Materials & Engineering Specialist

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Materials & Engineering Specialist based in India.

As a Materials & Engineering Specialist, you will help shape the next generation of AI systems by applying deep technical expertise to realistic materials science and engineering challenges. You will design expert-level tasks that evaluate how effectively AI models reason through complex, domain-specific problems. The role involves creating realistic prompts, structured data environments, and objective evaluation criteria based on real-world engineering practices. You will test AI outputs, identify gaps in reasoning, and refine tasks so they meaningfully distinguish strong technical performance from superficial answers. You will collaborate with project leads and fellow experts to establish rigorous standards for what constitutes a high-quality response. This is a flexible, fully remote opportunity for experienced engineers and scientists who want to apply their expertise to cutting-edge AI development.

Accountabilities:

• Create realistic, domain-authentic materials science and engineering tasks based on professional experience and practical industry challenges.
• Develop detailed prompts, supporting data rooms, reference materials, and evaluation criteria that enable AI-generated responses to be assessed objectively.
• Design grading frameworks that accurately distinguish technically sound reasoning from incomplete, incorrect, or superficial responses.
• Run expert-level tasks against AI models and systematically evaluate where the models succeed, fail, or demonstrate gaps in technical reasoning.
• Analyze model outputs and iteratively refine prompts, datasets, and grading criteria to improve the quality and discriminative power of each task.
• Work closely with project leads and other subject-matter experts to define and align on what constitutes a high-quality technical answer within the relevant engineering domain.
• Explain not only the correct solution or approach, but also why alternative or incorrect approaches fail from a technical and practical perspective.
• Navigate ambiguous or evolving requirements and contribute to defining the scope, methodology, and standards of new evaluation tasks.
• Apply professional judgment and real-world engineering expertise to ensure tasks accurately reflect authentic technical challenges.
• Maintain a high standard of technical rigor, clarity, consistency, and objectivity throughout the task-development and evaluation process.
• Participate in onboarding and ongoing support sessions designed to help experts understand project expectations, evaluation methodologies, and workflows.
• Contribute insights that help improve the reliability, depth, and usefulness of AI systems operating in materials science and engineering contexts.

Requirements:

• Senior-level expertise in materials science, particularly areas such as metals, ceramics, composites, materials characterization, or additive manufacturing; or advanced expertise in electrical engineering covering areas such as analog, RF, or power engineering; or mechanical engineering covering areas such as design, CFD and fluid mechanics, heat transfer, pressure vessels, NDE, or CAE.
• Demonstrated professional or academic experience applying advanced technical knowledge to real-world engineering or scientific problems.
• Strong ability to reason through complex technical problems and evaluate solutions based on sound engineering principles.
• Ability to clearly explain both the correct answer and the technical reasoning behind why an alternative answer is incorrect.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to technical detail, with the ability to identify subtle errors, unsupported assumptions, and gaps in reasoning.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and evolving project requirements, with the initiative to help shape processes and define what high-quality work looks like.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and precisely.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with project leads and other subject-matter experts.
• Strong professional judgment and commitment to accuracy, objectivity, and technical rigor.
• Comfortable learning new evaluation methodologies and adapting expertise to emerging AI-focused workflows.
• Ability to work as an independent contractor and manage project work effectively within a flexible schedule.
• Applicants must be based in India and able to work remotely.
• Please note that H-1B and STEM OPT candidates are not currently supported for this opportunity.

Benefits:

• Fully remote opportunity that can be completed from anywhere in India.
• Flexible scheduling, allowing you to complete project work according to your own availability.
• Opportunity to apply your professional expertise to the development and evaluation of advanced AI systems.
• Work on technically challenging projects at the intersection of engineering, materials science, and artificial intelligence.
• Collaborate with experienced researchers, project leads, and other domain experts.
• Daily onboarding sessions and multiple office-hour opportunities for ongoing guidance and support.
• Independent contractor engagement with payments made weekly based on services rendered.
• Payment options through Stripe or Wise, subject to applicable terms and availability.
• Projects may be extended, shortened, or concluded early depending on project requirements and performance.
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of AI capabilities in your area of technical expertise.
• No requirement to share confidential or proprietary information from current or previous employers, clients, or institutions.
• Competitive project-based compensation, depending on the scope and requirements of the engagement.
• Opportunity to earn additional referral rewards where applicable and subject to the relevant referral terms.