Senior Data Scientist and Data Engineering Experts
About this opportunity
Overview
Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research lab on a project focused on improving how AI systems handle real-world data science and data engineering work. The role is for senior data scientists and data engineers with deep experience at top technology, quantitative, or financial firms. Selected contractors will help train and evaluate frontier AI models.
This is a fully remote independent contractor role. Work can be completed on your own schedule, projects may be extended, shortened, or ended early based on needs and performance, and payment is made weekly via Stripe or Wise based on services rendered.
Eligibility: This opportunity is open to candidates based in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Mercor notes that it is unable to support H1-B or STEM OPT candidates at this time.
What You'll Do
- Design realistic and challenging data science and data engineering tasks, including exploratory analysis, statistical modeling, machine learning pipelines, ETL, data pipeline design, SQL and Python workflows, and experimentation or A/B test write-ups.
- Define clear, task-specific criteria that show what strong data science and data engineering deliverables look like.
- Apply consistent, evidence-based judgment so evaluations are reproducible and defensible.
- Review structured feedback from senior reviewers and refine submitted work accordingly.
Requirements
- At least 4 years of professional experience in data science, data engineering, or machine learning.
- Experience must come from one or more qualifying settings, such as a leading technology or quantitative firm, a top financial institution, a top-tier consulting firm as a data scientist, or a Fortune 100 company in a senior or manager-level role.
- Mid-senior level experience at a leading technology or quantitative firm; Applied Scientist, Research Scientist, and Machine Learning Engineer/Scientist roles also qualify.
- Strong command of Python, SQL, statistical modeling, machine learning, experimentation, and causal inference.
- Proven ability to turn messy real-world data into rigorous analyses and reliable pipelines.
- Excellent written English with the ability to explain technical findings 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.
Contract Terms
- Independent contractor engagement.
- Hourly pay: $120-$180 per hour.
- Remote work arrangement.
- Payments are issued weekly on Stripe or Wise based on services rendered.
