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Role Description
Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research group to engage experienced software engineers in a high-impact project focused on training and refining large language models (LLMs). As a Software Engineering Specialist (Human Data Team) , you’ll help shape the next generation of AI systems by curating advanced coding datasets, benchmarking model outputs, and enhancing model reasoning about programming practices.
This role involves:
- Collaborating with technical teams to teach AI models how humans write, debug, and optimize code across multiple programming languages.
- Annotating and evaluating AI-generated code for efficiency, scalability, and reliability, ensuring it meets enterprise-level software development standards.
- Contributing data in text, voice, or video formats to help models learn from human expertise.
This is a full-time role for experienced engineers passionate about applying their coding and problem-solving skills to advance frontier AI systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Curate code examples, provide detailed solutions, and make precise corrections across programming languages such as Python, JavaScript (including ReactJS), C/C++, Java, Rust, and Go .
- Evaluate and refine AI-generated code, ensuring adherence to industry standards for efficiency, scalability, and reliability.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance AI-driven coding solutions and benchmark LLM performance.
- Support training initiatives by improving annotation tools, workflows, and data quality.
- Contribute to developing coding tasks and datasets that challenge model reasoning and technical understanding.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of professional back-end development experience.
- Proficiency in multiple server-side languages such as Python and Node.js.
- Strong experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints.
- Hands-on experience with both relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and non-relational databases (MongoDB, Redis).
- Deep understanding of database optimization, indexing, and query performance.
- Strong grasp of web security principles, including authentication, authorization, and data protection.
- Experience with asynchronous processing and background job systems.
- Proficiency with testing frameworks for unit, integration, and end-to-end testing.
Preferred Qualifications
- Adaptable and detail-oriented professional with strong logical reasoning and problem-solving skills .
- Experience with containerization technologies (Docker) .
- Familiarity with front-end technologies such as TypeScript or React to facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration.
More About the Opportunity
- Location: Remote or in-person (Palo Alto, CA); in-office requires 5 days/week.
- Schedule: 9:00am–5:30pm PST for the first two weeks; then aligned with your local timezone.
- Technical requirements: Reliable high-speed internet connection, camera, and microphone for virtual collaboration.
- U.S. applicants: Must reside outside of Wyoming and Illinois.
- Visa sponsorship: Not available.
Compensation & Contract Terms
- $45–100/hour for U.S.-based professionals, depending on experience and location.
- International pay rates available upon request.
- Classified as an independent contractor position.
- Payments issued regularly for services rendered.
- Hourly pay is part of a broader rewards structure; benefits vary by country.
Application Process
- Submit your resume and statement of exceptional work .
- Complete a 15-minute screening interview .
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If selected, proceed to:
- A technical deep-dive discussing your software engineering and annotation experience.
- A take-home coding or annotation challenge .
- A team meet-and-greet with project collaborators.
- The interview process is designed to be completed within one week .
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