Firstly, we have a lot of positions to recruit for, and often have multiple roles to fill with similar titles. Secondly, external recruitment platforms like LinkedIn don’t offer a way to post a job without a location. So, in order to find people all over the world, we need to run ads in multiple locations. That’s why you may see the same ad posted everywhere from Australia to Zambia.

Steamlance has hired from over 131 countries. Chances are we’ve hired from yours. All you need is a strong Internet connection and the desire to work hard. Visit the

Visit our Clients page to find out.

Yes. The successful applicant will receive the advertised pay, wherever they live. Note that most positions are calculated based on an hourly rate e.g. a $100k role = $50 per hour x 40 hours per week x 50 weeks (assuming 2 weeks of vacation).

We work with companies whose objective is to employ the smartest 1% of professional talent in the world. We’ve discovered that the most reliable way to attract the best people is to offer the best pay. Additionally, because all positions are 100% remote, our clients reduce overheads like rent and office snacks. These savings are then passed on to the workers.

Steamlance’s clients are required to offer equal pay for equal work, always. This means new hires are never paid more than existing team members, or vice versa. This unfortunately means it’s not possible to pay performance-based bonuses or annual increases which would lead to inequality – particularly when everyone we hire is a high-performer. The good news is that this is all taken into account when the pay is set, and the same above-market remuneration package is offered to everyone.

Interviews are the final stage in Steamlance’s recruitment process for good reason. Traditional recruitment is full of opportunities for unconscious bias; from resumé to interview to salary negotiation. Steamlance aims to create the fairest pipeline by removing as many of these opportunities as possible. So, a lot of the process is automated, and the parts that can’t be are graded blindly (reviewers score submissions without seeing name, country, gender etc). That’s how Steamlance can guarantee an objectively unbiased shortlist. But, of course we understand that it’s important for candidate and hiring manager to meet before an offer is made, so that’s why our process does include this as the final step.

Visit our selection process page to learn more.

Because we accept applications globally, every role posted on Steamlance receives thousands of applications. We find that the most reliable method to filter the top candidates from such a large pool is to measure problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and language skills. Of course, we understand that there’s more to being a great worker than that – that’s why the next step is for the shortlisted candidates to complete skill and real-world work assessments curated for the position. We value our candidates’ time which is why only those who meet the required cognitive aptitude score for the role will be invited to continue their application.

Most roles are paid weekly in gross USD. As independent contractors, workers are responsible for paying their own income taxes, dependent upon the tax regulations and policies of their own tax jurisdiction. We recommend getting local tax advice to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Remote teams are typically globally distributed and cannot work strict hours. Unless explicitly mentioned in the job description, contractors are free to work hours that are comfortable for their timezone and lifestyle. All Steamlance clients have implemented asynchronous working methods which make this possible: most people have under 4 hours of meetings per week.

Yes. Steamlance’s clients are fast-growing companies and there is a lot of work to go around. There are never less than 40 hours available – though contractors can choose to work fewer hours in a particular week if they want to (in consultation with their manager).

Overtime is typically discouraged to promote work-life balance. Most contractors work exactly 40 hours per week, though there are systems in place for paid overtime if completely necessary, with manager’s approval.

We factor the cost of benefits like paid vacation and healthcare into the total pay package, which is one of the reasons that Steamlance roles typically pay above-market rates. As contractors, our partners are free to make their own decisions around which local healthcare coverage is best for their needs. Our clients’ leave policies for contractors tend to be very flexible and it is often possible to take time off at short notice, provided work is under control.

All new hires begin with a paid ‘Remote-U’ course, which varies from one day to four weeks depending on the role. Contractors receive full pay while completing training. Many Steamlance contractors also receive further training (e.g. AWS certification) as part of their role, which is facilitated by the hiring company – though as a general rule we hire subject matter experts who are already equipped for the role.

YYes. The above-market pay is intended to cover the cost of workers using their own hardware. The hiring company will cover the cost of any work-specific software. The minimum spec for most roles is at least 4 GB of RAM, at least a 1.6 GHz CPU, and a hard drive with at least 6 GB of free disk space, a webcam, a microphone, as well as an Internet connection > 1 Mbps.

No. We use software called WorkSmart which compiles timesheets and invoices automatically.

WorkSmart was invented to be like a fitbit for working. It’s a time management and productivity tool created by Steamlance. Contractors don’t need to create timesheets or invoices because WorkSmart automates this. Like a fitbit, it offers a lot of coaching value as a way to objectively measure and improve productivity over time. Depending on the settings agreed upon by the client company and hiring manager, WorkSmart has the ability to take screenshots, as well as snapshots via your webcam, at regular intervals. We recognize that this can be intimidating at first, but it is ultimately not so different to a typical office environment where people work in view of each other. Contractors have full access to review their own timecards (and can remove them if necessary).