Expert Software Engineer – Scala/Kotlin/OCaml at Mercor

Expert Software Engineer (Scala / Kotlin / OCaml) | $120–200/hr | Worldwide Remote | 20–40 hrs/week

A leading AI research organization is seeking seasoned software engineers with deep expertise in Scala, Kotlin, and/or OCaml to evaluate how advanced AI systems perform in specialized engineering domains. Your assessments will directly shape how cutting-edge AI learns to operate in distributed data systems, modern backend platforms, and high-assurance software environments. Single-language specialists are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do

• Apply your language expertise to evaluate complex technical tasks against real-world professional standards
• Review intricate code-level scenarios and deliver precise, structured written assessments
• Work inside containerized repositories (Docker), running and interpreting CI-style checks to validate engineering environments
• Provide clear written rationales explaining your expert judgments
• Complete well-defined, time-bounded tasks with explicit evaluation criteria

Who We're Looking For

We value strong CS fundamentals, fast ramp-up, and high ownership. The ideal candidate brings:

• 5+ years of professional software engineering in one or more of the following:
  • Scala — functional/OOP JVM development; distributed systems; Spark, Akka, Cats, or ZIO; data engineering
  • Kotlin — JVM and Android development; coroutines; modern backend services
  • OCaml — typed functional programming; compilers, tooling, or formal/systems work
• Comfort working in Docker/CI-based environments and interpreting automated checks — or the ability to ramp up quickly
• The ability to articulate not just what code does, but why it is correct or idiomatic, clearly in writing
• Engineers from top product, data, or research engineering backgrounds are welcome; a GitHub profile is not required

Engagement Details

• Compensation: $120–200/hour, based on depth and experience
• Commitment: 20–40 hours/week (flexible, task-based flow)
• Tasks arrive in waves — flexibility, including occasional weekend availability, is appreciated
• No proprietary tooling required; all tasks are completable without employer-provided systems

This is a meaningful opportunity to influence how AI systems develop expertise in Scala, Kotlin, and OCaml — languages that power some of the most demanding software environments in the industry.