Project Engineer
Handshake • Remote
Education
Bachelor
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$85/hr
Listed
7d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Handshake listing
Overview
Handshake is looking for energy industry professionals to support AI research through flexible, hourly contract work. This is not a traditional job. You’ll draw on your hands-on experience with energy project estimation, construction planning, and solar design to evaluate AI-generated content and provide feedback that helps AI better understand project development workflows and cost estimation practices.
This is an ongoing, project-based opportunity you can take on alongside anything else you have going on.
Details
This project involves using your professional experience and hands-on knowledge of the tools you use in your daily work to create expert-level training data and evaluate AI-generated responses for accuracy and relevance. No prior AI experience required.
Fully remote with a flexible, asynchronous schedule and no minimum hour requirement; most contributors work approximately 5–20 hours per week when participating in an active project.
Placement depends on current project needs, with opportunities to be considered for future projects as they become available.
Qualifications
At least 2 years of professional experience in energy project estimation, pre-construction, or solar design, in roles such as:
Estimator or Project Engineer
Pre-construction Manager or Solar Design Engineer
Or equivalent roles in the energy industry
Hands-on experience with one or more of the following tools:
Bluebeam Revu
RSMeans
Aurora Solar
Strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and asynchronously with AI research teams.
The application process
Sign up and create an account
Verify your identity
Join and onboard into relevant projects
Start working and earning
Why this role
This Project Engineer role runs entirely remote at $85/hr, so your location stops being a factor in whether you can do STEM work for an AI lab.
Talent pool
We're light on STEM candidates
We've matched 65 people with a STEM background against 726 STEM listings we've tracked, so most go out without one. Set up a profile and we'll consider you for a role like this one.
Set up your profileSkills and categories
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Common questions
Can I use Handshake if I graduated years ago?
Probably not a good fit. Handshake's AI Fellowship roles target current university students and early talent within about 1-2 years of graduation. Experienced professionals typically find faster approval and better rates on Outlier or Mercor.
Is Handshake itself the employer for AI training roles?
For the AI Fellowship roles specifically, yes, Handshake acts as the employer of record. That's different from the rest of the site, which functions as a job board listing openings for other companies.
Is academic-niche AI training just data labeling?
No, it's closer to academic research. Expect to write or verify complex proofs, solve advanced equations, or check the logic behind a model's step-by-step reasoning. The goal is teaching AI systems to reason deeply within your specific field.
Do I need a PhD for academic-niche AI training roles?
For the top pay tiers, a PhD or current enrollment is usually expected. But the domain assessment is what decides it: if you can solve the problems, the degree becomes secondary.
What does STEM work look like for a Project Engineer?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Project Engineer, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to STEM) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on STEM background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Coding and Expert are named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with these, expect the screening process to test for them directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $85/hr, an hourly rate. Pay can change between when we last checked the listing and when you apply, so confirm the current number on the platform's own application page before committing time.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Handshake's external site to complete your application there. This listing links through a referral, but the process is identical to applying directly; the link just routes you correctly. Create an account on their site and follow their onboarding steps.
Are Handshake AI training listings internships?
Some are, some aren't. Handshake lists both standard internships and separate "AI Trainer" fellowships. Check the job description for "1099" or "Contract" language: that signals a freelance role, not W-2 employment.