Software Engineer - Terminal Efficiency at Mercor

Software Engineer - Terminal Efficiency | $80–90/hr | Remote (Five Eyes Countries)

Mercor is partnering with a leading academic research lab to advance AI agents in real-world system environments. We're seeking exceptional software engineers to evaluate and improve terminal-based agents through the Terminal-Bench 2.0 benchmark suite. This is a short-term, high-intensity contract requiring deep systems expertise and consistent weekly availability.

Key Responsibilities

• Systematically analyze, solve, and document benchmark tasks involving Docker, shell scripting, and Linux system administration
• Evaluate agent outputs for correctness, reproducibility, and reliability across complex multi-step CLI workflows
• Provide detailed, evidence-based reasoning grounded in code structure and terminal behavior
• Synthesize information across files and configurations to assess end-to-end architecture
• Contribute high-quality reference solutions and diagnostic insights to improve agent performance metrics

Ideal Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on experience at top-tier tech companies, quant firms, or elite startups
• Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or related field from a top 50–100 global university
• Based in one of the Five Eyes countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
• Deep familiarity with terminal workflows, Linux environments, and shell scripting
• Strong knowledge of Docker, Git, Python, and distributed systems concepts
• Demonstrated ability to trace, debug, and explain complex system behaviors across multiple files
• Commitment to intellectual honesty, clarity, and rigorous methodology

Application Process

• Submit your resume and brief experience summary through Mercor
• Qualified applicants will be invited to complete a short-form technical assessment
• We typically follow up within 3–5 business days with next steps

About Mercor

Mercor is a talent marketplace connecting top experts with leading AI labs and research organizations. Our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey. Thousands of professionals have joined Mercor to work on frontier projects shaping the next era of AI.