CAM Programmer

$80–120/hrrate as listed

Program multi-axis CNC toolpaths in Fusion 360 and write the setup sheets, strategy notes, and walkthroughs that teach an AI model how machinists actually think. Contract work through micro1, fully remote, observed at $50–100/hr depending on depth of multi-axis and post-processor experience.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

What the work involves

You'll build real CAM deliverables and then explain them. A typical task starts with a part model — a fixture, a housing, a turned shaft — and asks for a complete programming pass in Autodesk Fusion 360: 3, 4, or 5-axis strategy selection, tool and holder choices, feeds and speeds matched to material, stock definition, and full simulation to catch collisions, gouging, and wasted air time. The second half is the part that matters for model training: writing down why you chose adaptive clearing over contour, why the tilt angle avoids a holder crash, what you'd change if the machine were a Haas VF-2 instead of a Makera desktop unit. Some tasks are pure authoring — walkthroughs, best-practice guidance, critiques of a flawed toolpath — and some ask you to revise your own work after first-part inspection data comes back.

What the platform screens for

micro1 runs an AI-led interview before human review. It is looking for evidence you've actually cut parts, not just watched tutorials. Expect follow-ups that press on specifics: chipload numbers for a given cutter and alloy, how you handle work coordinate systems on a trunnion, what you edit in a post-processor when the controller chokes on a tool change block. Vague or textbook answers get probed further. Written English is genuinely part of the bar here — the output is documentation as much as it is NC code, and reviewers read for clarity and precision. A portfolio showing multi-axis work, setup sheets, or published tutorials moves you forward quickly.

Logistics

Fully remote, contractor engagement, async — tasks come through a work platform with deadlines rather than fixed shifts
Most contributors work 10–25 hours per week; some scale up when a project batch opens
Pay observed in the $50–100/hr range, set at onboarding based on demonstrated multi-axis and post-processor depth; not guaranteed
No AI or machine learning background required or expected
Access to Fusion 360 is assumed; some tasks reference specific machine controllers you should be able to reason about from experience

What they look for

Fusion 360 CAM proficiency
Multi-axis programming
Toolpath strategy & simulation
Attention to detail

Before you apply

Would you pass this screen?

Drawn from what this listing actually requires. Answered in your browser — nothing is sent to us, and we do not store your answers.

Do you have hands-on experience programming CAM toolpaths (not just viewing or learning) in Autodesk Fusion 360?
Fusion 360 proficiency · required
Do you have 5 or more years of direct, paid experience programming CNC toolpaths professionally?
5+ years CAM programming · required
Have you programmed 3-axis, 4-axis, or 5-axis CNC machining operations in a production or contract setting?
Multi-axis CNC work · required
Are you able to write and speak fluent English suitable for technical documentation and client communication?
English communication · preferred
Do you have reliable internet and a computer capable of running Autodesk Fusion 360 and simulation software?
Remote work setup · required

0 of 5 answered

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 11 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: Whether the candidate has real hands-on depth in 3, 4, 5-axis CNC work in Fusion 360—not just theoretical knowledge or junior single-axis work.
A strong answer: Describes a specific part with non-trivial geometry (compound angles, tight tolerances, or undercuts), explains axis sequencing or tool orientation decisions, and addresses a real collision or gouging challenge they solved.
Where people lose it: Vague or generic answer ("I've done a lot of 5-axis work") with no concrete example, or describing someone else's toolpath as if it were their own. Candidates who sketch out work but can't articulate why they chose their approach lose credibility here.