Hardware Expert (MSc. or PhD)
$60–120/hr
Remote STEM contract with micro1, $60–120/hr, open worldwide. Posted Oct 16.
$60–120/hr
Apply on micro1Is this job worth applying to?
- Pay
- Above typicalTops out at $120/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
- RecentPosted 3w ago. Still listed on micro1 on Nov 6, 2026.
- Where you live
- Open worldwideOpen worldwide.
The job description
Hardware Expert (MSc. or PhD)
Pay: $60–$120/hour
Job Type: Contractor (~15 hours per week)
Schedule: Flexible—you choose the hours and days you work, including weekends if desired
micro1 is engaging experienced Hardware Engineers to contribute to AI training projects built around complex, real-world engineering problems. In this role, you will use your technical expertise to create, solve, and evaluate engineering challenges that require sound judgment, quantitative reasoning, and reproducible answers.
We are looking for engineers who have personally owned meaningful technical work—such as taking a hardware system into production, validating a model against test data, developing a rigorous verification approach, or diagnosing a difficult failure. We value engineers who can connect first-principles reasoning with practical constraints and produce work that can be independently verified.
Scope of Work
- Create technically rigorous, self-contained hardware engineering problems based on realistic industry or research scenarios.
- Develop clear reference solutions using engineering calculations, simulations, scripts, experimental reasoning, or other appropriate methods.
- Use tools such as Python, MATLAB, Simulink, SPICE, Julia, C/C++, test automation platforms, or equivalent engineering software to validate results when relevant.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field.
- Significant professional or research experience in hardware engineering, product development, systems integration, testing, validation, reliability, or failure analysis.
- Demonstrated ownership of a substantial engineering problem—for example, a product or subsystem that reached production, a model validated against physical testing, a test system you developed, or a difficult failure you diagnosed.
- Experience working with Coding Agents is a must
Process
- Apply to the role and complete the screening questions.
- Complete an AI interview of approximately 30 minutes.
- Complete the hiring manager review.
Compensation Structure
Compensation is output-based. Experts are paid per task that meets the project specifications. The time required to complete each task may vary depending on the expert’s experience and workflow.
Minimum submission requirements apply..
Start Timeline & Availability
We typically fill roles within 48 hours and are looking for experts who are ready to begin immediately. If selected, you will be expected to start your first task within 24–48 hours of completing onboarding.
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.
