Machine Learning Researcher (MSc. or PhD)

Confidential; United States; Remote; USD 83,000 - 165,000; Part time

Job summary

Zekai is seeking a Machine Learning Researcher (MSc or PhD) for a remote, contractor role. You will work on model development, training, inference systems, and numerical computing using Python, with flexible hours roughly 15 per week.

The role is fully remote globally, pays hourly between $60 and $120, and emphasizes high coding activity and task-based contributions. Start immediately after onboarding.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in CS, ML, AI, or related quantitative field.
• Strong professional or research experience in machine learning.
• Proficiency with Python and coding agents.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate ML models, training pipelines, and inference systems.
• Implement model components, data pipelines, and numerical methods.
• Build reproducible workflows using Python and command-line tools.

Skills

Python

Machine Learning

Coding agents

Education

Master’s or PhD in CS/ML/AI

Tools

Python

CLI tools

Job description

Machine Learning Researcher (MSc. or PhD)

Pay: $60–$120/hour

Location: Global, fully remote

Job Type: Contractor (~15 hours per week)

Schedule: Flexible—you choose the hours and days you work, including weekends if desired

We are looking for highly skilled Machine Learning Experts to contribute to an AI training project involving model development, training and inference systems, numerical computing, performance optimization, and Python.

The work involves creating, solving, reviewing, and validating challenging machine-learning engineering tasks. A representative task may require implementing or modifying a model, constructing a reproducible training or inference workflow, optimizing memory or throughput, debugging numerical or system-level failures, and verifying that the resulting implementation satisfies objective correctness and performance requirements.

This is a very coding heavy role. Candidates but have experience using coding agents with python in their workflow.

What You’ll Work On

• Develop and validate machine-learning models, training pipelines, inference systems, and supporting infrastructure.
• Implement model components, data pipelines, evaluation systems, and numerical methods.
• Build reproducible programmatic workflows using Python and command-line tools.

Required Qualifications

• A master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a closely related quantitative discipline.
• Strong professional or research experience in machine learning.
• Practical proficiency with Python and coding agents.

Equivalent tools may also be considered when the candidate demonstrates directly relevant depth.

Experience at a well-established technology company, AI laboratory, research organization, or other recognized engineering environment is strongly preferred. Exceptional open-source or academic experience may also qualify.

Compensation Structure

Compensation is output-based. Experts are paid per task that meets the project specifications. The time required to complete each task may vary depending on the expert’s experience and workflow.

Minimum submission requirements apply.

Start Timeline & Availability

• We typically fill roles within 48 hours and are looking for experts who are ready to begin immediately. If selected, you will be expected to start your first task within 24–48 hours of completing onboarding.

This is a 100% remote contract role, open to applicants worldwide in the countries the employer accepts.