Software Engineer (Canada)
Handshake • Canada
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay
$120/hr
The rate in the listing.
Listed
5d ago
Checked
Only apply if this role fits your skills and interests.
Role overview
As a Software Engineer (Canada), you solve coding problems, test AI-written code and fix what it gets wrong.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Canada
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- PhD's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in Software Engineering
- Current university student or recent graduate with .edu email
Software Engineer interview prep
Questions Software Engineer interviewers often ask. They aren't taken from this listing.
How do you approach designing a system when the requirements are still likely to change?
I design around the parts of the problem I'm confident are stable, like the core data model, and keep the parts most likely to change, like specific business rules, isolated behind clear interfaces. Over-engineering flexibility everywhere just adds complexity to parts of the system that were never going to change.
What's your process for debugging an issue that only reproduces in production, not locally?
I add targeted logging around the suspected area and compare production data or configuration against my local setup, since an issue that's environment-specific usually traces back to a real difference between the two rather than a fundamentally different bug. I avoid making speculative changes without first confirming where the divergence is.
How do you decide when a piece of code needs a test versus when it's low-risk enough to skip?
I prioritize tests for logic with real business consequences if it breaks, or code that's likely to be touched again later by someone unfamiliar with it. Simple, rarely-changed glue code gets less coverage, since the cost of a thorough test there often exceeds the risk it's protecting against.
How do you evaluate a proposed technical solution's trade-offs, like performance versus maintainability?
I start from the actual constraint that matters for this specific system, whether that's genuinely performance-critical or whether maintainability is the bigger long-term cost, rather than defaulting to whichever trade-off I personally prefer. Optimizing for performance the system doesn't need just adds complexity nobody benefits from.
Why this role
This Software Engineer (Canada) position pays $120/hr for Software Engineering expertise, with no clients to find or invoices to send.
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Common questions
Can I use Handshake if I graduated years ago?
Handshake's AI Fellowship roles are aimed at current students and people within about 1 to 2 years of graduating. If you graduated earlier, look at the other platforms on this board too.
Is Handshake itself the employer for AI training roles?
For AI Fellowship roles, yes, Handshake is the employer of record. For other listings on Handshake, the employer is the company that posted the job.
Why do expert AI training roles pay well?
The model already knows the basics. It needs help with hard edge cases, the judgment calls a senior professional in the field gets right.
What does a typical day look like in expert AI training work?
Tasks are slow and careful. One task can take 45 to 60 minutes of checking citations or calculations, and you're judged on quality more than speed.
What does Software Engineering work look like for a Software Engineer (Canada)?
You check AI answers to Software Engineering questions, correct their errors and write expert reasoning. As a Software Engineer (Canada), you're hired for that judgment, so hands-on Software Engineering experience matters.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Coding is named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with this, expect the screening to test for it.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $120/hr, an hourly rate. Pay can change after we check the listing, so confirm the rate on the platform's application page.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
Apply opens Handshake's site, where you create an account and follow its sign-up steps.
Is a PhD required?
For this role, yes, or similar professional depth, and the assessment checks it. PhD candidates and people with published research have qualified without the degree.
Can I apply from outside Canada?
This role is open only to people based in Canada. The limit is usually about where the platform can legally hire, so applying from elsewhere rarely leads to an offer. Check the description for tax or right-to-work rules before you apply.
Are Handshake AI training listings internships?
Some are. Handshake lists internships and separate "AI Trainer" fellowships. If the description says "1099" or "Contract", the role is freelance work.