Operations Research & Applied Mathematics Specialist
Listing checked November 11, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Key details
- Pay
- $50/hr
- Location
- Remote
- Job type
- contract
- Posted
- November 11, 2026
Overview
AfterQuery supplies expert-written material that leading AI labs use to test and train their models, and this contract role puts your operations research background to work producing it. You design research-level problems pulled from the systems you already model: supply chains, scheduling, physical processes. Python serves as the working language, and solver experience with Gurobi or a comparable tool helps when you set up a formulation. Each approved task pays $300 and runs about six hours, with no ceiling on how many you accept.
What You'll Do7
- Write research-level problems in operations research or applied mathematics that mirror genuine modeling and optimization work.
- Ground each problem in operational data you have handled yourself, whether that covers supply chains, scheduling or a physical process.
- Lay out problem formulations so another expert can follow your reasoning and verify the answer.
- Document assumptions, data choices and the expected solution path as you build each task.
- Take on tasks on your own schedule and deliver them without a fixed weekly timetable.
- Revisit a model formulation when the underlying data calls for a different structure.
- Review your own output for errors before submitting it for approval.
Requirements5
- Hands-on experience with real operational data of your own, worked through Python or a comparable language.
- Ability to describe technical work in writing so a reader outside your immediate project can follow it.
- Self-directed approach to work: you set your own hours and keep tasks moving without supervision.
- Solid grounding in operations research, applied mathematics or a related quantitative field.
- Eligibility to work as an independent contractor with no visa sponsorship. Students on F-1 visas, including OPT and CPT, do not qualify.
Preferred Qualifications4
- Master's or PhD in operations research, applied mathematics or a related field, plus industry optimization or modeling work
- Optimization or simulation deployed on real operational data, including cases where the data forced a change in formulation
- Public code, a thesis or published papers that show your technical work
- Prior data annotation, data labeling or AI/ML evaluation experience
Who Should Apply
An operations researcher or applied mathematician who has modeled real systems and can write a problem statement that survives scrutiny from another expert. Solver work in Gurobi and a graduate degree strengthen the case. You set your own hours and deliver without a manager checking in.
Salary Insight
Pay comes to $300 for each approved task, and a task takes roughly six hours of work, which works out near $50 per hour. No cap applies to how many tasks you accept, so your volume stays in your hands. That rate fits people with graduate training and industry modeling experience behind them.
Pay and demand for Market Research & Insights roles
Market estimates from live NearSkill listings — separate from this job's published terms.
This role · as published
$50/hr
Taken from the listing itself.
Typical pay · estimated
$70/hour
Median of 1,330 similar roles that publish pay · 304 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Most Market Research & Insights roles pay $40–$100 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
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- Listed in last 30 days
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Most requested skills · share of roles
- ai evaluation13%
- llm evaluation12%
- data annotation12%
- python11%
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