Backend Engineer

We are seeking a Backend Engineering Evaluator for a 12-week remote independent contractor engagement supporting the evaluation of AI-generated server-side software. The role focuses on assessing APIs, data models, services, database work, failure handling, security, concurrency, performance, and maintainability, while producing clear evidence-based scoring explanations. Candidates must have 2–3 years of professional backend experience shipping production services, strong command of at least one listed programming language, and excellent written English.

**Key Responsibilities

Design task-specific grading criteria for backend deliverables, including API endpoints, database schemas and queries, service logic, bug fixes, refactors, and tests.
Evaluate AI-generated backend code for correctness across expected behavior, edge cases, and failure scenarios.
Assess authentication, common security vulnerabilities, error handling, concurrency, data integrity, performance, and maintainability.
Identify defects and subtle errors that may allow code to pass its own tests while failing under less common conditions.
Write clear, evidence-based justifications for every evaluation score.
Apply consistent judgment across technical evaluations and iterate based on feedback from senior reviewers.
Review server-side software involving APIs, data models, services, database schemas, database queries, and service logic.
Evaluate the quality of bug fixes, refactors, testing practices, and failure handling in AI-generated implementations.

**Required Qualifications

2–5 years of professional backend experience shipping production services.
Strong command of at least one of Python, Java, Go, Node.js, C#, Ruby, or a comparable language.
Solid grounding in API design, relational databases, non-relational databases, SQL, and data modelling.
Working knowledge of authentication, common security vulnerabilities, error handling, and testing.
Experience reviewing other engineers' code.
Excellent written English.
Ability to follow complex instructions, reason through ambiguity, and spot subtle errors in code that runs correctly on the happy path.
Clear separation of what you know from what you're inferring.
Ability to work independently, learn new tools quickly, and take feedback well.
Based in and working from the US, Canada, or UK.
Available for 30–40+ hours per week for the full 12 weeks.