Hiring · how to hire
How to Hire a Freelance AI Engineer: Scope and Acceptance Criteria
To hire a freelance AI engineer, write down the task as a result you can check, ask to see systems the person has shipped, agree acceptance criteria before work starts, and pick a price model that fits the size. For short tasks, hourly work with a cap works well; I take short engagements at $85 per hour for up to 20 hours.
01Step 1: describe the result, not the technology
Do not start with 'we need an agent'. Start with what should be different when the work is done: which process, which data, which number or decision. If you cannot say how you would check it, the scope is not ready.
A scope that worksOne system, one flow, one measurable outcome, and a list of what is out of scope.
02Step 2: ask for proof
- Systems that run in production, with what they do in business terms.
- What was inside: stack, integrations, how it was tested.
- Numbers confirmed from a repository or a log, not round claims.
- A short call where they ask about your systems before quoting.
03Step 3: agree acceptance criteria
Define the result
Write the checks
Build
Run the checks on real data
Accept and hand over
- The checks are written before the work and run on your real data or a faithful copy.
- Where the answer must be exact, the code is deterministic and tested; where a model is used, you agree how its output is verified.
- Handover includes tests, run instructions and a note on how to change the main settings.
04Step 4: pick a price model
| Model | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly with a cap | Short tasks, unclear details | Agree the cap and report hours |
| Fixed price | A clear, small scope | Changes in scope reopen the price |
| Longer engagement by arrangement | Embedded work in your team | Agree format and review points |
For short projects up to 20 hours I work at $85 per hour; the scope is agreed after a short call. Longer engagements are by arrangement.
05Red flags
- No shipped systems to show, only demos.
- A price before any question about your systems.
- No plan for tests or handover.
- Promises of results that depend on data nobody has looked at.
FAQShort answers
- How much does a freelance AI engineer cost?
- Rates vary widely. My rate for short engagements up to 20 hours is $85 per hour; longer engagements are by arrangement.
- How long does a short AI project take?
- A focused integration or an audit can fit in 20 hours or fewer once the scope is agreed.
- What should I prepare before the first call?
- A few lines about the task, which systems are involved, and what a good result looks like.
- Who owns the code?
- Agree it in writing before the work starts. Handover should include code, tests and notes.
Have a task like this? Write to me.