Machine Learning Expert

Mercor

. Develop ideas for difficult machine learning engineering tasks for a long-horizon AI research project with a leading AI lab .

Posted 10/22/2026contractRemote • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $150 - $200 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in machine learning research with a focus on inference, evaluation, and systems work. Proficient in developing challenging tasks for frontier AI models, with hands-on experience in PyTorch or JAX.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Machine Learning Research EngineeringPyTorch Model TrainingJAX Model OptimizationLLM Pretraining ExpertisePhD In Machine Learning

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Model Fine-TuningGPU InferenceReinforcement LearningScientific Machine LearningBenchmark Evaluation

Soft Skills

Clear Communication

Industry Keywords

Frontier AI SystemsIndependent Contractor EngagementResearch OutputPublicationsMercor Contracts

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PyTorch

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop ideas for difficult machine learning engineering tasks for a long-horizon AI research project with a leading AI lab
Design tasks difficult enough to challenge frontier models, generally solvable in no more than 2 of 8 attempts
Focus primarily on inference, evaluation, and systems work rather than heavy model training
Create a mix of GPU-based and CPU-only tasks
Explain clearly why each problem is difficult for a frontier model
Contribute mainly ideas; building or reviewing tasks is not required
Work on projects training and enhancing frontier AI systems

Requirements

What you’ll need

Current or recent role as an ML research engineer, research scientist, or applied scientist
Hands-on experience personally training, fine-tuning, or optimizing models in PyTorch or JAX
Deep knowledge of at least one area: LLM pretraining, alignment or evaluations; GPU inference and performance; reinforcement learning; or scientific ML
Ability to explain why a problem is hard for a frontier model
Experience with benchmark or evaluation questions is a plus
PhD in ML, CS, or physics, or an MSc plus strong research output is a plus
Publications are a plus
Prior Mercor contracts with strong performance are a plus
Must not be an H-1B or STEM OPT candidate
Independent contractor engagement

Benefits

Comp & perks

Fully remote work
Flexible own schedule
Weekly payments via Stripe or Wise
Competitive pay
Opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers
Opportunity to help shape next-generation AI systems
Referral payments of up to $800 per successful referral, subject to limits
Reasonable accommodations upon request