Principal Systems Engineer (C++) - AI Infrastructure
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 C++ systems that power AI data pipelines and evaluation workflows
- Develop full-stack tooling and backend services for large-scale data annotation, validation, and quality control
- Harden reliability, performance, and memory safety across production C++ codebases
- Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation at scale
- Identify bottlenecks and edge cases across data and system behavior, then implement robust, scalable fixes
- Participate in synchronous design reviews to iterate on architecture and implementation decisions
About the Role
What if your deep C++ expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering the world's most advanced AI systems? We're looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to design and build the high-performance data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation infrastructure that leading AI labs depend on to train and improve next-generation models. This is a fully remote, flexible contract role for senior engineers who want to work on real production systems with genuine impact — not toy projects.
- Organization: Alignerr
- Type: Hourly Contract
- Location: Remote
- Commitment: 20–40 hours/week
Who You Are
- Native or fluent English speaker with clear written and verbal communication skills
- Experienced full-stack developer with a strong systems programming background
- 5+ years of professional experience writing production-grade C++ for large-scale systems
- Deep knowledge of build system architecture and package management strategies
- Proven experience designing reliable systems with rigorous error handling and memory safety (sanitizers, ASAN, TSAN, etc.)
- Able to commit 20–40 hours per week with consistency
Nice to Have
- Prior experience with data annotation, data quality pipelines, or evaluation frameworks
- Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training infrastructure, or benchmarking systems
- Experience with distributed systems or developer tooling at scale
Why Join Us
- Work directly with leading AI labs on production systems that matter
- Fully remote and flexible — work when and where it suits you
- Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, high-impact engineering work
- Collaborate with world-class data, research, and engineering teams pushing the frontier of AI
- Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch
Requirements
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in Software Engineering
Eligible Languages
Fluent proficiency in English
Compensation Analysis
What if your deep C++ expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering the world's most advanced AI systems? We're looking for a Principal Systems Engineer to design and build the high-performance data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation infrastructure that leading AI labs depend on to train and improve next-generation models. T
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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.
What does the work actually look like?
It is practical, hands-on data work. You might be recording short videos, categorizing images, rating text responses, or analyzing data. The tasks are designed to be short and distinct—typically 5-60 minutes per task.
How flexible is the schedule?
Extremely. This is true "log in and work" flexibility. You can usually work for 20 minutes or 4 hours depending on your availability. There are rarely minimum hour requirements, making it ideal for side income.
Is there an interview?
Usually, no. Hiring for these roles is almost entirely based on passing an automated assessment or "qualification" task. If you pass the test, you get access to the work.
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.