Is this job worth applying to?

Pay

Above typicalTops out at $185/hr. The typical top rate across 148 priced STEM listings is $70/hr.

Getting in

Some screening~30–45 min: profile + AI interview. Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview.

Steady work

Work is patchyLong waits between tasks are common.

Payout record

Some delaysSchedule: twice a month. Paid via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments).

Freshness

FreshPosted 7d ago. Still listed on micro1 on Nov 6, 2026.

Where you live

Not statedThe listing names no country.

The job description

Opportunity Snapshot

Pay: $80- $185/hour

Commitment: Flexible — fits alongside your current role

You’ll need: Master’s or PhD in an engineering or physical science field, plus principal-level industry experience or a faculty appointment

Your tasks: Build challenging technical problems from your own domain and define what makes an answer correct

micro1 is engaging principal-level engineers, scientists, and faculty to design the technical problems that measure what AI systems can actually do. Your domain expertise is what matters here — no prior AI experience required.

We’re building this across four areas: aerospace, semiconductors, manufacturing and industrial engineering, and materials science. If your work sits in one of those — or across two of them — this is for you.

The work draws on what you already know: the problems where the textbook answer isn’t enough, where the right approach depends on reading the constraints correctly, where a plausible-looking solution is quietly wrong.

What you’ll do

Design difficult technical problems from your own area, with realistic constraints and supporting data.
Provide the correct solution and walk through the reasoning that gets there.
Define objective criteria for correctness, so another expert reviewing the work would reach the same verdict.
Review problems built by other contributors for technical accuracy and soundness of method.
Flag problems that turn out to be ambiguous or ungradable rather than submitting them.

What we’re looking for

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.
Able to explain why an answer is correct clearly enough that another expert could verify it.
Publications, patents, or a record of technical leadership is a strong plus.

How the selection process works

Apply and complete the screening questions
Complete the AI interview for this role
Profile review
Onboarding — our Talent Ops team will get you set up

How do you apply to micro1?

Apply on micro1

The Apply button opens this post on micro1's own site. You apply with them, not with Rubric. Budget about 30–45 min: profile + AI interview.

Get through screening

What micro1 asks for after you apply:

Do the AI interview with Zara on a computer (not a phone)
Take any skill assessment and verify your identity
Wait to be matched to a project and sign the contract

Start work and get paid

Pay schedule: twice a month. Paid via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments). You're paid for the work they hand out, not a fixed salary.

micro1 also needs

Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview
Relevant degree or work history for expert roles

Red flags

Red flagWeeks of silence after the AI interview
Red flagContracts signed but no onboarding or tasks
Red flagProjects ending or changing scope without notice

What is micro1 like to work for?

Recruiting company that vets experts with an AI interviewer (Zara) and staffs them on contract AI-training and evaluation projects for AI labs.

Advertised pay	$15–135/hr
Getting in	Some screening
Application takes	~30–45 min: profile + AI interview
How you get paid	Twice a month, via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments)
Payout record	Some delays
Countries	Recruits globally with heavy hiring in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe; India-based applicants are eligible for many roles.

Generalist and annotation roles start around $15–30/hr; coding, STEM and law/medicine roles commonly list $40–90/hr and occasionally more.