Senior Software Engineer Remote | $85 –$125/hr

Software Engineer (Codebase Deep Reasoning & Evaluation)

Hourly Contract | Part-Time Remote | $85 –$125 per hour

1. About the Role

Mercor is partnering with one of the world’s leading AI research labs to engage experienced Software Engineers in a project advancing how AI systems understand and reason about large-scale, real-world codebases.

In this role, you’ll analyze complex, production-grade repositories to create and evaluate technically challenging coding tasks. You’ll explore multi-module systems, trace data flow, identify dependencies, and assess how advanced AI models comprehend architecture, design, and performance.

Your structured reasoning — supported by specific references to files, functions, and line numbers — will directly help shape the next generation of AI systems that think like top-tier engineers.

2. You’re a Great Fit If You

• Have 4+ years of elite software engineering experience at top-tier startups, quantitative trading firms, hedge funds, or similarly demanding technical environments.
• Have experience using coding agents or LLMs (e.g., Copilot, GPT-4, Claude, or Replit Agents) in your engineering workflow.
• Hold a degree in Computer Science (or equivalent practical expertise).
• Are fluent in Python and JavaScript/TypeScript, and can comfortably read Java, Go, Rust, C++, or C#.
• Excel at systematic exploration — analyzing multiple files and dependencies before forming conclusions.
• Demonstrate evidence-based reasoning, citing concrete code references rather than assumptions.
• Possess strong cross-file synthesis skills, explaining how distributed logic connects across large systems.
• Show deep architectural understanding, identifying design patterns and performance tradeoffs.
• Display intellectual honesty and humility when reasoning under uncertainty.
• Communicate insights clearly through structured technical documentation.

3. Example Domains & Projects

You may work across diverse real-world repositories, such as:

• Web APIs and backend microservices
• CLI tools and data processing pipelines
• Frontend applications and DevOps tooling
• Security, observability, and performance-critical architectures

Each project will test your ability to trace logic across files, connect system layers, and reason about design tradeoffs.

4. Engagement Details

• Type: Short-term, high-impact project sprint
• Timeline: 24-hour sprint launching in the next 1–2 weeks
• Commitment: Flexible, remote, and asynchronous participation
• Compensation: Task-based pay; top performers have earned $1,000+ during prior sprints
• Classification: Independent Contractor (via Mercor)
• Payment: Weekly payouts via Stripe Connect for approved work

⚡ PS: Mercor reviews applications daily. Please complete your interview and onboarding steps to be considered for this opportunity. ⚡