Skip to content
AI Training Pay
esc
  • Loading roles…

  • Pages and tools

OpenTrainPhD

GPU Kernel and ML Systems Researcher (Coding Tasks)

You will create self-contained technical coding tasks for research-focused evaluation in ML systems and GPU kernels. You will also review AI model outputs and provide feedback grounded in your research expertise.

Field
Machine learning
Where
United States, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia +89 more
Asks for
PhD
Posted
yesterday

Pay data for your profession: Data scientist AI trainer jobs · PhD AI trainer jobs

How this pay compares

Open machine learning roles that ask for a PhD have a median of $90/hr (16 roles).

Among platforms with 10 or more priced machine learning roles, Mercor has the highest median ($108/hr across 10 roles) and Alignerr the lowest ($63/hr across 13).

OpenTrain AI roles that closed since late October stayed listed a median of 31 days (122 roles). OpenTrain AI posted this one yesterday.

Computed from 2,746 open roles we track across Mercor, micro1, Handshake AI, Alignerr, Appen and OpenTrain AI, refreshed daily. Midpoints of listed ranges; “up to” ceilings are left out of medians.

Open machine learning roles on each platform

The same kind of work, priced on every platform we track, with the best-paid open role on each.

PlatformOpenMedianBest-paid open role
Mercor10$108/hrMachine Learning Engineer Talent Network$70-250/hr
micro112$90/hrApplied Scientist$245-280/hr
OpenTrain AIthis role41$90/hrBioinformatics Machine Learning Expert$175/hr
Alignerr13$63/hrSoftware Engineer - Machine Learning$90-120/hr
Handshake AI3up to $75/hr3 pricedData ScientistUp to $120/hr

“Up to” rows list only ceilings, so their median is a maximum, not comparable with the range midpoints above them.

All 79 open machine learning roles →

The full listing

As posted on OpenTrain AI. See the original

The work

You will create self-contained technical coding tasks for research-focused evaluation in ML systems and GPU kernels. You will also review AI model outputs and provide feedback grounded in your research expertise.

Your work may cover CUDA, Triton, CUTLASS kernels, inference serving, and ML compilers. You will work with a project lead to keep tasks accurate, rigorous, and suitable for technical research evaluation.

  • Build technical research coding tasks involving ML systems and GPU kernels.
  • Review AI model outputs against the standards of ML systems research.
  • Provide technically grounded feedback on model performance and technical accuracy.
  • Apply your research perspective to self-contained technical work.

What it pays and takes

This is remote, asynchronous contract work designed to fit around your research.

  • Pay: $200 per approved task, typically taking about four hours.
  • Work setup: Remote, asynchronous contract work.
  • Location: Open to candidates in the listed countries.
  • Language: Professional fluency in English.
  • Research: Published work in ML systems and GPU kernels, including at venues such as MLSys, OSDI, SOSP, PPoPP, SC, or comparable venues.
  • Education: A completed or in-progress PhD in computer science or a related field.
  • Technical depth: Demonstrated expertise in CUDA, Triton, CUTLASS kernels, inference serving, or ML compilers.
  • Research artifacts: Released research code through GitHub or another research artifact.
  • Helpful background: First-author publications, Docker, reproducible research environments, and research engineering that combines published work with shipped code.

How it works

Apply on OpenTrain with your resume, then complete the application on the hiring site.

About AI training work

AI training work is the human side of building artificial intelligence. People prepare examples, review model responses, and evaluate technical outputs so AI systems can improve, and experienced specialists are needed when the work requires deep subject knowledge. OpenTrain helps people find these projects, build a profile, and apply in minutes.

From applying to your first payment on OpenTrain AI

  1. 1

    Create a profile

    Create a free OpenTrain profile with your domains, languages and hourly rate.

  2. 2

    Apply

    Apply to the listing. Some listings hire through OpenTrain; others send you to the hiring platform.

  3. 3

    Funded milestones

    The client funds each milestone before work starts.

  4. 4

    First payment

    OpenTrain pays out to your connected payout method when the client approves the milestone. It doesn't publish a fixed payout schedule.

Sources: OpenTrain: AI training careers, OpenTrain docs: invoicing and payouts

Full OpenTrain AI profile: watch-outs and the public record →

Pay history

OpenTrain AI has listed this role at $200 per task since Nov 10, 2026 with no change.

Across OpenTrain AI's machine learning roles, the median listed pay was $90/hr on Nov 1, 2026 (25 roles) and is $90/hr as of Nov 11, 2026 (37 roles).

What workers report about OpenTrain AI

Anonymous reports from people who applied or worked there: whether they got work, what they were paid and how fast.

Other machine learning roles

All 79 machine learning roles →