Researcher (Remote | $80–$95/hr)

Synthires; Greater London; Remote; GBP 82,000 - 97,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Contractor

Job summary

Synthires is seeking PhD-qualified engineers or PhD candidates in electrical, mechanical, chemical, industrial, or aerospace engineering to contribute to a short-term technical evaluation pilot. You will design engineering problems, provide step-by-step solutions, and establish objective criteria for evaluating correctness.

The role focuses on real-world research and professional workflows, with emphasis on technical rigor and detailed reasoning. Remote contractor engagement in the UK is offered.

Qualifications

• PhD or current PhD candidacy in an engineering discipline.
• Hands-on research or professional engineering experience.
• Ability to develop technical problems based on work personally performed or directly experienced.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to produce accurate engineering solutions and explain the reasoning behind them clearly.
• Ability to define objective correctness criteria that another qualified engineer can independently verify.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to identify technical inaccuracies, ambiguity, and incomplete assumptions.

Responsibilities

• Design advanced engineering problems based on real-world research, professional practice, and technical workflows within your specialization.
• Develop realistic problem scenarios that incorporate relevant engineering constraints, assumptions, specifications, and supporting data.
• Provide technically accurate solutions with detailed step-by-step explanations of the underlying analysis and methodology.
• Establish objective evaluation criteria, grading rubrics, and correctness standards that allow other engineers to independently verify solutions.
• Explain the technical reasoning behind each solution, including relevant calculations, assumptions, and engineering principles.
• Review technical problems developed by other contributors for accuracy, completeness, methodological soundness, and practical relevance.
• Identify ambiguous, incomplete, or ungradable problems and flag them for clarification rather than submitting unreliable assessments.
• Ensure that all problem statements, supporting information, and reference solutions are clear, consistent, and technically defensible.
• Apply hands‑on research and professional engineering experience to create meaningful technical challenges.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical writing

Problem solving

Communication

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

PhD in Chemical Engineering

PhD in Industrial Engineering

PhD in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

We are seeking PhD-qualified engineers and PhD candidates in electrical, mechanical, chemical, industrial, or aerospace engineering to contribute to a short-term technical evaluation pilot.

The project focuses on developing challenging engineering problems based on real-world research and professional workflows rather than textbook exercises. You will design technical problems, provide accurate solutions with detailed reasoning, and establish objective criteria for evaluating the correctness of proposed answers.

Your practical engineering knowledge will help assess the technical reasoning and problem-solving capabilities of AI systems. Prior AI or LLM evaluation experience is not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Design advanced engineering problems based on real-world research, professional practice, and technical workflows within your specialization.
• Develop realistic problem scenarios that incorporate relevant engineering constraints, assumptions, specifications, and supporting data.
• Provide technically accurate solutions with detailed, step-by-step explanations of the underlying analysis and methodology.
• Establish objective evaluation criteria, grading rubrics, and correctness standards that allow other engineers to independently verify solutions.
• Explain the technical reasoning behind each solution, including relevant calculations, assumptions, and engineering principles.
• Review technical problems developed by other contributors for accuracy, completeness, methodological soundness, and practical relevance.
• Identify ambiguous, incomplete, or ungradable problems and flag them for clarification rather than submitting unreliable assessments.
• Ensure that all problem statements, supporting information, and reference solutions are clear, consistent, and technically defensible.
• Apply hands‑on research and professional engineering experience to create meaningful technical challenges.

Required Qualifications

• PhD or current PhD candidacy in one of the following engineering disciplines: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
• Hands‑on research or professional engineering experience in the relevant specialization.
• Ability to develop technical problems based on work personally performed or directly experienced.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to produce accurate engineering solutions and explain the reasoning behind them clearly.
• Ability to define objective correctness criteria that another qualified engineer can independently verify.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to identify technical inaccuracies, ambiguity, and incomplete assumptions.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or research experience from a recognized research institution.
• Publications, patents, or other demonstrated technical contributions in an engineering field.
• Experience designing complex engineering problems, conducting technical reviews, or evaluating research solutions.
• Previous experience with AI training, large language model (LLM) evaluation, or technical data annotation.
• Familiarity with structured grading rubrics, benchmark development, or technical assessment frameworks.

Compensation & Engagement

• Compensation: $80–$95/hour
• Engagement Type: Contractor
• Work Arrangement: Remote