Application Security Engineer (AppSec)
Micro1 • Remote
Education
Master's
Type
Per task
Pay Rate
$30–$100/task
Actively Hiring
300 openings
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From the Micro1 listing
Job Type: Contractor (~15 hrs a week) Location: Remote Schedule: Flexible, you pick the hours and days (including weekends if desired) Job Summary: In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input. No prior experience in AI is required — your domain knowledge is what matters. You'll create realistic, interesting and challenging coding tasks for AI to solve involving feature implementation and bug fixes, and implement deterministic verifiers that accept reasonable valid solutions and reject everything else.
What we're looking for
- Strong backend experience in Java, Node.js, Go, Rust, Typescript, Python, C++ or similar
- A track record building scalable services and APIs
- Comfort with debugging, performance work and automated testing
- Solid code review instincts
- A cybersecurity or SecOps background is a big plus — secure coding, appsec, pentesting, vulnerability assessment, OWASP/CWE, or security-focused reviews.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proven experience in backend development, with a track record of delivering high-quality and performant projects.
- Background in cybersecurity, such as penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, or security code reviews.
- Demonstrated success in identifying and resolving software bugs and system bottlenecks.
- Experience with codebase refactoring and implementing complex features in large-scale applications.
- Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and foundational computer science concepts.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills. A note on the process: our interview and assessment stages are designed to see how you think, so we ask that you complete them without outside assistance. The same applies once you're on the project — the value of the work comes from your own judgment.
Process
- Apply to the role, filling out the screening questions
- Complete AI Interview (approx. 30 minutes)
- Technical Assessment (Tentative)
- Hiring Manager review
Compensation Structure
Compensation is output-based; experts are paid per task that meets the project specifications. The time required to complete work may vary depending on the expert’s experience and workflow. Minimum submission requirements apply. Experts must submit a minimum of tasks per week.
Start Timeline & Availability
We typically fill roles within 48 hours and are looking for experts ready to jump in right away. If selected, we expect you to start your first tasks within 24–48 hours of completing onboarding.
How long hiring takes
Across the AI training platforms we refer candidates to, the median gap between referral and hire is about 30 days. It varies by platform and role, so treat it as a rough guide for this one.
Interview Prep
This listing calls for these tools directly. Prep for the technical screen:
Why this role
Compensation is output-based; experts are paid per task that meets the project specifications. The time required to complete work may vary depending on the expert’s experience and workflow. Minimum submission requirements apply. Experts must submit a minimum of tasks per week.
Skills and categories
Explore other opportunities in related specializations:
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Common questions
Does Micro1 monitor your computer while you work?
On many projects, yes, through time-tracking tools that take periodic screenshots to verify active hours. Check the specific project's requirements before accepting if desktop monitoring is a dealbreaker.
What does the Micro1 application process look like?
Expect a screening interview with Zara, Micro1's AI recruiter. Prepare for it like a real video call: good lighting, clear audio, verbal answers to technical questions. A human manager reviews the recording afterward, and some roles add a short skills assessment on top.
What does task-based AI training work look like?
Practical, hands-on data work: recording short videos, categorizing images, rating text responses, or analyzing data. Tasks are designed to be short and distinct, typically 5 to 60 minutes each.
What does Software Engineering work look like for an Application Security Engineer (AppSec)?
Tasks here are scoped to Software Engineering, not generic labeling. As an Application Security Engineer (AppSec), expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Software Engineering) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Software Engineering background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Python3, JAVA, Rust, and Algorithms 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.
What does the 'openings' count on this listing mean?
It's Micro1's live count of how many candidates it's still trying to place for this specific role, 300 right now, not a countdown on your individual application. A higher number signals more active demand; it doesn't lower the bar for acceptance.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $30–$100/task, a per-task rate. The range reflects experience level and negotiated terms, not a placeholder, so where you land in it depends on your background and the assessment. 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.
How does per-task pay translate to an hourly rate?
It doesn't directly, that's the catch. Each task has a listed price and an estimated completion time, but your actual effective rate depends on how fast you work. If a task is estimated at 20 minutes and pays $8, that is $24/hr for a fast worker and $12/hr for a slow one. Track your actual time on the first few tasks before treating the listed rate as your real hourly income.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Micro1'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.
Do I need a Master's to qualify?
This role lists a master's degree as a requirement. In practice, the domain assessment is the real gate. If you can pass it, the degree is usually secondary. However, some platforms verify credentials formally, so list your actual qualifications accurately on your profile.