Senior Software Engineer (AI Training) at Mercor

Senior Software Engineer (AI Training) | $120-180/hr | Remote (US/UK/CA/AU/NZ)

Mercor is working with a leading AI research lab on a project to improve how AI systems do real-world software engineering work. You'll use deep engineering experience from a top technology, quantitative or financial firm to train and evaluate frontier AI models.

What the work involves

• Designing realistic, challenging software engineering tasks drawn from real-world work, including feature changes in large codebases, debugging and root-cause analysis, code review, system design and architecture decisions, codebase Q&A, and technical documentation and planning
• Writing clear task proposals that explain why each task is realistic, how it is verified and what makes it hard for current AI models
• Writing reference solutions, tests and precise, task-specific criteria covering correctness, architecture, maintainability, style and scope
• Assessing AI-generated code and engineering work, working alongside AI coding agents to judge where they succeed and fail
• Applying consistent, evidence-based judgment so assessments are reproducible and defensible
• Taking structured feedback from senior reviewers and iterating on submitted work

Who this role is for

• 4+ years of professional software engineering experience in one of these settings: a leading technology or quantitative firm (such as FAANG+, Magnificent 7+, top-tier quant funds or equivalent) at a mid-senior level — Machine Learning, Infrastructure, Data, Security and Quant Developer roles may also qualify; a top financial institution (leading bank, hedge fund or trading firm) as a software engineer; or a high-growth, household-name technology company at a senior level. Experience may be split across more than one qualifying employer.
• Strong command of at least one major language (such as Python, Java, C++, Go, TypeScript or Rust), along with system design, testing, debugging and code review
• Proven ability to work in large, complex production codebases and to judge code quality beyond "it passes the tests"
• Excellent written English, including the ability to explain technical decisions and trade-offs clearly
• Bachelor's degree from an English-speaking country
• A detail-oriented, consistent approach to evaluating complex work
• Comfortable receiving feedback and calibrating judgment against set standards

Pay and location

$120-180/hr, hourly contract work. The role is remote and open to candidates based in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.