Job Description:
This role offers an opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineer or applied science professional to use their real-world technical expertise to train and improve advanced AI systems. You will review AI-generated responses to complex science and engineering prompts, identify errors in reasoning and calculations, design realistic technical problems from your own experience, and write clear, expert-level solutions that serve as training data. This is a fully remote, project-based position focused on rigorous technical analysis, precise written communication, and independent, self-directed work over a 12-week engagement.
Responsibilities:
Review and evaluate AI-generated responses involving scientific reasoning, engineering analysis, calculations, experimental design, and technical explanations for correctness, completeness, and rigor.
Identify factual errors, flawed assumptions, statistical traps, measurement issues, and incomplete or inconsistent reasoning in AI-generated content.
Design realistic, challenging technical problems and scenarios based on your professional mechanical engineering or broader applied science and engineering experience.
Write clear, technically rigorous, expert-level solutions and explanations that can be used as high-quality AI training examples.
Grade AI-generated work against detailed evaluation criteria and rubrics, assessing accuracy, clarity, and adherence to technical standards.
Flag errors, ambiguous statements, and flawed reasoning in model outputs and provide specific, constructive corrective feedback and guidance.
Run assigned tasks through AI models, review outputs, and iteratively revise work based on feedback from expert reviewers.
Follow detailed written instructions precisely, including documentation standards, formatting rules, and file-upload requirements.
Maintain consistent quality, accuracy, and productivity throughout the engagement, meeting throughput expectations over the 12-week period.
Complete long-form, independent assignments that may require several hours of focused, uninterrupted work.
Work with real-world technical data such as test and measurement datasets, instrument outputs, and engineering design or simulation files as needed for problem creation and solution development.
Use data analysis, data visualization, predictive modeling, and quality engineering practices where relevant to evaluate or construct technical examples.
Essential Skills:
At least 5+ years of applied science or engineering experience in industry or advanced research, such as mechanical, electrical, civil, materials, energy, chemical, environmental, physics, or similar fields, excluding undergraduate study.
Hands-on practitioner experience, currently or recently performing detailed individual-contributor work rather than working solely in a managerial capacity.
Strong background in mechanical engineering, mechanical design, or closely related engineering disciplines, with the ability to perform rigorous technical analysis and calculations.
Experience with experimental design, including planning, executing, and interpreting experiments or tests.
Proficiency in data analysis, including working with test and measurement data, instrument outputs, and other real-world technical datasets.
Comfort using the analysis tools and software commonly used in your engineering or scientific field.
Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to explain complex engineering and scientific concepts clearly, concisely, and accurately.
Ability to read and follow detailed written instructions carefully and consistently.
Receptiveness to feedback and willingness to revise work through multiple review cycles.
Baseline technology literacy, including comfort with cloud-based file tools such as Google Workspace or similar platforms.
Ability to manage browser profiles, download and install desktop applications, and handle everyday file operations such as converting between Excel and Google Sheets and creating compressed (zipped) files for sharing.
Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote, self-directed environment.
Availability to commit approximately 30-40 hours per week over the full 12-week engagement.
Current residence within the United States.
Additional Skills & Qualifications:
Advanced degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline is beneficial, though practical expertise is emphasized over formal credentials.
Professional licensure such as Professional Engineer (PE) or similar certifications is a plus.
Experience in quality engineering, including developing or applying standards, criteria, or rubrics to assess technical work.
Familiarity with data visualization tools and techniques to interpret and present technical data clearly.
Exposure to predictive modeling, simulations, or other computational analysis methods used in engineering and applied science.
background in process analysis, testing, measurement, modeling, or simulation work that involves hands-on interaction with technical systems and data.
Interest in AI, machine learning, or data-driven systems, particularly in the @context of improving technical accuracy and reliability.
Enthusiasm for applying engineering and scientific expertise in a non-traditional role focused on training and evaluating AI systems.
Work Environment:
The role is fully remote and offers a flexible schedule within the expectation of a 30-40 hour workweek over a 12-week engagement, with the potential to extend.
You will work in a self-directed environment, managing your own time and focusing on deep, independent technical assignments that may require several hours of concentrated effort.
Collaboration and communication occur through online tools, including cloud-based file platforms such as Google Workspace and other standard desktop applications.
There are no site visits, production schedules, direct reports, or routine stakeholder meetings; instead, the environment centers on thoughtful technical problem-solving, precise written work, and iterative feedback cycles.
The position emphasizes a professional, results-oriented remote culture that values careful analysis, consistent quality, and the ability to leverage real-world engineering and scientific experience in a new and intellectually challenging @context.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Virginia Beach, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $125.00 - $125.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully remote position.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 8, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
