Data Engineer - AI Trainer

This remote, project-based Data Engineer role supports AfterQuery, a research lab investigating the boundaries of artificial intelligence. The engagement is expected to run for 2 to 3 weeks with approximately 10 to 20 hours per week, combining hands-on engineering work with clear delivery expectations.

Role Overview

As a Data Engineer - AI Trainer, you will design, implement, debug, and maintain software that supports research-driven experimentation. Work spans varied stacks, with emphasis on clean implementation, performance-minded improvements, and reproducible documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and ship clean, well-tested code across a variety of projects and technology stacks
• Debug, refactor, and optimize existing codebases with a focus on performance, maintainability, and scalability
• Participate in code reviews by providing and incorporating constructive technical feedback
• Collaborate asynchronously on technical specifications, architecture decisions, and implementation plans
• Document code, APIs, and technical approaches clearly so results can be reproduced

Requirements

• 1 to 3 years of professional software engineering experience in a full-time or equivalent role
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language and its ecosystem
• Proven ability to scope, implement, and deliver software features or fixes independently
• Solid fundamentals across data structures, algorithms, and system design
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience)

Technologies

• Git
• GitHub Actions
• AWS
• GCP
• Azure

Work Details

• Location: Missoula, MT (remote)
• Job type: Contract
• Expected time commitment: 10 to 20 hours per week for 2 to 3 weeks
• Compensation: USD 60 to 80 per hour

Benefits

• Exceptional pay
• Exposure to real-world engineering problems
• A strong addition to your professional portfolio
• Flexible time commitment, with the ability to work on your schedule
• Startup exposure working with an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company
• Portfolio building through experience solving complex, real-world engineering problems across diverse codebases
• Professional growth through varied, challenging development tasks spanning multiple domains and technologies

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience across multiple stack layers, such as frontend, backend, APIs, or infrastructure
• Familiarity with version control workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and collaborative development practices (for example, Git and GitHub Actions)
• Exposure to cloud platforms and deployment environments (for example, AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Background contributing to open source projects or building personal software projects independently

Why Apply

• Flexible time commitment to tackle meaningful engineering challenges on your schedule
• Startup exposure working with an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company
• Portfolio building through complex, real-world engineering across diverse codebases
• Professional growth across varied development tasks and multiple domains

About AfterQuery

AfterQuery is a research lab investigating the boundaries of artificial intelligence through novel datasets and experimentation. The organization is backed by top investors, including Y Combinator and Box Group, and supports all leading AI labs.