Machine Learning & NLP Expert at Mercor

Machine Learning & NLP Expert | $80–110/hr | Remote in US (Part-Time, ~20 hrs/week)

Join a leading AI lab's GenAI team as a ground-truth expert, helping shape the next generation of frontier AI models. You'll design challenging real-world ML and NLP tasks, build reference solutions, and evaluate model outputs to identify capability gaps. This is a structured W-2 part-time role (via Cincinnatus LLC) — not freelance — fully remote within the United States.

Key Responsibilities

• Task Design & Development: Create challenging, real-world ML and NLP problems targeting specific capability gaps in frontier AI models (e.g., model training, language understanding, retrieval, applied ML pipelines).
• Spec & Solution Generation: Integrate problems into an agentic development environment, preparing all components using Python.
• Evaluation & Analysis: Assess the target model's performance on your designed tasks and document findings.
• Headroom Identification: Identify failure cases and classify the nature of each failure to guide model improvement.
• Collaboration: Work alongside fellow subject-matter experts to maintain consistency and accuracy across evaluations.

Core Qualifications

• Deep, hands-on experience in machine learning and/or NLP — from industry, research, or a graduate/PhD background.
• Working proficiency in Python (applied in real projects, not just theoretical knowledge).
• Strong command of modern ML/NLP methods: transformers, LLMs, model training and evaluation, and standard tooling.
• Ability to commit reliably to approximately 20 hours per week.
• Prior experience in AI training, model evaluation, or data annotation is a strong plus.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to work independently.

About the Role

This position is a part-time W-2 employment engagement through Cincinnatus LLC, an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology firms. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record, providing payroll, benefits, and compliance support while placing you directly within a top AI lab's extended team. This is a role-based position with close collaboration with the client's internal teams — not a freelance or project-based gig.

Cincinnatus LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process.