Mathematical Formalization Specialist - Remote

Mathematical Formalization Specialist – Remote

Base pay range: $50.00/hr – $150.00/hr

We are seeking a mathematician with deep training in rigorous proof construction and hands‑on experience with formal proof languages—especially Lean
. This role sits at the intersection of mathematics and computer science, focusing on translating human‑written mathematical arguments into precise, machine‑verifiable formalizations.

• Translate informal mathematical proofs into Lean (and related proof systems) with an emphasis on clarity, structure, and correctness.
• Analyze generic and domain‑specific proofs, identifying gaps, hidden assumptions, and formalizable sub‑structures.
• Construct formalizations that test the limits of existing proof assistants—especially where tools struggle or fail.
• Collaborate with researchers to design, refine, and evaluate strategies for improving formal verification pipelines.
• Develop highly readable, reproducible proof scripts aligned with mathematical best practices and proof assistant idioms.
• Provide guidance on proof decomposition, lemma selection, and structuring techniques for formal models.

Must‑Have

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Mathematics, Logic, Theoretical Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• Strong foundation in rigorous proof writing and mathematical reasoning across areas such as algebra, analysis, topology, logic, or discrete math.
• Hands‑on experience with Lean (Lean 3 or Lean
  4), Coq, Isabelle/HOL, Agda, or comparable systems—with Lean strongly preferred.
• Deep enthusiasm for formal verification, proof assistants, and the future of mechanized mathematics.
• Ability to translate informal arguments into clean, structured formal proofs.

Nice‑to‑Have

• Familiarity with type theory, Curry–Howard correspondence, and proof automation tools.
• Experience with large‑scale formalization projects (e.g., mathlib).
• Exposure to theorem provers where automated reasoning frequently fails or requires manual scaffolding.
• Strong communication skills for explaining formalization decisions, edge cases, and reasoning strategies.

A mathematically mature problem‑solver who enjoys working at the frontier of formal verification—someone who finds satisfaction in taking a dense, elegant human argument and expressing it in a form that a machine can understand. You appreciate precision, structural beauty, and the challenge of resolving gaps that automated tools cannot yet bridge.

• Formalize classical proofs and compare machine‑verifiable structures against textbook arguments.
• Investigate where automated provers break down, and articulate why (complexity, missing lemmas, insufficient libraries, etc.).
• Create Lean proofs that reveal deeper patterns or generalizations implicit in the original mathematics.