Applied Physics Specialist
Posted Today by Alignerr
Negotiable
Undetermined
Remote
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Applied Physics Specialist role focuses on leveraging expertise in physics to enhance AI models by identifying gaps in their reasoning and ensuring adherence to fundamental physical laws. This fully remote, flexible contract position is designed for PhD-level physicists who can create complex physics problems and evaluate AI-generated outputs. Candidates are expected to work independently and contribute to high-impact AI projects without prior AI experience. The role offers the opportunity for ongoing work and contract extensions as new projects arise.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design Advanced Physics Problems — Develop complex, open-ended problems at PhD qualifying exam level.
- Author Rigorous Solutions — Create precise, step-by-step "golden responses" with verified physical constants.
- Audit AI Reasoning — Evaluate AI-generated proofs and simulations for physical consistency.
- Refine Model Behavior — Provide structured feedback to improve AI's physics-informed reasoning.
- Document Failure Modes — Record ways AI models break down when confronted with research-level physics.
Key Skills:
- PhD (completed or near completion) in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a related field.
- Deep mastery of Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics.
- Exceptional ability to write clear, structured, mathematically rigorous explanations.
- Uncompromising attention to detail in scientific notation and logical flow.
- Self-directed and comfortable working independently in an asynchronous environment.
- Experience with scientific data annotation, dataset curation, or evaluation systems (nice to have).
- Proficiency with computational tools such as Python, MATLAB, or COMSOL (nice to have).
- Familiarity with AI tools or large language models as an end user (nice to have).
Salary (Rate): £32.00 hourly
City: Manchester
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: remote
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
Applied Physics Specialist (AI Training)
About The Role
What if your expertise in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and electrodynamics could directly shape how AI understands the physical world? We're looking for PhD-level Applied Physicists to stress-test cutting-edge AI models — exposing the gaps in their reasoning and helping ensure they never violate the fundamental laws of the universe. This is a fully remote, flexible contract role built for researchers and scientists who want to do meaningful, intellectually demanding work on their own schedule. No prior AI experience required — just deep domain mastery and a rigorous scientific mind.
Organization: Alignerr
Type: Hourly Contract
Location: Remote
Commitment: 10–40 hours/week
What You'll Do
- Design Advanced Physics Problems — Develop complex, open-ended problems at PhD qualifying exam level, requiring multi-step logical reasoning and mathematical derivation across topics like quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics
- Author Rigorous Solutions — Create precise, step-by-step "golden responses" with verified physical constants, correct unit conversions, and airtight reasoning that serves as the benchmark for AI evaluation
- Audit AI Reasoning — Evaluate AI-generated proofs, simulations, and explanations for physical consistency, identifying where models "hallucinate" physics that violates first principles
- Refine Model Behavior — Provide structured, expert feedback that improves how AI handles physics-informed reasoning — from conservation laws to boundary conditions to dimensional analysis
- Document Failure Modes — Systematically record the ways AI models break down when confronted with research-level physics, contributing directly to model improvement
Who You Are
- Holds a PhD (completed or near completion) in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a closely related field
- Deep mastery across the core pillars of physics: Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics
- Exceptional ability to write clear, structured, mathematically rigorous explanations for complex physical phenomena
- Uncompromising attention to detail — units, scientific notation, logical flow, and physical consistency are second nature to you
- Self-directed and comfortable working independently in an asynchronous environment
- No prior AI or data annotation experience required
Nice to Have
- Experience with scientific data annotation, dataset curation, or evaluation systems
- Proficiency with computational tools such as Python (NumPy/SciPy), MATLAB, or COMSOL
- Background in research-level benchmarking or academic problem authoring
- Familiarity with AI tools or large language models as an end user
Why Join Us
- Work on high-impact AI projects in partnership with the world's leading AI research labs
- Fully remote and flexible — work when and where it suits you, on your own schedule
- Freelance autonomy with the intellectual depth of real research-level work
- Apply your PhD-level expertise in a novel, forward-looking domain
- Contribute to making AI systems that genuinely respect the laws of physics
- Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch