Freelance Data Scraping Engineer (Python)
Mindrift • France
Education
Not stated
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$37/hr
Listed
8d ago
About this role
From the Mindrift listing
Mindrift is looking for highly skilled Web Scraping specialists to join the Tendem project ( https://tendem.ai/ ) and drive specialized data scraping workflows for real-world use cases. Mindrift is looking for highly skilled Python Data Scraping Engineers to join the Tendem project and drive specialized data scraping workflows for real-world applications. In this role, you'll apply your expertise in web scraping, data extraction, and data processing to deliver accurate, reliable, and high-quality results. This part-time remote opportunity is ideal for technical professionals with hands-on experience in web scraping, data extraction, and processing. What We Do The Mindrift platform connects specialists with innovative technology projects. Our mission is to help develop high-quality AI technologies by combining real-world expertise from professionals across the globe with advanced AI development efforts. About the Role This is a freelance role for a Tendem project. As a Python Data Scraping Engineer, you'll handle data scraping tasks requiring technical precision for web extraction and processing, utilizing tools such as Apify, OpenRouter, and other technologies, alongside your own technical expertise and approaches. Key Responsibilities Own end-to-end data extraction workflows across complex websites, ensuring complete coverage, accuracy, and reliable delivery of structured datasets. Leverage available tools and custom workflows to accelerate data collection, validation, and task execution while meeting defined requirements. Ensure reliable extraction from dynamic and interactive web sources, adapting approaches as needed to handle JavaScript-rendered content and changing site behavior. Enforce data quality standards through validation checks, cross-source consistency controls, adherence to formatting specifications, and systematic verification prior to delivery. Scale scraping operations for large datasets using efficient batching or parallelization, monitor failures, and maintain stability against minor site structure changes. Educational qualifications At least 3+ years of relevant experience in data engineering, web scraping, automation, or software development (required). Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or related technical fields is a plus. Academic and/or Professional Experience Candidates should have a strong technical foundation and practical experience with scripting, automation, and data extraction workflows. We are looking for specialists who can solve non-trivial problems, work confidently with modern web technologies and data processing tools, and systematically collect, structure, and validate data from diverse sources. A methodical, detail-oriented approach and the ability to work independently are essential. Technical Skills (Essential) Strong experience in Python web scraping (BeautifulSoup, Selenium or similar), including dynamic content (JS, AJAX, infinite scroll) and APIs via proxies Proven ability to extract data from complex structures (hierarchies, archived pages, inconsistent HTML) Solid background in data cleaning, normalization, and validation, delivering structured datasets (CSV, JSON, Google Sheets) Additional requirements Hands-on experience with LLMs and AI frameworks to enhance automation and problem-solving Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy Self-directed work ethic with ability to troubleshoot independently A link to GitHub is a plus English proficiency: Upper-intermediate (B2) or above (required) Project time expectations For this project, tasks are estimated to require around 10–20 hours per week during active phases, based on project requirements. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed workload, and applies only while the project is active. Compensation On this project, contributors can earn up to $37 per hour equivalent , depending on their level and pace of contribution. Compensation varies across projects depending on scope, complexity, and required expertise. Please note that other projects on the platform may offer different earning levels based on their requirements.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in France
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
Interview Prep
Sample questions for a Data Scraping Engineer role, written in-house to help you prepare.
How do you design a scraper to keep working when a target site changes its HTML structure?
I target the most stable identifiers available, like semantic attributes or structured data rather than brittle CSS class names that redesign easily, and I add validation that flags when expected fields come back empty instead of silently returning bad data. No scraper survives a redesign forever, but the goal is to fail loudly, not silently.
What's your approach to respecting a site's rate limits while still scraping data at a usable pace?
I check the site's stated limits or robots.txt first and build in throttling and backoff from the start, rather than scraping as fast as possible until I get blocked. Getting blocked and having to rebuild access usually costs more time than scraping conservatively from the beginning.
How do you validate that scraped data is accurate, beyond confirming it was successfully retrieved?
I spot-check a sample of scraped records against the live site manually, and I add automated checks for values that fall outside an expected range or format. A scraper can return a 200 response and still hand back stale, truncated, or misparsed data.
How do you handle sites that use JavaScript rendering or anti-bot measures that block simple HTTP requests?
I use a headless browser when the content genuinely requires rendered JavaScript, but only then, since it's slower and more resource-intensive than a direct request. For anti-bot measures, I focus on legitimate signals like realistic request pacing and headers rather than trying to actively evade detection.
This listing calls for this tool directly. Prep for the technical screen:
Why this role
This Freelance Data Scraping Engineer (Python) opening pays $37/hr and draws on STEM knowledge you've already built. Onboarding covers the AI training process itself.
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.
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Common questions
Who is Mindrift good for?
Freelance writers, editors, and generalist AI tutors with strong English fluency and solid research skills, no specialized tech degree required. Built by data-labeling company Toloka, Mindrift also opens higher-paying specialized projects (cybersecurity, medicine, law) to domain experts once verified.
Why does Mindrift pay less than other AI training platforms?
General evaluation tasks pay $15-30/hr because they're high-volume, lower-complexity work like basic fact-checking and tone evaluation that doesn't require an advanced degree. Verified domain experts see rates scale up to $40-100+/hr on specialized projects, so the path is to start generalist and build toward a specialist track.
What does asynchronous AI training work mean in practice?
No set hours, no check-ins, no meetings. You log in when you want, pick up an available task, complete it, and submit; nobody is waiting on you in real time. That's different from remote employment, where you're expected online during business hours. The tradeoff: you're competing with others for available tasks, so an empty queue means there's simply nothing to do until more work is released.
Do task-based AI training roles require an interview?
Most skip a live interview entirely and gate access through an automated assessment or qualification task instead. Where we've confirmed the specific requirement for this listing, it's called out above in What We Know About This Role.
What does STEM work look like for a Freelance Data Scraping Engineer (Python)?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Freelance Data Scraping Engineer (Python), 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, Python, and English 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 $37/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.
Can I apply from outside France?
This specific role is open only to people based in France. If you are somewhere else, applying is unlikely to lead to an offer even if you pass the assessment, because the restriction is usually about where the work can legally be contracted rather than your skills. Read the full description for any tax-residency or right-to-work caveats before you apply.