Backend & Tooling Engineer (Rust)
Alignerr • Remote • Posted 0 days ago
Education
Any
Type
Pay Rate
$62.5/task
Posted
0d ago
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About this Role
What You'll Do
- Design, build, and optimize high-performance systems in Rust powering AI data pipelines and evaluation workflows
- Develop full-stack backend services and CLI tooling for large-scale data annotation, validation, and quality control
- Improve reliability, safety, and performance across production Rust codebases
- Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation workflows
- Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior — then implement scalable, well-reasoned fixes
- Participate in synchronous design and code reviews to iterate on architecture and implementation decisions
About the Role
What if your Rust expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering the next generation of AI? We're looking for a Senior Rust Engineer to build the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems that leading AI labs depend on to train and benchmark their most advanced models. This is high-impact, production-grade work — not toy projects or throwaway scripts. You'll be embedded in real engineering workflows, solving hard systems problems alongside data, research, and engineering teams at the frontier of AI development.
- Organization: Alignerr
- Type: Hourly Contract
- Location: Remote
- Commitment: 20–40 hours/week
Who You Are
- Native or fluent English speaker with strong written and verbal communication skills
- 5+ years of professional experience writing production Rust — you know the language deeply, not just the basics
- Proven track record building high-performance backend web services and robust, user-friendly CLI tools
- Experienced with type-safe database interactions and connection pooling for large-scale data workloads
- Able to commit 20–40 hours per week with reliability and focus
- Self-directed and comfortable working asynchronously across a remote team
Nice to Have
- Prior experience with data annotation, data quality pipelines, or model evaluation systems
- Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training, or benchmarking infrastructure
- Background in distributed systems or developer tooling
- Experience contributing to or maintaining open-source Rust projects
Why Join Us
- Work on real production systems at the cutting edge of AI development
- Collaborate directly with leading AI research labs on high-stakes infrastructure
- Fully remote and async-friendly — work from wherever you do your best work
- Freelance autonomy with meaningful, technically challenging work
- Potential for ongoing engagement and expanded scope as projects evolve
Requirements
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in STEM
Eligible Languages
Fluent proficiency in English
Compensation Analysis
What if your Rust expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering the next generation of AI? We're looking for a Senior Rust Engineer to build the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems that leading AI labs depend on to train and benchmark their most advanced models. This is high-impact, production-grade work — not to
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the assessment actually like?
Notoriously strict. Alignerr uses TestGorilla for role-specific timed tests — a blank coding environment for engineers, rigorous grammar and fact-checking for writers. There is almost no hand-holding. The critical catch: this is essentially a one-shot process. Fail or abandon the assessment, and you are typically locked out of that role permanently with no option to retake.
How quickly can I start earning after I pass?
Not immediately. Even after passing the assessment and completing identity verification (via Persona) and billing setup (via Deel), you may sit in a waiting pool for weeks or months. You only start earning when a project matching your specific skills launches and you are officially assigned. Do not plan around Alignerr income until you are actively on a project.
Is there a community?
Yes — and it is one of Alignerr's genuine strengths. Once assigned to a project, you are added to Slack channels where you can ask questions, get rubric clarifications from admins, and talk to other AI trainers. This is rare in AI training and makes a real difference when guidelines are ambiguous or change mid-project.
Is this just labeling data?
No. This is closer to academic research. You will likely be writing or verifying complex proofs, solving advanced equations, or checking the logic of a model's step-by-step reasoning. The goal is to teach AI systems to reason deeply in your field.
Do I need a PhD?
For the highest pay tiers in this category, a PhD (or current enrollment) is usually expected. However, the most important factor is your ability to pass the domain assessment. If you can solve the problems, the degree is secondary.
Is the work continuous?
Work in niche fields is often project-based. A specific "campaign" (e.g., training a model on Quantum Mechanics) might last for a few weeks. It is best to treat this as a high-paying fellowship or grant rather than a permanent daily job.
What is the barrier to entry?
Alignerr is known for difficult technical assessments. You must pass a timed test in your specific domain (e.g., Python, Physics, or Language) before you are eligible for any paid projects.