AI tools, scored for your job
Get paid to train AI
Hiring now · posted 1d ago Tech Contract · Remote

Software Engineer - Backend

$50–$100/hr

Published pay. The final rate depends on your test, experience and country.

Remote · Worldwide 100 openings Language: English Posted 11 Nov 2026

Software Engineer - Backend is remote AI-training work for developers, paying $50–$100/hr, open to applicants worldwide. Posted 11 Nov 2026, still open on 13 Nov 2026. Zekai lists it for free; the application goes to the employer's platform.

About this role

Preparing for this role? See the best AI tools for developers, practise with ready-made prompts for developers, read Self-Hosted vs Cloud AI Coding Costs in 2026 and take the free 30-day AI challenge.

Opportunity Snapshot

Pay: $50–100

Time per task: 5 hours for trainers and 1.5 hours for reviewers

Engagement: Project-based — paid per approved task

Commitment: ~15 hours per week

Location: Fully remote

You’ll need: Hands-on expertise in at least one of Python, Java, Rust, Go, C++, or TypeScript

Your tasks: Build challenging coding problems from real repositories, with reproducible environments and verifiers

Role Title: Software Engineer - Backend

Role Type: Contractor (~15 hrs a week)

Location:Remote

You’ll create Reinforcement Learning Environments that test a model’s ability to solve real software engineering problems: tracking down subtle bugs, building non-trivial features, refactoring, and optimizing performance. Each task means defining the problem, building a reproducible environment, and writing a reference solution.

Scope of Work

  • Create realistic, challenging coding tasks for frontier AI models, drawn from repositories you know well.
  • Design problems that require real engineering skill — subtle bugs, non-trivial features, meaningful performance work — not lookup or boilerplate.
  • Build a reproducible environment for each task.
  • Write deterministic verifiers that accept correct solutions across different valid implementations, while rejecting incorrect, incomplete, or hard-coded approaches.
  • Provide a reference solution showing how the task can be solved.
  • Flag tasks that turn out to be ambiguous or unverifiable rather than submitting them.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Significant hands-on expertise in at least one of: Python3, Java, Rust, Go, C++, or TypeScript.
  • Deep understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software engineering principles.
  • Proven ability to debug complex systems, resolve bugs, and deliver effective optimizations.
  • Experience with large codebase refactoring and legacy system modernization.
  • Track record of delivering high-impact features from conception through delivery.
  • Strong documentation and communication skills to articulate technical concepts clearly.
  • Interest in AI and its technical challenges — previous AI experience not required.

Compensation Structure

Compensation is output-based; experts are paid per task that meets the project specifications. The time required may vary depending on your experience and workflow.

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 the selection process works

  • Apply and complete the screening questions
  • Complete the AI interview for this role — it’s how your expertise gets in front of the client
  • Profile review
  • Onboarding — our Talent Ops team will get you set up

This is a 100% remote contract role, open to applicants worldwide in the countries the employer accepts.

Python3JAVARustAlgorithmsBasics C++Typescriptbug fixingfeature implementationcodebase refactoringperformance optimization

How applying works

  1. Click Apply now and enter your email.
  2. You go straight to the application. We email you a copy of this role and your link.
  3. Most platforms ask for a CV and a short skills test or AI interview in your field.
How to get this job

Your plan for “Software Engineer - Backend”

Are you ready? Check what you have

Taken from this listing's own requirements.

0 / 6

What to know before you apply

Pay
At the published rate, 10 hours a week would be about $500–$1,000 and 20 hours about $1,000–$2,000 before tax. Hours depend on the project, so treat this as a ceiling, not a promise.
Openings
100 openings means this is a high-volume project. You are not competing for one seat: if you pass the test, there is room for you.
Location
Open worldwide in the countries the employer accepts. Payments usually go out through services like PayPal or Wise, so check one of them works in your country.
Timing
This listing is 1 day old. Projects can close once they have enough people, so it is worth applying while it is open.
Test tips for developers
  • Run the code in your head (or for real) before judging it: correctness beats style.
  • Write the smallest failing test that proves a bug.
  • Explain fixes in two or three clear sentences. Written clarity is graded too.
Prepare free with Zekai

3 steps to stand out as one of the best developers

  1. 01

    Know the AI tools developers use

    Reviewers judge AI answers in your field. Knowing the tools people in your profession actually use helps you spot what good output looks like.

    All 969 AI tools for developers →
  2. 02

    Practise with real prompts

    Many tests ask you to write or judge prompts in your field. Practise on these first.

    The SQL Query Generator with Schema Context

    CREATE TABLE users ( id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(100), email VARCHAR(100) UNIQUE, created_at TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE DEFAULT NOW() ); CREATE TABLE orders ( id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, user_id INTEGER …

    The MCP-Aware Database Migration Agent

    (for interacting with the Prisma schema and CLI) *

    Prompt library for developers →
  3. 03

    Take the free 30-day AI challenge

    Five minutes a day to get confident with AI in your own work. Day 1 is open now, no card needed.

    Start Day 1 free →

    Guides for developers

Developers

More paid AI roles for developers

Confidential clientAI training · Developers

Open Source Contributor (GitHub)

Top pay100 open
  • Remote · Worldwide
  • Contract · flexible hours

We are looking for highly skilled Open-Source Software Engineers to contribute to an AI training project involving so…

$100–$150/hr
57d ago
Confidential clientAI training · Developers

Software Engineering Expert

Top pay
  • Remote · United States
  • Contract · flexible hours

The research teams behind the best-known AI models come to our partner for software engineering judgment they can't g…

$70–$150/hr
59d ago
Confidential clientAI training · Developers

Software Engineer — Agentic Search Systems

Top pay
  • Remote · United States
  • Contract · flexible hours

We're looking for engineers who have shipped production search systems (especially agentic ones now that we're in the…

$80–$150/hr
104d ago
Confidential clientAI training · Developers

Frontend Engineer Talent Network

Top pay
  • Remote · United States
  • Contract · flexible hours

Join our Frontend Engineer Expert Network to connect with leading AI labs and companies seeking your expertise. This …

$70–$150/hr
265d ago
Confidential clientAI training · Developers

DevOps / Platform Engineer Talent Network

Top pay
  • Remote · United States
  • Contract · flexible hours

Join our DevOps / Platform Engineer Expert Network to connect with leading AI labs and companies seeking your experti…

$70–$150/hr
265d ago
Confidential clientAI training · Developers

Backend Engineer Talent Network

Top pay
  • Remote · United States
  • Contract · flexible hours

Join our Backend Engineer Expert Network to connect with leading AI labs and companies seeking your expertise. This i…

$70–$150/hr
265d ago
new in the last 24 hours

New roles in your inbox every morning

Pick your field. One short email a day, only when new roles open. Unsubscribe any time.

Roles come from public listings and change daily. Pay is what the listing shows; offers depend on your test, experience and country. If you join through a Zekai link, the platform may pay Zekai a fee. Your pay stays the same.

$50–$100/hr
Get paid to train AI →

See Zekai first in Google