solved and why that path holds up.
- Create grading rubrics that separate a correct answer from a shallow or partially right one.
- Review AI-generated solutions for technical accuracy, depth of reasoning, and whether the engineering judgment holds.
- Document your reasoning in structured written feedback that other reviewers and researchers can act on.
- Flag subtle failure modes where a model produces plausible but physically or logically wrong results.
- Keep your problem sets aligned with the difficulty bar of real expert practice in your track.
- Work through assigned evaluations on your own schedule while meeting cohort deadlines.
Requirements7
- 8 to 12 years of hands-on mechanical or hardware design experience in industry, not purely academic or academic-adjacent work.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field; a PE license or Master's degree strengthens the application.
- Depth in at least one track: CAD, RTL/HDL, or robotics.
- Strong technical writing. You will author explanations and structured critiques, not just solve problems.
- Ability to operate independently and asynchronously in a remote setting.
- Candidates should meet at least 70% of the stated qualifications before applying.
- Background checks form part of the onboarding process.
Who Should Apply
Practicing hardware and mechanical engineers with 8 to 12 years in the field who can explain their design decisions in writing as well as they can make them. Strong fits specialize in CAD, RTL/HDL, or robotics and have reviewed, graded, or published technical work before.
Salary Insight
The posted rate is $135/hr, and AfterQuery quotes a band of $100 to $170/hr depending on experience. That range sits well above typical contract rates for hardware design work, which reflects the seniority bar and the evaluation-heavy nature of the tasks.
Pay and demand for Hardware & Embedded Systems roles
Market estimates from live NearSkill listings — separate from this job's published terms.
This role · as published
$135/hr
Taken from the listing itself.
Typical pay · estimated
$75/hour
Median of 1,399 similar roles that publish pay · 307 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Most Hardware & Embedded Systems roles pay $40–$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
- 1,603
- Listed in last 30 days
- 825
- Remote
- 98%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (489) · SME Careers (259) · Mercor (218)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- ai evaluation13%
- python12%
- llm evaluation11%
- data annotation11%
Figures from Hardware & Embedded Systems roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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