Principal Engineer / Professor – Technical Expert remote job
The Principal Engineer / Professor job is a remote contract role for senior engineers, scientists and faculty. You would write hard technical problems from your own field, supply the correct solution and define how answers are judged, across four areas of engineering and materials.
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Role facts, as shown on the listing
- Pay
- $80–$185 per hour
- The description says $80 to $185 per hour. The listing's pay field shows $85 to $185, so the two do not match; we show the description figure.
- Our arithmetic on the listed ranges: the midpoint here is $132.50 an hour, the fourth highest of the 12 Engineering & science roles on this site; midpoints there run from $70 to $250.
- Hours
- Flexible; fits alongside your current role
- Location
- Fully remote
- Contract
- Contractor
- Openings
- 5 (as listed)
- Listed
- 31 Oct 2026
- Checked
- 6 Nov 2026
- Technical Depth in a Subdomain
- Engineering Judgment Under Constraints
- Knowing When an Answer Is Wrong
- Advanced engineering and materials
What the work involves
- Design difficult technical problems from your own area, with realistic constraints and supporting data.
- Provide the correct solution and walk through the reasoning.
- Set objective criteria for correctness so another expert would reach the same verdict.
- Review other contributors' problems for accuracy and method, and flag any that are ambiguous or ungradable.
Before you apply: what the listing asks for
What the listing looks for
- A master's degree or PhD in engineering, physics, materials or a closely related field.
- Principal, staff or fellow-level experience at a major engineering organization or national lab, or a faculty appointment at a leading university.
- Deep technical depth in at least one area, with hands-on ownership of the work.
- The ability to explain why an answer is correct clearly enough for another expert to verify it.
Listed as preferred
- Publications, patents or a record of technical leadership.
Who this is not for
Not a fit if you are below principal, staff or fellow level and hold no faculty appointment; that seniority is the core of what the listing asks for.
Questions about this role
Which areas does the project cover?
Four: aerospace, semiconductors, manufacturing and industrial engineering, and materials science.
Can I do this alongside a full-time job?
The listing says the commitment is flexible and fits alongside your current role.
Do I need AI experience?
No. The listing says domain expertise is what matters and no prior AI experience is required.
Source: the role's job listing on micro1. Facts were checked on 6 Nov 2026; the description above is condensed and reworded by us. Confirm details on the original listing before you apply.