Remote | Software Engineer – Backend — $30–$100/hour

24-Mag • New York, NY

11h • Remote

About The Position

This remote consulting opportunity is for experienced Backend Software Engineers contributing technical expertise to AI training and evaluation initiatives. Professionals develop realistic, challenging backend coding tasks that assess how AI systems identify bugs, implement features, refactor code, and solve complex programming problems. The work combines backend engineering experience with automated testing, deterministic verification, and structured technical evaluation. Prior AI training experience is not required.

Assignments may involve creating tasks using existing repositories; resolving complex bugs; developing backend features; improving application performance; and refactoring existing code. Deliverables include task specifications, technical challenges, automated verification tests, and reference solutions. Task completion time may vary according to complexity, experience, and workflow.

This is a freelance/contract engagement, fully remote, with a flexible schedule of approximately 15 hours per week. Compensation is advertised at $30–$100 per hour, with output-based payment per completed task that meets project specifications. Minimum weekly task submission requirements apply. Professionals may choose their preferred working hours and days, including weekends. Selected professionals are generally expected to begin their first assignments within 24–48 hours after onboarding.

The selection process includes screening questions, an AI-assisted interview of approximately 15–20 minutes, a potential technical assessment, and hiring manager review. Candidates are expected to complete interviews and assessments independently, without outside assistance.

The opportunity is available through 24-MAG LLC, which connects experienced professionals with remote consulting opportunities across technical, evaluation, and project-based workstreams. Application information may be processed by 24-MAG LLC for recruitment and opportunity matching in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

Requirements

• Demonstrated professional experience in backend software engineering and application development.
• Strong proficiency in at least one backend programming language, such as Python, Java, Node.js, Go, Rust, TypeScript, or C++.
• Practical experience building scalable backend services and APIs.
• Strong understanding of backend application architecture and service design.
• Experience developing and maintaining production-quality software systems.
• Ability to identify, investigate, and resolve complex software bugs.
• Experience implementing substantial new features within existing applications.
• Strong codebase refactoring skills and knowledge of maintainable software design.
• Practical experience diagnosing and resolving system performance bottlenecks.
• Understanding of algorithms, data structures, and foundational computer science concepts.
• Familiarity with automated software testing and verification methodologies.
• Ability to write reliable tests that assess functional correctness.
• Strong code review skills and understanding of software quality standards.
• Experience working with existing repositories and interpreting unfamiliar application logic.
• Ability to design technically meaningful programming challenges with clear requirements.
• Strong analytical reasoning and independent software problem-solving capabilities.
• Understanding of reproducible development environments and deterministic evaluation approaches.
• Experience assessing multiple valid implementation strategies for the same technical problem.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail when developing tasks, tests, and reference solutions.
• Ability to work independently and deliver consistent, high-quality technical assignments.
• Candidates are expected to complete interviews and assessments independently, without outside assistance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with large-scale applications, distributed services, or complex backend systems.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted software engineering or automated coding evaluation.
• Prior experience with AI training or model evaluation projects is not required.

Responsibilities

• Design realistic backend software engineering challenges using existing code repositories.
• Develop coding assignments involving complex feature implementation and software maintenance.
• Create tasks reflecting practical engineering problems in scalable services and APIs.
• Incorporate programming concepts, algorithms, and data structures into technical challenges.
• Define clear problem statements and implementation requirements for AI evaluation assignments.
• Identify and reproduce realistic software bugs in backend applications.
• Develop debugging challenges involving application logic, API behaviour, and system interactions.
• Design problems requiring systematic investigation of software failures and incorrect behaviour.
• Evaluate approaches to resolving implementation errors and software inconsistencies.
• Ensure debugging tasks are technically meaningful and representative of professional development workflows.
• Develop assignments involving new backend features and service functionality.
• Create refactoring tasks requiring understanding of existing application architecture.
• Evaluate code modifications for correctness, maintainability, and compatibility with existing functionality.
• Design problems involving interactions between application components and supporting services.
• Apply sound software engineering principles when developing and reviewing reference implementations.
• Create technical challenges involving performance bottlenecks and backend efficiency improvements.
• Develop deterministic verifiers that assess whether submissions meet defined requirements.
• Ensure verification procedures accept different valid implementations and reject incorrect or incomplete solutions.
• Apply automated testing methodologies to validate functional correctness and expected behaviour.
• Review evaluation tasks for reproducibility, reliability, and technical accuracy.
• Produce accurate reference solutions for assigned coding tasks.
• Review AI-generated code and technical approaches against task requirements.
• Assess software solutions for correctness, efficiency, and implementation quality.
• Document technical requirements, acceptance criteria, and expected outcomes clearly.
• Provide structured feedback to improve AI model performance on challenging backend engineering problems.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed