Competitive Programming Expert - Freelance AI Trainer

Mindrift; New York (NY); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Mindrift is seeking contributors to build competitive-programming problems and their automatic graders. You will craft problems, write correct and intentionally wrong solutions, and design tough test cases that expose subtle bugs.

Your work trains AI coding models by providing high-quality signals. Proficiency in C++ and Python, plus strong English, helps you write clear statements, robust checkers, and reliable test data.

Qualifications

• Strong competitive programming background, shown by a public profile or Olympiad record.
• Fluent contest C++ (STL, complexity); comfortable writing Python.
• Ability to explain why a solution is wrong and build inputs that break it.
• Strong written English (C1+).

Responsibilities

• Write original algorithmic problems with clear statements and constraints.
• Create both correct and intentionally-wrong solutions for testing.
• Design tough test cases, generators, edge cases, stress tests.
• Write checkers/interactors (testlib) for multi-answer problems.
• Ensure quality bar: correct solutions pass, wrong ones fail, within time limits.

Skills

Competitive programming

C++ (STL)

Python

English proficiency

Tools

Testlib

Job description

Please submit your CV in English and indicate your level of English proficiency.

Mindrift connects specialists with project-based AI opportunities for leading tech companies, focused on testing, evaluating, and improving AI systems.Participation isproject-based, not permanent employment.

What this opportunity involves

We're building competitive-programming problems and their automatic graders (test cases + checkers) used to train advanced AI coding models. You'll create problems, write both correct and deliberately-wrong solutions, and design the tough test cases that catch subtly-broken code. Your work is what makes the training signal trustworthy.

What you'll do

• Write original algorithmic problems — clear statement, sound constraints, an intended solution;
• Write correct solutions in C++ and Python;
• Write realistic wrong solutions (common mistakes) to test against;
• Build and harden test cases: generators, edge cases, stress and "hacking" tests;
• Write checkers/interactors (testlib) for problems with more than one valid answer;
• Confirm the quality bar: correct solutions pass, wrong ones fail, within time limits.

What we look for

• Strong competitive programming background, shown by a public profile — a Codeforces rating (see levels below), OR an IOI / ICPC / national-olympiad record;
• Fluent contest C++ (STL, complexity); comfortable writing Python;
• Can explain why a solution is wrong and build an input that breaks it;
• Strong written English (C1+).

Levels (by Codeforces rating, or equivalent olympiad achievement):

• Associate— 1700–2100 (Expert / Candidate Master): easier problems;
• Expert— 2200–2600 (Master / Grandmaster): harder problems
• Senior / Reviewer— 2600+ (Int'l Grandmaster) or IOI/ICPC medalist: hardest problems + quality review.

Nice to have

• IOI / ICPC alumni and top competitive programmers especially encouraged to apply;
• Experience setting or testing problems for real contests (Codeforces rounds, ICPC, national olympiads, online judges);
• Testlib experience (checkers, validators, generators);
• Experience creating data for LLM code benchmarks or similar RL / evaluation datasets.

How it works

Apply Pass qualification(s) Join a project Complete tasks Get paid

Project time expectations

For this project, tasks are estimated to require around 10-20 hours per week during active phases, based on project requirements. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed workload, and applies only while the project is active. Tasks must be submitted by the deadline and meet the listed acceptance criteria to be accepted.

Compensation

Paid per accepted task. Your rate depends on the qualification tier you reach and how efficiently you complete tasks — up to the equivalent of$90/hr. Because payment is per task, a faster pace raises your effective hourly rate.