Software Engineer (Codebase Deep Reasoning & Evaluation) - APPLY TODAY

This is a Software Engineer (Codebase Deep Reasoning & Evaluation) - APPLY TODAY role with Mercor based in Sydney, NSW, Australia

== Mercor ==

Role Seniority - mid level

More about the Software Engineer (Codebase Deep Reasoning & Evaluation) - APPLY TODAY role at Mercor

APPLY TODAY

This project will be a high-impact 24-hour sprint launching in the next 1–2 weeks. Hiring can go as fast as 3 days!

About The Role

Mercor is seeking software engineers to support one of the world’s leading AI labs in advancing code understanding and reasoning capabilities for next-generation machine learning models.

In this role, you’ll engage in real-world engineering work: analyzing large, production-grade repositories to create and evaluate technically challenging coding questions. You’ll systematically explore multiple modules, connect related functions across files, and assess how advanced AI systems reason about architecture, data flow, and performance.

Your ability to reason from evidence: citing specific files, functions, and line numbers will directly influence how these AI models learn to think like expert engineers.

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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 similar high-performance environments.
• Have experience using coding agents or LLMs as part of your engineering workflow (e.g., Copilot, Claude, GPT-4, or Replit Agents).
• Hold a Computer Science degree from a leading university or equivalent practical expertise.
• Are fluent in Python and JavaScript/TypeScript, and can comfortably read Java, Go, or other modern languages (Rust, C++, C#).
• Demonstrate systematic exploration, you examine multiple files and dependencies before forming conclusions.
• Practice evidence-based reasoning, grounding your answers in specific code references rather than assumptions.
• Excel at cross-file synthesis, connecting distributed logic to explain how systems work end-to-end.
• Show strong architectural understanding, identifying patterns, abstractions, and design choices in complex codebases.
• Display intellectual honesty: you acknowledge uncertainty when information is incomplete or ambiguous.
• Write clear, structured technical documentation, and communicate insights precisely and persuasively.

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Example Projects & Domains

You May Work Across Diverse Systems, Including

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

Each task will challenge your ability to connect architecture, dependencies, and logic across real-world repositories.

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Engagement Details

This project will be a high-impact 24-hour sprint launching in the next 1–2 weeks.

• Compensation: Task-based pay (top performers previously earned $1,000+ during the sprint)
• Classification: Hourly contractor through Mercor
• Payment: Weekly payouts via Stripe Connect

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About Mercor

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs, headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Our distinguished investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D’Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Apply today and redefine digital creativity alongside the teams building the future of intelligent software.

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Before we jump into the responsibilities of the role. No matter what you come in knowing, you’ll be learning new things all the time and the Mercor team will be there to support your growth.

🟢 Please consider applying even if you don't meet 100% of what’s outlined 🟢

Key Responsibilities

• 📊 Analyzing large repositories
• 🔗 Exploring code modules
• 🔗 Connecting distributed logic

Key Strengths

• 💻 Software engineering experience
• 🖥️ Proficiency in programming languages
• 🔍 Evidence-based reasoning
• 🤖 Experience with coding agents or LLMs
• 🏗️ Architectural understanding
• 📄 Technical documentation skills

Why Mercor is partnering with Hatch on this role. _Hatch exists to level the playing field for people as they discover a career that’s right for them. So when you apply you have the chance to show more than just your resume.

_A Final Note: This is a role with Mercor not with Hatch.