Applied Physics Specialist
$40–80/hr
Remote science contract with Alignerr, $40–80/hr. Posted Oct 27.
$40–80/hr
Apply on AlignerrIs this job worth applying to?
- Pay
- About typicalTops out at $80/hr. The typical top rate across 106 priced science listings is $90/hr.
- Getting in
- Hard to get in~1–2 hours of assessments. Valid government photo ID.
- Steady work
- Work is patchyFeast-or-famine project volume.
- Payout record
- Some delaysSchedule: weekly, by Friday for the prior Monday–Sunday. Paid via Stripe or PayPal (depends on country).
- Freshness
- RecentPosted 10d ago. Still listed on Alignerr on Nov 6, 2026.
- Where you live
- Not statedThe listing names no country.
The job description
About the Role
What if your deep expertise in physics could directly shape how AI understands the physical world — ensuring it respects the fundamental laws that govern everything from subatomic particles to cosmological systems?
We're looking for PhD-level Applied Physicists to join Alignerr and help train cutting-edge AI models. You'll design research-grade physics problems, expose flaws in AI reasoning, and build the benchmarks that push these models toward genuine physical understanding.
This is a fully remote, flexible contract role built for researchers and academics who want to contribute to something meaningful — on their own schedule.
What You'll Do
- Design Advanced Physics Problems — Craft open-ended, multi-step problems at PhD qualifying exam level, spanning quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and beyond
- Author Ground-Truth Solutions — Develop rigorous, step-by-step "golden responses" with precise physical constants, unit conversions, and airtight mathematical derivations
- Audit AI Reasoning — Evaluate AI-generated proofs and simulations for physical consistency, identifying where models "hallucinate" results that violate first principles
- Refine Model Behavior — Provide structured, expert feedback to improve AI reasoning around boundary conditions, conservation laws, and physics-informed constraints
- Benchmark AI Understanding — Contribute to university- and research-level evaluation datasets that test the limits of what AI truly understands about the physical world
Who You Are
- Holds a PhD (completed or near completion) in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a closely related field
- Deep mastery of core physics pillars: Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics
- Exceptional ability to communicate complex physical phenomena and mathematical derivations in clear, structured written English
- Uncompromising attention to detail — units, notation, and logical flow matter to you
- Self-directed and comfortable working independently on technical tasks
- No prior AI experience required — your physics expertise is what counts
Nice to Have
- Experience with data annotation, scientific dataset evaluation, or quality assurance
- Proficiency with tools such as Python (NumPy/SciPy), MATLAB, or COMSOL
- Background in academic research, technical writing, or curriculum development
- Familiarity with AI or LLM evaluation workflows
Why Join Us
- Work on genuinely novel, intellectually stimulating problems at the frontier of AI research
- Collaborate with teams working alongside the world's leading AI research labs
- Fully remote and asynchronous — work when and where it suits you
- Freelance autonomy with the structure of high-impact, task-based work
- Contribute to AI development that could shape how future models understand the physical universe
- Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch
How do you apply to Alignerr?
Apply on Alignerr
The Apply button opens this post on Alignerr's own site. You apply with them, not with Rubric. Budget about 1–2 hours of assessments.
Get through screening
What Alignerr asks for after you apply:
- Take the TestGorilla skills assessment (usually one attempt per role)
- Verify your identity with Persona
- Join the Alignerr Slack community
- Set up payouts once you are assigned to a project
Start work and get paid
Pay schedule: weekly, by Friday for the prior Monday–Sunday. Paid via Stripe or PayPal (depends on country). You're paid for the work they hand out, not a fixed salary.
Alignerr also needs
- Valid government photo ID
- Degree or professional experience for expert roles
- Webcam for proctored assessments on some roles
Red flags
- Red flagLong gaps with no project after passing
- Red flagWorker reports of delayed or withheld payments on Glassdoor
What is Alignerr like to work for?
Labelbox's contractor network, which hires generalists and domain experts to label data and write and grade AI training tasks.
| Advertised pay | $15–150/hr |
|---|---|
| Getting in | Hard to get in |
| Application takes | ~1–2 hours of assessments |
| How you get paid | Weekly, by Friday for the prior Monday–Sunday, via Stripe or PayPal (depends on country) |
| Payout record | Some delays |
| Countries | Accepts most countries but blocks signups from about two dozen; posts India-specific roles such as Hindi, Telugu and Indian-English language and cultural review work. |
Generalist and bilingual work is around $15–20/hr, coding QA $30–40/hr, and senior software, advanced math, medical and law roles $70–150/hr; some projects pay per approved task.
