Astronomer & Space Scientist

What you'll do

You test whether AI models reason correctly about astronomy and space science. The ad lists the territory: orbital mechanics, stellar and galactic astrophysics, cosmology basics, planetary science, space physics and data interpretation (signal to noise, selection effects, uncertainties). You write realistic research-style questions, review model answers and solutions for unit errors, bad approximations and overconfident claims, and give structured feedback.

One stated goal is shaping how models talk about assumptions, uncertainty and the limits of inference, so humility in a response is something you reward.

Who fits

• Four or more years in astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, space physics, heliophysics, cosmology, observational astronomy, mission operations or instrumentation
• A bachelor's degree in physics, astronomy, space science or engineering; a master's or PhD is strongly preferred
• Core fundamentals for your specialty: mechanics, electromagnetism, radiative processes, orbital mechanics, statistics and modelling assumptions
• The habit of sanity-checking orders of magnitude, units, limiting cases and error propagation

AI data training, annotation, red-teaming or evaluation experience is a strong plus, as is Python, NumPy or SciPy, catalog queries or mission datasets. The ad does not list a skills section.

The role is open in 17 countries, mainly South and Southeast Asia, with Brazil, Germany and the United States as the outliers.

What it pays

SME's listing says up to $100 an hour, with no floor. The ad is tagged for an associate-level applicant on SME's side, but the text asks for four years of experience. The Astronomer QAL role on the same board goes to $110. The listing does not state how or when you are paid; the company page covers SME's Deel payout cycle.

Worth knowing

Good:

• A high ceiling for science review work
• Scientific humility and uncertainty are explicit goals, not an afterthought
• Wide topic range lets you work in your own specialty

Less good:

• The listing mixes an associate-level tag with a four-year requirement, so check the bar before applying
• The ad says there is no immediate project, so expect a wait for work
• The ceiling is a ceiling, not a typical rate

About this listing

Posted on SME Careers (sme.careers), where SuperAnnotate hires subject matter experts, and read on 27 October 2026. The board gives no posting date. The duties, requirements and pay are SME's own text; the comparisons and commentary are ours. The interview, Deel contract, bootcamp and time tracking are covered on the company page rather than repeated here. The ad says there is no immediate project for this role; qualified applicants are among the first contacted when relevant work opens, which also gives access to future projects in the expert network. See SuperAnnotate.