Remote | Astrophysics & Cosmology Benchmark Consultant — $60–$90/hour

We are sharing a specialised part-time consulting opportunity for astrophysics and cosmology professionals experienced in astropy, cosmological calculations, angular power spectra, galaxy survey analysis, observational data reduction pipelines, Python scientific computing, and benchmark evaluation workflows. This role supports current and upcoming remote consulting opportunities focused on astrophysics and cosmology problem design, scientific software evaluation, observational and computational workflow development, Python-based validation, and high-quality project execution. Selected professionals will design challenging research-grade computational problems, create precise expected outputs, develop validation logic, and refine task difficulty based on structured calibration feedback. Key Responsibilities Professionals in this role may contribute to: Astrophysics & Cosmology Problem Design Design original graduate-level computational problems grounded in real astrophysics and cosmology workflows Create tasks involving cosmological calculations, angular power spectra, galaxy survey analysis, observational data reduction, or related computational astronomy workflows Develop problems that require precise outputs from fully specified computational setups Design tasks that test strategic reasoning, physical interpretation, numerical judgment, and careful analysis of partial scientific outputs Scientific Software & Data Workflow Evaluation Work with astropy or related astrophysics and cosmology software tools Create problems involving astronomical coordinate systems, cosmological distance calculations, survey data interpretation, angular spectra, or observational pipeline outputs Evaluate whether tasks require genuine astrophysical reasoning rather than surface-level computation Identify edge cases, software limitations, numerical artifacts, or reasoning traps that make a problem genuinely challenging Python-Based Validation & Benchmark Calibration Write Python problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators Refine tasks through calibration feedback until the difficulty reaches the target range Create structured evaluation materials that support reproducible scoring and consistent review Maintain technical accuracy, reproducibility, and clear documentation across submitted task materials Ideal Profile Strong candidates may have: Graduate-level expertise in astrophysics, cosmology, observational astronomy, computational astronomy, physics, applied mathematics, or a closely related STEM field MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience in a relevant domain Hands-on experience using astropy or comparable astrophysics and cosmology software tools in real research workflows Strong Python programming skills for scientific computing, validation logic, and task setup Experience writing code that calls scientific software libraries to solve actual astronomy, astrophysics, or cosmology problems Ability to understand software edge cases, numerical limitations, and what makes a problem genuinely difficult Comfort working independently and iterating on problem designs based on feedback Ability to work in Linux, terminal-based environments, or remote compute sandboxes Educational Background MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience in astrophysics, cosmology, astronomy, physics, computational astronomy, applied mathematics, statistics, or a related technical field is preferred Research publications, open-source contributions, professional scientific software work, or applied astrophysics/cosmology analysis experience are highly relevant Experience designing or validating observational or computational astrophysics pipelines may be especially valuable Nice to Have Experience across multiple astrophysics, astronomy, cosmology, or scientific computing tools Familiarity with benchmark design, evaluation design, calibration workflows, or technical task validation Background in scientific pedagogy, exam design, problem-set creation, or graduate-level technical assessment Experience with computational reproducibility, containerized environments, remote compute, or research software packaging Availability for approximately 15–20 hours per week depending on project scope Why This Opportunity Apply astrophysics and cosmology expertise to structured remote scientific problem design work Contribute to high-quality benchmark tasks involving astropy, cosmological calculations, galaxy survey analysis, observational data workflows, and Python validation Work on flexible assignments aligned with your astrophysics, cosmology, or computational astronomy background Use your ability to design rigorous, strategic, research-grade computational problems Remote structure with competitive hourly compensation Contract Details Independent contractor role Fully remote with flexible scheduling Eligible professionals may be based in approved project locations depending on project needs Expected commitment of approximately 15–20 hours per week depending on project availability Competitive rates between $60–$90 per hour depending on expertise and project scope Weekly payments via Stripe or Wise Projects may be extended, shortened, or adjusted depending on scope and performance Work will not involve access to confidential or proprietary information from any employer, client, or institution About the Platform This opportunity is available through 24-MAG LLC. 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