Forensic Scientist – Nuclear Materials

Mercor

. Write challenging single-turn prompts in nuclear materials and safeguards, labelled as benign, dual-use, or adversarial .

Posted 10/27/2026contractRemote • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $65 - $75 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in nuclear materials characterization and safeguards, with a strong emphasis on technical writing and the ability to communicate complex concepts to non-specialists. Proficient in radiochemical analysis, detection technologies, and forensic methodologies relevant to nuclear forensics.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Nuclear Materials CharacterizationRadiochemical AnalysisTechnical WritingDetection TechnologyNuclear Forensics

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Radiochemical AnalysisMass-Spectrometric AnalysisIsotopicsAge DatingMaterial Signature LibrariesAttribution MethodologyDetection TechnologyInterdiction TechnologyForensics ResearchTechnical Writing

Soft Skills

JudgmentCommunicationAnalytical ThinkingCoordination

Tools & Technologies

Portal MonitorsHandheld IdentificationSearch Operations

Industry Keywords

Nuclear ForensicsMisuse ScenariosExport-Controlled InformationNDAPrepublication Review

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Write challenging single-turn prompts in nuclear materials and safeguards, labelled as benign, dual-use, or adversarial
Evaluate model responses against a defined policy standard
Judge whether responses correctly answer legitimate questions and refuse dangerous ones
Write reference answers explaining what a correct response looks like and the technical reasoning behind it
Apply practical expertise to distinguish routine professional questions from requests indicating potential misuse
Provide written rationales that non-specialists can follow
Read and write about misuse scenarios in the field for sustained periods
Coordinate scope appropriately when classified, export-controlled, NDA, or prepublication obligations exist

Requirements

What you’ll need

Background characterising real nuclear material, including detection, attribution, and analytical work supporting defensible conclusions
Relevant experience in nuclear forensics casework or international exercises
Experience with radiochemical and mass-spectrometric analysis, including isotopics, age dating, impurity and process signatures
Experience with detection and interdiction technology, including portal monitors, handheld identification, and search operations
Experience with material signature libraries, reference materials, and attribution methodology
Experience in pre- or post-detonation forensics research at a national laboratory or agency
Writing-intensive experience; every judgment requires a written rationale understandable to non-specialists
Prior technical writing, published research, or expert witness experience is a strong signal
Must not use classified, export-controlled, NDA-protected, or prepublication-review information in the work
Include a technical writing sample or link if available

Benefits

Comp & perks

Earn up to $250 for each successful referral through the referral link
Reasonable accommodations upon request