Ocean, Atmosphere & Earth Observation Scientist

Use your hands-on experience in oceanography, atmospheric science, geoscience or a related field to write research-level problems for AI models. Remote, flexible contract work.

AfterQuery works with leading AI labs to build the expert data that tests and trains AI models. We're looking for ocean, atmosphere and earth scientists who work with raw field and instrument data: the cruises, deployments and field campaigns you have processed data from.

Requirements

• Technical: Working knowledge of Python for processing and quality-checking your own instrument or survey data.
• Work authorization: Must be able to work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship. Students on F-1 visas (including OPT/CPT) are not eligible.

Preferred

• Background: a PhD or Master's degree plus field campaign experience; postdocs and research staff at oceanographic, meteorological or geological institutes are a strong fit.
• Hands-on work with real data, rather than work limited to climate-model or reanalysis output.

Contract and pay

Flexible, independent-contractor work: $300 per approved task, about 6 hours each (roughly $50 per hour), with no cap on how many tasks you take on.

All accepted experts undergo standard background and identity verification.

Responsibilities

• Write research-level problems in your area of expertise
• Work independently and manage your own time
• Keep your work accurate, clear and well documented

Required qualifications

• Hands-on experience working with your own raw field and instrument data in Python or a similar language
• Able to write clearly about technical work in your field
• Able to work independently and manage your own time. This is flexible, task-based work with no fixed weekly schedule

Preferred qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree in oceanography, atmospheric science, geoscience or a related field, plus field campaign experience
• Has sailed on research cruises or run field deployments; built QC pipelines for instrument data; knows calibration and instrument drift
• Public code, a thesis or papers that show your technical work
• Prior experience in data annotation, data labeling or AI/ML evaluation work

Why apply

• $300 per approved task (roughly $50 per hour)
• Fully remote and flexible, with no fixed weekly schedule