What We’re Building
The Widget Factory is a specialized arm of Idler, a Y Combinator–backed company building systems that teach AI how to reason like engineers.
We refine coding problems drawn from real engineering — not puzzles, but real reasoning from production code. Your job is to make the thinking clear: what changed, why it mattered, and how an engineer reasoned through it.
The Role (Part Time)
We’re looking for engineers who can trace the intent behind a code change, understand what changes were made and why, and express that clearly in natural language.
This role is part-time, remote, and built for people with technical fluency, sharp attention to detail, and a disciplined command of English.
What You’ll Do
Read unfamiliar repos and understand the intention behind commits
Review and refine problem statements until they’re clear and accurate
Adjust unit tests to keep problems fair and solvable
Provide brief, consistent updates on progress and blockers
Who You Are
You have 1–2 years of coding experience and a precise eye for detail. You write cleanly, communicate quickly, and you see software engineering as your craft.
Requirements
1–2 years of coding experience
Fluent English; strong writing is a must
Responsive, independent, and attentive to detail
10–40 hours per week, flexible
How it Works
The best contributors stay and grow with us; they show care and depth in their work, communicate clearly about status and availability, and they help shape how our process evolves.
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
Key Facts About Colorado Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
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- Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute
