Applied Physics

Alignerr Corp.; Sheffield (TX); Remote; USD 83,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Alignerr is seeking a PhD-level Applied Physicist for a fully remote hourly contract to stress-test and improve the reasoning of cutting-edge AI models, ensuring they respect physical laws.

You will work asynchronously 10–40 hours per week, tackling open-ended physics problems and providing rigorous, step-by-step solutions. No prior AI experience required.

Qualifications

• PhD completed or in final stages in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a closely related field.
• Deep mastery across the core pillars of physics: Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics.
• Exceptional ability to explain complex physical phenomena and mathematical derivations in clear, structured English.
• Uncompromising attention to detail; you notice when a unit is off, a sign is wrong, or a proof skips a step.
• Self-motivated and reliable when working independently.
• No prior AI or machine learning experience required.

Responsibilities

• Design Advanced Physics Problems — Craft complex, open-ended problems at PhD qualifying exam level that demand multi-step reasoning and first-principles thinking.
• Author Ground-Truth Solutions — Produce rigorous, step-by-step solutions with exactness in constants, conversions, and logical steps.
• Audit AI Reasoning — Evaluate AI-generated simulations, derivations, and proofs for physical consistency and identify incorrect physics.
• Refine Model Behaviour — Provide expert feedback to help AI systems develop physics-informed reasoning across topics.
• Work Independently — Complete task-based assignments asynchronously on your own schedule.

Skills

Clear communication

Independent work

Education

PhD in Applied Physics or related field

Tools

Python (NumPy/SciPy)

MATLAB

COMSOL

Job description

About The Role

What if your years of rigorous physics training could directly shape how AI understands the physical world? We're looking for PhD-level Applied Physicists to stress-test and improve the reasoning of cutting-edge Large Language Models — ensuring they don't just sound smart, but actually think in ways that respect the fundamental laws of the universe. This is a fully remote, flexible contract role built for researchers and academics who want to apply their expertise beyond the lab. No prior AI experience required — just deep domain knowledge and a sharp analytical mind.

Job Details

• Organization: Alignerr
• Type: Hourly Contract
• Location: Remote
• Commitment: 10–40 hours/week

What You'll Do

• Design Advanced Physics Problems — Craft complex, open-ended problems at PhD qualifying exam level that demand multi-step logical reasoning, mathematical derivation, and first-principles thinking
• Author Ground-Truth Solutions — Produce rigorous, step-by-step "golden responses" where every physical constant, unit conversion, and logical step is exactly right
• Audit AI Reasoning — Evaluate AI-generated simulations, derivations, and proofs for physical consistency; identify where models "hallucinate" physics that violates conservation laws or boundary conditions
• Refine Model Behaviour — Provide structured, expert feedback that helps AI systems develop genuinely physics-informed reasoning across topics like quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and thermodynamics
• Work Independently — Complete task-based assignments asynchronously, fully on your own schedule

Who You Are

• PhD completed or in final stages in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a closely related field
• Deep mastery across the core pillars of physics: Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics
• Exceptional ability to explain complex physical phenomena and mathematical derivations in clear, structured English
• Uncompromising attention to detail — you notice when a unit is off, a sign is wrong, or a proof skips a step
• Self-motivated and reliable when working independently
• No prior AI or machine learning experience required

Nice to Have

• Experience with data annotation, scientific dataset evaluation, or quality assurance workflows
• Proficiency with computational tools such as Python (NumPy/SciPy), MATLAB, or COMSOL
• Background in research, academic publishing, or technical writing
• Familiarity with AI tools or language model evaluation as an end user

Why Join Us

• Work on high-impact AI projects alongside world-leading research labs
• Fully remote and flexible — work when and where it suits you
• Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, intellectually demanding work
• Apply your physics expertise in a genuinely novel and consequential domain
• Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch