Remote | Computational Physicist (Scientific Computing) — Up to $60/hour

We are sharing a specialised part-time consulting opportunity for PhD-level physicists with strong scientific computing and programming expertise across multiple areas of modern physics.

This role focuses on designing original, executable research problems grounded in authentic scientific workflows. Selected experts will develop challenging computational physics tasks, build rigorous grading criteria, test them against advanced models, and refine them until they require genuine research-level scientific and computational reasoning.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Problem Design

• Develop original, research-level computational physics problems
• Build tasks from published papers, public datasets, open-source repositories, or independently designed scientific scenarios
• Create problems requiring multi-step numerical, analytical, and computational reasoning
• Ensure tasks reflect realistic scientific research workflows rather than textbook exercises
• Design problems with clearly defensible and reproducible solutions

Computational Physics Workflows

• Develop executable tasks involving scientific programming and numerical analysis
• Apply computational methods appropriate to the underlying physics problem
• Build tasks requiring interpretation of simulation outputs, numerical results, or scientific datasets
• Incorporate realistic modelling assumptions, boundary conditions, and computational constraints
• Validate that problems can be solved reproducibly in the intended environment

Physics Domain Expertise

• Develop tasks drawing on expertise across at least two of the following areas:
  • Condensed matter physics
  • Optics
  • Quantum information and quantum computing
  • Computational physics
  • Astrophysics
  • Particle physics
• Apply graduate-level theoretical and computational knowledge to task construction
• Incorporate domain-specific edge cases, modelling challenges, and scientific reasoning
• Ensure prompts require genuine subject-matter depth rather than surface-level recall

Scientific Programming

• Write and validate scientific code using Python, R, or another relevant programming language
• Develop computational setups, reference calculations, and validation scripts
• Debug numerical or implementation issues during task development
• Ensure code and scientific outputs remain consistent with the intended problem specification
• Produce reproducible computational workflows suitable for automated testing

Evaluation Criteria & Reference Solutions

• Define clear criteria describing what constitutes a correct scientific solution
• Develop authoritative reference outputs and supporting calculations
• Identify essential reasoning steps, numerical results, and scientific assumptions
• Create grading logic capable of distinguishing correct solutions from plausible but flawed approaches
• Ensure evaluation criteria remain precise enough for consistent assessment

Task Testing & Calibration

• Test problems against advanced computational systems
• Analyse failure modes and determine whether tasks require sufficient scientific depth
• Refine prompts, inputs, and expected outputs based on testing results
• Adjust difficulty while preserving scientific validity and reproducibility
• Finalise tasks only when they reliably differentiate strong from weak scientific reasoning

Research Engineering Workflow

• Work through a Git/GitHub pull-request workflow
• Run and validate code in Docker-based environments
• Respond to automated quality checks and reviewer feedback
• Maintain clean, reproducible code and supporting documentation
• Collaborate with scientific and technical reviewers throughout task development

Ideal Profile

• PhD required in Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two relevant physics subdomains, such as condensed matter, optics, quantum information/computing, computational physics, astrophysics, or particle physics
• Strong working proficiency in Python, R, or another scientific programming language
• Hands-on experience using code for scientific research, numerical modelling, simulation, or data analysis
• Comfortable with Git/GitHub
• Able to work with Docker and containerised computational environments
• Strong understanding of reproducible scientific computing
• Ability to translate advanced research concepts into clearly specified computational problems
• Peer-reviewed scientific publications are advantageous
• Prior experience in scientific software, computational research, or research engineering is highly valued
• Strong written communication and ability to document scientific assumptions and solutions precisely

Engagement Details

• Part-time independent contractor engagement
• Fully remote
• 20+ hours per week
• Initial duration of approximately 6 weeks
• Immediate start
• Compensation: Up to $60/hour
• Work includes scientific problem design, coding, reference-solution development, evaluation criteria, testing, and task refinement
• Projects may be extended, shortened, or concluded based on project needs and performance
• Work must be completed without using confidential or proprietary information belonging to any employer, client, institution, or other third party
• H1-B and STEM OPT support is unavailable for this engagement

About the Platform

This opportunity is available through 24-MAG LLC. We connect experienced professionals with remote consulting opportunities across technical, evaluation, and project-based workstreams.

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