Competitive Coder

We are sharing a specialised consulting opportunity for experienced Competitive Coders with strong expertise in C++, algorithmic problem solving, checker development, test-case design, edge-case analysis, and competitive-programming evaluation to contribute to an advanced AI training and reinforcement-learning project. Selected professionals will create original competitive-programming problems, develop reference solutions, build robust test suites, and design reinforcement-learning environments that test an AI model's ability to solve complex algorithmic tasks. The work requires deep competitive-programming judgement, advanced C++ proficiency, and meticulous attention to correctness across constraints, outputs, checkers, and edge cases. No prior experience in AI is required. Key Responsibilities - Competitive Programming Problem Design - Create original competitive-programming problems - Develop tasks that are not duplicated from existing online judges - Define clear problem statements, constraints, and expected behaviour - Design problems requiring substantive algorithmic reasoning - Ensure tasks are technically rigorous and objectively verifiable - Reinforcement Learning Environment Development - Create environments that test AI performance on complex coding problems - Define measurable success criteria - Build deterministic evaluation workflows - Support reliable assessment of model-generated solutions - Ensure environments reflect realistic competitive-programming challenges - Reference Solution Development - Implement correct and efficient reference solutions - Validate solutions against stated constraints - Analyse time and space complexity - Confirm reference behaviour across normal and adversarial cases - Maintain clear and maintainable C++ implementations - Checker Development - Design and implement custom checkers - Handle problems with multiple valid outputs - Ensure checker logic is deterministic and robust - Validate output correctness across diverse solution formats - Prevent false positives and false negatives in evaluation - Test Suite Design - Develop comprehensive test suites - Cover edge cases, corner cases, and boundary conditions - Create adversarial tests targeting common solution weaknesses - Ensure tests distinguish correct from partially correct implementations - Validate test coverage against reference and intentionally flawed solutions - Submission Evaluation - Review and validate participant or model-generated submissions - Compare implementations against problem requirements - Identify logical, algorithmic, or implementation errors - Assess handling of constraints and edge cases - Verify output consistency and correctness - Algorithmic Analysis - Analyse multiple possible solution paths - Evaluate complexity trade-offs - Identify optimal or acceptable algorithms - Detect hidden assumptions in proposed approaches - Distinguish valid alternative solutions from incorrect reasoning - C++ Engineering - Develop reliable evaluation and checker code in C++ - Write maintainable and efficient implementations - Handle input/output constraints carefully - Debug subtle correctness and performance issues - Apply strong competitive-programming coding practices - Problem Validation & Ambiguity - Review problem statements for ambiguity - Identify underspecified constraints or unclear requirements - Clarify behaviour for edge cases - Ensure problem statements support objective evaluation - Recommend revisions before tasks are finalised - Peer Review & Feedback - Review problems, checkers, and test cases created by other contributors - Identify weaknesses in task construction - Suggest improvements to validation logic - Provide actionable feedback to problem setters and reviewers - Maintain consistent technical standards across project content - Documentation & Communication - Document checker logic and evaluation behaviour - Explain edge cases and technical decisions clearly - Communicate algorithmic reasoning in written and verbal formats - Support collaboration with project teams - Maintain clear technical records for review and iteration Ideal Profile - Strong competitive-programming background - Advanced C++ proficiency - Deep understanding of algorithms and data structures - Strong ability to analyse complex problem constraints - Experience reasoning across multiple valid solution paths - Strong checker and test-case design skills - Ability to identify subtle edge cases - Excellent debugging and validation skills - Strong attention to output correctness and consistency - Ability to write clear and maintainable C++ code - Exceptional analytical and problem-solving ability - Strong written and verbal communication skills - Comfortable working independently in a remote environment - Able to produce high-quality technical work under tight deadlines - Prior experience as a problem setter, tester, or checker on major competitive-programming platforms is highly advantageous - No prior AI-training or model-evaluation experience is required Engagement Details - Part-time independent contractor engagement - Fully remote - Expected commitment: 15+ hours per week - Displayed compensation range: $45–$65/hour - Actual compensation structure is output-based, with payment made per task that meets project specifications - Task completion time may vary depending on individual experience and workflow - Minimum weekly submission requirements apply; the source does not specify the exact number of required tasks - Work will involve competitive-programming problem design, C++, checker development, reference solutions, test suites, reinforcement-learning environments, and AI-generated code evaluation - Strong competitive-programming and algorithmic problem-solving ability is central to this engagement - Roles are typically filled within approximately 48 hours - Selected experts are expected to begin initial tasks within approximately 24–48 hours after onboarding - Project scope, task difficulty, algorithms, evaluation criteria, and testing requirements may evolve depending on project needs - Work must be completed without using confidential, proprietary, restricted, private-contest, or otherwise protected problem content or source code belonging to any employer, contest platform, client, research organisation, or other third party About the Platform - This opportunity is available through 24-MAG LLC. - We connect experienced professionals with remote consulting opportunities across technical, evaluation, and project-based workstreams. - By submitting this application, you acknowledge that your information may be processed by 24-MAG LLC for recruitment and opportunity matching in accordance with our Privacy Policy: https://www.24-mag.com/privacy-policy