Remote Mechanical Engineer AI Trainer

Overview:

We are looking for experienced Mechanical Engineers to evaluate how frontier AI models handle real engineering work: sizing a component against a real load case, reading a CAD assembly and spotting what interferes at full travel, a tolerance stack up, a thermal or fluids calculation, a DFM decision, a failure analysis. The models can already talk fluently about mechanical engineering; what they cannot yet do reliably is the actual work. You bring the judgment you have built catching the failure mode the spec sheet does not mention. We bring the model output that judgment is needed to grade.

• In this role, you will design challenging, realistic tasks drawn from your own practice, such as a component sizing calculation with a worked solution, a tolerance stack up, a CAD assembly review with interference and clearance findings, a thermal or fluids analysis, a DFM and DFA review, a failure analysis report, or a test and validation plan, run them through frontier AI agents, and evaluate what comes back against a professional standard.
• You will work with realistic professional files, the kind a practitioner in your field actually handles, which you assemble yourself. Some tasks are compact, built around a handful of files; others are larger scenarios that take several days to build. In every case the goal is the same: a task a competent professional in your field would complete correctly and a frontier model currently gets wrong.
• This is not a traditional mechanical engineering role. You will be helping build better AI by putting your knowledge to work in a structured, flexible, fully remote environment.
• The work is long form and self directed, and clear written reasoning matters as much as technical depth.

Description:

• Design challenging, realistic mechanical engineering tasks drawn from your own day to day work: the scenario, a prompt phrased the way you would brief a trusted colleague, and the supporting files an engineer would need (drawings, CAD models, load cases, material data, test data, specifications), which you author yourself.
• Run those tasks through frontier AI models and evaluate the deliverable they produce (the calculation, design review, analysis or report) against the standard you would hold a colleague to.
• Compare two model outputs on identical prompts and files, decide which performed better, and document where each fell short.
• Write closed ended problems with worked solutions and acceptance criteria, and detailed grading rubrics that specify what a correct deliverable must contain, such as the right loads and factors, the right material, the right tolerances and the right failure modes considered, and explain in writing why a response passes or fails each one.
• Flag concrete failures with evidence: wrong boundary conditions, unit errors, interferences missed, tolerance stacks that do not close, unsafe factors of safety, fabricated or ignored source files, and off brief interpretation of the ask.
• Contribute across design, analysis, manufacturing and test, and review and refine tasks built by other engineers.

Qualifications:

• US Citizenship
• 2 years of relevant experience.
• In progress Bachelors degree or higher in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Depth in at least one of: mechanical design and CAD (geometry, clearances, tolerances, mechanisms); structures and materials (stress, deflection, fatigue, buckling, material selection, failure analysis); thermal and fluids (heat transfer, thermodynamics, HVAC, pumps and piping); dynamics and controls (vibration, kinematics, rotating machinery); manufacturing (DFM and DFA, process selection, GD&T, tolerance stack ups, cost and quality trade offs).
• Fluency in the tools of your specialty: CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape, Creo, NX, CATIA or Inventor), FEA or CFD, or MATLAB or Python for engineering analysis.
• General familiarity with AI and LLM tools. You have used models like Claude or ChatGPT in professional work and have the judgment to tell a well reasoned answer from a plausible sounding but incorrect one.
• Baseline tech literacy: comfortable with cloud file tools (e.g., Google Workspace), managing browser profiles, downloading and installing desktop apps (e.g., Claude), and everyday file handling (e.g., converting between Excel and Google Sheets, zipping files for sharing).

Additional Information:

• 20 openings available.
• No interview required. A technical assessment takes the place of an interview.
• If you pass the assessment, you get the offer.
• 10 hours a week (7 days) are required. Able to work as many as you would like beyond 10 hours.
• If you do not regularly utilize AI tools, you most likely won't be successful in this type of position.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Virginia Beach, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $125.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 21, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.