Senior API Designer
Job Type: Hourly Contract (Remote)
Compensation: $80–$105 per hour (USD), depending on experience
Location: Remote
About Mercor:
Mercor connects elite professionals with top AI research labs to drive innovation and build advanced technology solutions. Based in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D’Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.
About the Role:
Mercor is seeking seasoned API Designers for a collaborative AI research project. In this role, you’ll develop and evaluate scalable API schemas (REST, GraphQL, gRPC) to support next-generation AI systems and workflows. Your technical expertise will help set new standards for usability, integration, and best practices across a range of simulated services.
Key Responsibilities:
Design and assess robust, intuitive API schemas for AI-simulated services (REST, GraphQL, gRPC)
Evaluate AI-generated API designs for usability, consistency, and adherence to best practices
Provide expert guidance on API versioning, authentication, rate limiting, and error handling
Simulate product-to-platform integration workflows, documenting information exchange standards
Ideal Qualifications:
5+ years of experience in API design or API product architecture, ideally in developer-facing or platform-centric settings
Deep knowledge of REST, GraphQL, and/or gRPC, plus experience with OpenAPI/Swagger specs
Strong grasp of API lifecycle management, versioning strategies, and developer experience design
Experience collaborating with product managers, backend engineers, and technical documentation teams
Familiarity with tools like Postman, API Gateways (Kong, Apigee), and design-first workflows
Excellent communication and technical reasoning skills
Project Details:
Start Date: Immediate (July 25th)
Duration: 4 weeks
Commitment: Part-time (~20 hours/week)
Fully remote and asynchronous – flexible working hours
Application & Onboarding Process:
Submit resume & application form
Short (15-minute) AI interview focused on background and experience
Rubric Calibration Assessment (30-minute, task-based evaluation)
Compensation & Legal Details:
Independent contractor status
Weekly payments via Stripe Connect
Mercor is committed to equal opportunity employment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.
Apply now to shape the future of API design and help build advanced AI solutions!
Upload resume → AI interview → Complete form → Submit application
Upload your best, up-to-date resume in English. Mercor will extract details and fill out your profile automatically. Review and adjust as needed.
SHOCKING FACT: Only ~20% of applicants complete their application! Take the 15-minute AI interview about your experience and you'll have MUCH HIGHER chances of getting hired!
AI Interview Tips: The interview focuses on your resume and work experience. Be ready to discuss specific projects and how you solved challenges.
Takes about 15 minutes | Dramatically improves your chances