Hourly Contract | Remote in US, Canada, UK, Australia, or New Zealand | $75-$100/hour
Mercor is seeking skilled Software Engineers with expertise in performance optimization, systems-level development, and code analysis. In this role, you will design and write tasks based on real GitHub commit histories, each focused on solving authentic runtime performance bottlenecks. Your work will help evaluate and train AI systems for software performance repair and low-level code efficiency.
Analyze real GitHub commits and code histories to identify and structure performance bottleneck scenarios
Author high-quality tasks that present a bottleneck, expert solution, and clear benchmarks for measurable improvement
Cover languages like C, C++, Rust, Java, Python, or similar systems-level technologies
Integrate performance benchmarking, profiling, and CI testing methodologies in each task
Support data collection and test automation for robust evaluation pipelines
Collaborate with AI and engineering teams to refine task formats and evaluation criteria
Proven experience in systems-level development, optimization, and performance engineering
Hands-on with profiling tools, benchmarking, CI/CD automation, and code review for complex systems
Strong debugging, testing, and code documentation skills
Based in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, or New Zealand
Fully remote and asynchronous; flexible with your schedule
10-20 hours per week, with potential to expand up to 40 hours per week
Initial project duration: 1-2 months, with possible extension
Start: mid to late August, rolling applications
Hourly contractor classification
Weekly payments via Stripe Connect
Mercor connects elite software engineers and technical experts to world-leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Mercor’s investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D’Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey. We value diversity and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
Apply now to help advance the future of AI-driven software performance optimization.
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