AfterQueryCoding & software eval
Mechanical Engineering Expert
$87.50/hr
About this role, in AfterQuery's words
This is a remote, project-based role for mechanical engineers with 2–4 years of hands-on experience in CAD and mechanical design. You will complete tasks spanning mechanical design, engineering analysis, technical documentation, and product development support. Work is over the next 2–3 weeks, asynchronous, and assigned on a project-by-project basis, with an expected commitment of 10–20 hours per week for the projects you accept. This position offers exceptional pay, exposure to real-world engineering challenges, and a strong addition to your professional portfolio.
What you'll do
Responsibilities
- Create, review, and iterate on mechanical designs and CAD models for components, assemblies, and systems
- Develop detailed engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical documentation to manufacturing standards
- Perform engineering analysis including stress, tolerance, and design for manufacturability (DFM) assessments
Show all 5 itemsHide the other 2 in Responsibilities
- Support product development workflows from concept through prototype and into production-ready design
- Document design decisions, assumptions, and methodologies clearly and reproducibly
Candidate background
Required qualifications
- 2–4 years of professional experience in mechanical engineering, product design, or a related field
- Strong proficiency in at least one major CAD platform (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, CATIA, NX, or equivalent)
- Demonstrated ability to produce detailed mechanical designs and engineering drawings to industry standards
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on technical tasks
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or a related engineering field
Preferred qualifications
Show all 4 itemsHide these 4 items in Preferred qualifications
- Experience with FEA or simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar)
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes including CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, or additive manufacturing
- Experience working in hardware startups, product development firms, or fast-paced engineering environments
- Background in systems integration, mechatronics, or electromechanical product design
Quoted from selected sections of AfterQuery's posting. The full posting may state other conditions. Read the full posting
A closer look
More context, when you need it.
Full job descriptionThe original posting, in AfterQuery's words
Posted by AfterQuery, reproduced here so you can judge the role before clicking. Original posting ↗
This is a remote, project-based role for mechanical engineers with 2–4 years of hands-on experience in CAD and mechanical design. You will complete tasks spanning mechanical design, engineering analysis, technical documentation, and product development support. Work is over the next 2–3 weeks, asynchronous, and assigned on a project-by-project basis, with an expected commitment of 10–20 hours per week for the projects you accept. This position offers exceptional pay, exposure to real-world engineering challenges, and a strong addition to your professional portfolio.
Responsibilities - Create, review, and iterate on mechanical designs and CAD models for components, assemblies, and systems - Develop detailed engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical documentation to manufacturing standards - Perform engineering analysis including stress, tolerance, and design for manufacturability (DFM) assessments - Support product development workflows from concept through prototype and into production-ready design - Document design decisions, assumptions, and methodologies clearly and reproducibly
Required qualifications - 2–4 years of professional experience in mechanical engineering, product design, or a related field - Strong proficiency in at least one major CAD platform (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, CATIA, NX, or equivalent) - Demonstrated ability to produce detailed mechanical designs and engineering drawings to industry standards - Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on technical tasks - Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or a related engineering field
Preferred qualifications - Experience with FEA or simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar) - Familiarity with manufacturing processes including CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, or additive manufacturing - Experience working in hardware startups, product development firms, or fast-paced engineering environments - Background in systems integration, mechatronics, or electromechanical product design
Why apply - Flexible Time Commitment – Work on your schedule while tackling meaningful engineering challenges - Startup Exposure – Work directly with an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company, gaining hands-on experience that sets you apart - Exceptional Pay – Project-based pay up to $100/hour - Portfolio Building – Gain experience solving complex, real-world mechanical design and engineering problems - Professional Growth – Sharpen your skills on varied, challenging design tasks across industries and applications
Working with AfterQueryPay, getting started and work, from AfterQuery's own pages
What the platform publishes in general. These are not extra terms confirmed for this particular role.
- Getting paid
- Approved work is paid every Friday for the prior week, by Stripe to a bank account, with no fees. Stripe holds the first payout for 7 days. docs.afterquery.com/articles/payments-taxes/payment-setup
- Before your first paid task
- One assessment per expert pool, unpaid and with no retake. Onboarding takes about 10 minutes: legal documents, phone, ID through Persona, and payments. docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/assessments, docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/complete-your-onb...
- How much work
- Projects are assigned by assessment fit as they come up, and higher-rated contributors get priority. docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/assessments, docs.afterquery.com/articles/about/contract-work
- Contract
- Independent contractor. Most contractors register as individuals. docs.afterquery.com/articles/about/contract-work, docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/complete-your-onb...
Read on the pages linked above on 23 Sep 2026. Platforms change these terms, so check the linked page before you rely on one.
How does the pay compare?Across Coding & software eval roles, not this role alone
From our own daily reads of every open listing on the platforms we follow, not from AfterQuery's posting. How we count.
Pay across the field: Coding & software eval
Across 391 roles in this field with a stated hourly rate in US dollars, on 14 platforms, the middle half pays $65 to $120 an hour at the top of the range, and the median is $95. This role's top rate, $87.50, is in the middle half. Of the 139 distinct rates we count, 61 are lower and 78 are higher.
| Platform | Roles | Top of range, per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alignerr | 137 | $50 to $400 · median $100 |
| micro1 | 44 | $60 to $350 · median $120 |
| Handshake AI | 43 | $47 to $125 · median $80 |
| Meridial (Invisible) | 34 | $22 to $150 · median $60 |
| Mercor | 33 | $60 to $200 · median $105 |
Sources and listing historyWhere this information comes from
This listing's history
- First seen here on 26 Aug 2026, and still on AfterQuery's list when we last read it on 12 Oct 2026.
- Listed pay changed on 29 Sep 2026: up to $100/hr before, $87.50/hr after.
A change can also be a correction to how we read AfterQuery's feed. The figure at the top of this page is always the latest read.
- Posted by AfterQuery
- First seen by AIPayList
- Last seen live
- Listing ID
- 1777422098805
Pay as the source states it: “$87.5/hr”.
Platforms sometimes change a rate after posting. Every listing here is re-read at least once a day and corrected when its source moves, so a difference you see on the platform is usually a change made since the last read. How freshness works.
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