GitHub Contributor Software Engineering

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain AI is the hiring and contracting organization for this role and the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. OpenTrain helps people discover meaningful projects, build their profiles, and apply in minutes. Creating an OpenTrain account is free.

• Remote contractor opportunity
• Part-time schedule of less than 20 hours per week
• Expected project duration of 6 or more months
• Apply and complete the hiring process through OpenTrain

About AI Training Work

AI training is the human side of building artificial intelligence. Engineers and other specialists create examples, evaluate model behavior, and provide expert feedback that helps AI systems learn to reason and solve difficult problems. In this role, your practical software engineering experience will help shape how next-generation models approach real coding tasks.

• Work on cutting-edge AI development without requiring prior AI experience
• Apply real-world engineering judgment to model evaluation and training environments
• Help produce reliable examples and reference solutions for complex technical challenges

The Role

OpenTrain AI is seeking expert-level GitHub Contributors and Senior Software Engineers to support an innovative project focused on training next-generation AI systems. You will create reinforcement learning environments that evaluate an AI model's ability to solve software engineering problems, including bug fixing, feature implementation, codebase refactoring, and performance optimization.

You will create reproducible development environments, provide golden reference solutions, document technical reasoning, and review peer-contributed code and technical submissions. No prior experience in AI is required; your software engineering expertise and practical experience are the primary qualifications.

• Compensation listed at $50 to $100 per hour, with a stated rate of $75 per hour
• Compensation is output-based and paid per completed task meeting project specifications
• Approximately 15 hours per week, with an expected commitment under 20 hours
• Candidates should be ready to begin promptly
• Selected contributors may start first tasks within 24 to 48 hours after onboarding

What You'll Do

You will work across diverse codebases and technical challenges, using your engineering judgment to produce accurate, maintainable, and clearly explained solutions. Individual task times may vary based on complexity, experience, and workflow.

• Develop expert-level code samples, debugging strategies, and software development insights
• Analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve complex software defects
• Identify performance bottlenecks and implement effective optimizations
• Design and implement scalable, maintainable features
• Refactor legacy codebases to improve clarity, efficiency, and reliability
• Create reproducible environments for software engineering challenges
• Develop golden reference solutions showing correct, high-quality implementations
• Document technical reasoning, solution approaches, and important code decisions
• Review and validate peer code and technical submissions for accuracy, quality, and clarity

Required Skills and Qualifications

This is an expert-level opportunity for candidates with substantial hands-on software engineering experience and a strong record of practical contributions. Applicants must have a strong open-source portfolio and an active technical profile, such as GitHub or GitLab.

• Significant experience with at least one of Python 3, Java, Rust, Go, C++, or TypeScript
• Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, software architecture, and software engineering principles
• Proven ability to debug complex systems and resolve challenging technical issues
• Experience identifying bottlenecks and improving performance in production or large-scale applications
• Experience refactoring large codebases and modernizing legacy systems
• Track record of delivering high-impact features from conception through implementation
• Strong technical documentation and communication skills
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts and engineering decisions clearly
• Experience with computer code programming labeling workflows
• Expertise in software engineering and AI training environments
• Fluent English proficiency
• Previous professional AI experience is not required

Who Should Apply

This role is suited to experienced software engineers who enjoy solving difficult technical problems, explaining their reasoning, and contributing to open-source or public technical work. An interest in AI and emerging technical challenges is valuable, but the role is grounded in demonstrated software engineering ability.

• Open-source contributors with an active GitHub or GitLab profile
• Engineers comfortable working in one or more of the listed programming languages
• Candidates available for fewer than 20 hours per week
• Professionals prepared to meet project submission requirements and any minimum weekly task expectations

Hiring Process and Compensation

The hiring process is designed to assess your technical background and ability to contribute to the project. Compensation is output-based: experts are paid for completed tasks that meet the required project specifications. Minimum submission requirements may apply, and selected contributors may be expected to complete a minimum number of tasks each week.

• Submit an application and complete required screening questions
• Complete an approximately 30-minute AI interview
• Complete a technical assessment if required
• Receive final review by the Hiring Manager
• Begin project work after successful onboarding and selection