Apply → Pass qualification(s) → Join a project → Complete tasks → Get paid. Project time expectations: Tasks are estimated to require around 10–20 hours per week during active phases, based on project requirements; This is an estimate, not a guaranteed workload, and applies only while the project is active. Note: Rates vary based on expertise, skills assessment, location, project needs, and other factors. Higher rates may be offered to highly specialized experts. Lower rates may apply during onboarding or non-core project phases. Payment details are shared per project.
Materials Engineer & Python Expert - Freelance AI Trainer
Location
South Africa
Posted
12 days ago
Salary
$35 / hour
Seniority
Mid Level
Job Description
Materials Engineer & Python Expert - Freelance AI Trainer
Mindrift
Role Description This opportunity involves designing computational material science problems to challenge a frontier AI model. The problem must have an answer verifiable by code and require a specialized tool like ObsPy, instaseis, pyrocko, MITgcm, flopy/MODFLOW, or others. Generic data wrangling around synthesized toy data won't suffice. Each problem runs inside a sealed Linux container with the tool pre-installed and a programmatic judge that grades the model's answer. As an expert author, you: - Pick an anchor tool and design a problem that hinges on its waveform-processing kernels, geophysical inversion routines, sub-surface flow solvers, or community-validated data pipelines. - Write a Python reference solution, supply input files and model or domain definitions where needed. - Decide the numerical answer and how close the model needs to get — with a domain-appropriate tolerance — to count as right. - Test the problem against the model in batches of parallel attempts, tuning the problem difficulty until the agent only succeeds in a small number of attempts. - Once you're happy with the task, and it scores within range, the task goes to a senior reviewer in your subfield for feedback to ensure task quality is high. - Calibration requires patience, tuning the problem against batches of parallel runs of the agent, aiming for a pass rate in the 10–30% band. - Learn how these agents cut corners, where a simulation stalls, and where a flow or inversion model converges. This time compounds in two directions: you come out of each task with deeper command of the anchor tool itself and a hands-on working intuition for how a frontier model navigates complex seismic, oceanographic, and sub-surface flow problems. Qualifications - Degree in Material Science or related field. - 2+ years of research, applied, or teaching experience. - Python proficiency for writing reference solutions. - Fluency with — or strong willingness to independently learn — at least one scriptable package: ObsPy, instaseis, pyrocko, MITgcm, xmitgcm, flopy / MODFLOW, or GeoPandas. - Ability to design problems that genuinely require a specialized solver. - Strong written English (C1+). - No prior experience with the listed tools? You're still welcome to apply — as long as you're ready to get up to speed on your own and hit the ground running. Requirements - This opportunity is a good fit for material scientists & engineers with experience in Python open to part-time, non-permanent projects. Benefits - Compensation: Contributors can earn up to $35 per hour equivalent, depending on their level and pace of contribution. - Compensation varies across projects depending on scope, complexity, and required expertise. - Please note that other projects on the platform may offer different earning levels based on their requirements. Project time expectations - Tasks are estimated to require around 10–20 hours per week during active phases, based on project requirements. - This is an estimate, not a guaranteed workload, and applies only while the project is active.
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