Principal Engineer / Professor — Technical Expert
Listing checked November 4, 2026 · pay as published by micro1
Key details
- Pay
- $85–185/hr
- Location
- Remote
- Job type
- contract
- Openings
- 5
- Posted
- October 31, 2026
Overview
micro1 is hiring principal-level engineers, scientists, and faculty to create technical problems that test what AI systems can actually do. Your domain expertise in aerospace, semiconductors, manufacturing and industrial engineering, or materials science is what matters. You will design challenging problems from your own area, provide correct solutions with reasoning, and set objective criteria for correctness. No prior AI experience is required, and the work is fully remote with flexible hours.
What You'll Do5
- Create difficult technical problems from your domain, complete with realistic constraints and supporting data.
- Provide the correct solution and explain the reasoning that leads to it.
- Define clear, objective criteria for correctness so another expert would reach the same conclusion.
- Review problems submitted by other contributors for technical accuracy and soundness of method.
- Identify and flag problems that are ambiguous or cannot be graded instead of submitting them.
Requirements5
- Master’s or PhD in engineering, physics, materials, or a closely related field.
- Principal, staff, or fellow-level experience at a major engineering organization, a national lab, or a faculty appointment at a leading university.
- Deep technical depth in at least one area, with hands-on ownership of the work.
- Ability to explain why an answer is correct clearly enough for another expert to verify it.
- Strong engineering judgment under constraints and the ability to recognize when an answer is wrong.
Preferred Qualifications1
- Publications, patents, or a record of technical leadership is a strong plus.
Who Should Apply
This role suits principal engineers, scientists, or faculty with a Master’s or PhD and deep expertise in aerospace, semiconductors, manufacturing, or materials science. You should be able to design hard problems, explain solutions clearly, and judge correctness objectively. No AI background is needed.
Salary Insight
Pay ranges from $85 to $185 per hour, depending on your expertise and the scope of work. The rate is stated upfront, and final details are discussed during the hiring process.
Pay and demand for Machine Learning & AI roles
Market estimates from live NearSkill listings — separate from this job's published terms.
This role · as published
$85–185/hr
Taken from the listing itself.
Typical pay · estimated
$80/hour
Median of 690 similar roles that publish pay · 106 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Most Machine Learning & AI roles pay $55–$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
- 800
- Listed in last 30 days
- 476
- Remote
- 93%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (273) · Mercor (130) · AfterQuery (91)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- python18%
- technical writing10%
- ai evaluation10%
- llm evaluation8%
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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