Chemical Engineering Expert at Mercor

Chemical Engineering Expert | $55–75/hr | Worldwide Remote

Mercor is partnering with leading AI labs on Project Atlas — an initiative to build realistic enterprise environments where frontier AI agents are trained and evaluated. We're seeking experienced chemical engineering professionals from Fortune 500 chemical, petrochemical, and specialty-materials companies (e.g., Dow, DuPont, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil Chemical, Eastman, BASF) to recreate the digital workspaces they use daily and design tasks that genuinely challenge state-of-the-art AI systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Build a realistic digital workspace reflecting your day-to-day tools — including process flow diagrams, P&IDs, PHA/HAZOP reports, mass & energy balance models, turnaround plans, OSHA PSM documentation, and email workflows
• Design multi-step tasks grounded in real chemical engineering workflows that require navigating multiple apps, files, and stakeholders to meaningfully challenge AI agents
• Collaborate asynchronously with other chemical engineering experts to design environments, shape task scope, and review scenarios for realism and rigor
• Work with research teams to refine task designs and evaluation criteria for chemical-process AI benchmarks
• Directly contribute to frontier AI research — your work informs how leading labs train and evaluate next-generation AI systems

Ideal Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical Engineering or a related discipline
• 3+ years of full-time experience at a Fortune 500 chemical, petrochemical, specialty-materials company, or major EPC firm
• Background in one or more of the following areas:
  • Process design, simulation, or scale-up
  • Plant operations, operations engineering, or turnaround planning
  • Process safety (PHA/HAZOP, PSM under 29 CFR 1910.119)
  • R&D or product development
  • EH&S, emissions compliance, or sustainability engineering
• Hands-on experience with tools such as Aspen Plus, CHEMKIN, ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, Siemens Opcenter, or Rockwell FactoryTalk
• PE license is a plus
• Strong analytical thinking and writing skills — ability to translate complex process-industry workflows into structured task specifications

Compensation

This role begins at an effective hourly rate of $55–$75/hr, with a planned transition to a throughput-based compensation model rewarding quality output.

About Mercor

Mercor is a talent marketplace connecting top domain experts with leading AI labs and research organizations. Backed by Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D'Angelo, and Jack Dorsey, Mercor supports thousands of professionals shaping the next generation of AI.