micro1Coding & software eval
Puzzle Solver (Coding)
up to $80/hr
About this role, in micro1's words
The work involves solving self-contained coding and technical challenges designed to test the capabilities of advanced AI models. A representative task may require exploring an unfamiliar codebase or terminal environment, understanding a precise objective, implementing a solution, testing it against hidden or explicit constraints, and producing a reproducible final result.
What you'll do
What You’ll Work On
- Solve self-contained coding, logic, debugging, and technical reasoning challenges.
- Analyze unfamiliar problems and translate their requirements into implementable solutions.
- Select appropriate algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving strategies.
Show all 11 itemsHide the other 8 in What You’ll Work On
- Work inside terminal-based development environments and existing codebases.
- Implement correct and efficient solutions using an appropriate programming language.
- Identify ambiguous requirements, edge cases, hidden assumptions, and failure conditions.
- Debug incorrect behavior across code, tests, dependencies, and environment configuration.
- Develop tests and verification methods that distinguish genuinely correct solutions from superficially plausible ones.
- Review AI-generated solutions and identify logic errors, incomplete reasoning, and constraint violations.
- Produce clear, reproducible solutions that can be executed and evaluated automatically.
- Explain reasoning, implementation decisions, and trade-offs clearly
Candidate background
Required Qualifications
- Strong algorithmic problem-solving ability.
- Proficiency in at least one general-purpose programming language, such as C++, Python, Java, Rust, Go, C#, JavaScript, or TypeScript .
- Strong understanding of common data structures and algorithms.
- Ability to reason carefully about constraints, complexity, edge cases, and correctness.
- Experience debugging unfamiliar code or solving technically ambiguous problems.
- Ability to work independently in terminal-based development environments.
- Ability to produce reproducible, testable software solutions.
- Clear written and verbal technical communication.
- A public or otherwise verifiable Codeforces profile demonstrating meaningful competitive-programming experience is nice to have.
Quoted from selected sections of micro1'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 micro1's words
Posted by micro1, reproduced here so you can judge the role before clicking. Original posting ↗
Puzzle Solver (Coding)
Pay: $50–$80/hour
Location: Global, fully remote
Job Type: Contractor (~15 hours per week)
Schedule: Flexible—you choose the hours and days you work, including weekends if desired
We are looking for highly skilled coding puzzle solvers to contribute to an AI training project involving algorithmic reasoning, debugging, constrained technical problems, and reproducible software solutions.
The work involves solving self-contained coding and technical challenges designed to test the capabilities of advanced AI models. A representative task may require exploring an unfamiliar codebase or terminal environment, understanding a precise objective, implementing a solution, testing it against hidden or explicit constraints, and producing a reproducible final result.
What You’ll Work On
• Solve self-contained coding, logic, debugging, and technical reasoning challenges.
• Analyze unfamiliar problems and translate their requirements into implementable solutions.
• Select appropriate algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving strategies.
• Work inside terminal-based development environments and existing codebases.
• Implement correct and efficient solutions using an appropriate programming language.
• Identify ambiguous requirements, edge cases, hidden assumptions, and failure conditions.
• Debug incorrect behavior across code, tests, dependencies, and environment configuration.
• Develop tests and verification methods that distinguish genuinely correct solutions from superficially plausible ones.
• Review AI-generated solutions and identify logic errors, incomplete reasoning, and constraint violations.
• Produce clear, reproducible solutions that can be executed and evaluated automatically.
• Explain reasoning, implementation decisions, and trade-offs clearly
Required Qualifications
• Strong algorithmic problem-solving ability.
• Proficiency in at least one general-purpose programming language, such as C++, Python, Java, Rust, Go, C#, JavaScript, or TypeScript .
• Strong understanding of common data structures and algorithms.
• Ability to reason carefully about constraints, complexity, edge cases, and correctness.
• Experience debugging unfamiliar code or solving technically ambiguous problems.
• Ability to work independently in terminal-based development environments.
• Ability to produce reproducible, testable software solutions.
• Clear written and verbal technical communication.
A public or otherwise verifiable Codeforces profile demonstrating meaningful competitive-programming experience is nice to have.
Process
• Apply to the role and complete the screening questions.
• Complete an AI interview of approximately 30 minutes.
• Complete the hiring manager review.
Compensation Structure
Compensation is output-based. Experts are paid per task that meets the project specifications. The time required to complete each task may vary depending on the expert’s experience and workflow.
Minimum submission requirements apply.
Start Timeline & Availability
• We typically fill roles within 48 hours and are looking for experts who are ready to begin immediately. If selected, you will be expected to start your first task within 24–48 hours of completing onboarding.
•
Working with micro1Pay, getting started and work, from micro1's own pages
What the platform publishes in general. These are not extra terms confirmed for this particular role.
- Getting paid
- Paid in US dollars twice a month through Deel, usually landing around the 5th and the 20th. Nothing is paid until Deel's identity check is done. library.micro1.ai/working/faqs, library.micro1.ai/working/payroll-policy
- Before your first paid task
- An AI interview with micro1's recruiter Zara, then your profile, ID verification, a KarmaCheck background check and the Deel contract. Some pipelines add a quiz or test task. micro1.ai/experts, micro1.ai/ai-interview-guide, library.micro1.ai/getting-started/next-steps-after-certif..., library.micro1.ai/working/faqs, library.micro1.ai/working/what-to-expect
- How much work
- Certification makes you eligible but does not guarantee placement. micro1's FAQ puts the usual commitment at about 15 to 20 hours a week, depending on the client. micro1.ai/experts, library.micro1.ai/working/faqs
- Contract
- Independent contractor, with the contract issued through Deel. library.micro1.ai/policies/understanding-your-expert-agre..., library.micro1.ai/working/deel
Read on the pages linked above on 23 Sep 2026. Platforms change these terms, so check the linked page before you rely on one.
Alex's experience on micro1A personal account, not a promise about your project
Alexruns this site and has worked on micro1 himself. Written 31 Aug 2026.
- Every interview I took used an AI interviewer, and some included a timed business exercise of around 25 minutes.
- On later applications, interview reuse on micro1 was often partial, and I still answered questions about one to three additional skills.
- I entered a requested rate for the job. One listing showed about $180 an hour. I requested about $160 and received the rate I entered. Those amounts are approximate, and this describes my application, not proof that a lower request caused acceptance.
- Onboarding and setup came to about 2 hours, with clear materials. Of the three platforms I worked on, it was the easiest transition into work. That is an estimate from my projects, not a platform average.
- On my micro1 project, Hubstaff showed time and mouse or keyboard activity, not screenshots, app names or website history. That describes what I saw, not every possible setup.
- I was paid for hours logged, once every 14 days, and I have not experienced late or incorrect payments. That was my arrangement.
One person's applications, not a promise about yours.
What happens after you apply, first-handHow 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 micro1's posting. How we count.
Pay across the field: Coding & software eval
Across 393 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, $80, is in the middle half. Of the 140 distinct rates we count, 49 are lower and 82 are higher.
| Platform | Roles | Top of range, per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alignerr | 137 | $50 to $400 · median $100 |
| micro1 (this platform) | 45 | $35 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 11 Sep 2026, and still on micro1's list when we last read it on 12 Oct 2026.
- The listed pay has not changed since then.
- Posted by micro1
- First seen by AIPayList
- Last seen live
- Listing ID
- b162a0c4-a88f-462f-ad8d-ecfa32292586
Pay as the source states it: “micro1 job record, ideal_hourly_rate: $50–$80/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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