Is this job worth applying to?

Pay

About typicalTops out at $84/hr. The typical top rate across 106 priced science listings is $90/hr.

Getting in

Some screening~30 min: resume upload + 20-min AI interview. Resume showing real experience in your field.

Steady work

Work is patchyProjects can pause or end with little notice.

Payout record

Pays on timeSchedule: weekly, every Wednesday. Paid via Stripe (Wise in a few countries).

Freshness

Older postPosted 3mo ago. Still listed on Mercor on Nov 6, 2026.

Where you live

Named countries onlyOpen in United States.

The job description

Mercor is seeking experimental scientists and engineers across inorganic synthesis, characterization, superconductors, and semiconductors (including advanced packaging) to support a frontier AI research lab building models for materials science and the physical sciences. This is hands-on, expert-level work: you'll apply deep, specialized knowledge to generate, structure, and evaluate the scientific data these models learn from — and your input will directly shape how advanced models reason about materials, devices, and processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Contribute domain expertise across synthesis, characterization, fabrication, and device physics to build high-quality training and evaluation data.
Review and evaluate AI-generated scientific reasoning, catching errors and improving technical accuracy.
Design and solve challenging, expert-level problems in your area of specialization.
Rate and rank model outputs against defined scientific criteria, with clear written reasoning.
Structure technical knowledge — experimental procedures, characterization results, process data — into well-organized, model-ready data.
Deliver reliable, high-quality work within defined timelines.

You're a strong fit if you have:

Hands-on experimental experience in one or more of: inorganic synthesis (solid-state, solution, solvothermal, sol-gel), superconducting materials, or semiconductors and advanced packaging.
Strong materials or device characterization skills (XRD, SEM, TEM, spectroscopy, electrical/transport measurements).
Experience with thin-film growth or device fabrication (MBE/epitaxy, MOCVD, CVD, sputtering, IBAD, etch, clean-room microfabrication) — a plus.
An advanced degree (PhD/MS) or equivalent hands-on experience in materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related engineering field.
Clear written English and the ability to explain technical reasoning concisely.

Role Details:

Type: Long-term, ongoing engagement
Engagement: Up to 40 hours/week (minimum 10)
Work arrangement: Remote (US-based)

How do you apply to Mercor?

Apply on Mercor

The Apply button opens this post on Mercor's own site. You apply with them, not with Rubric. Budget about 30 min: resume upload + 20-min AI interview.

Get through screening

What Mercor asks for after you apply:

Take the recorded AI video interview (practice round available)
Complete any role-specific assessment and the ID check
Accept the offer and sign the contract

Start work and get paid

Pay schedule: weekly, every Wednesday. Paid via Stripe (Wise in a few countries). You're paid for the work they hand out, not a fixed salary.

Mercor also needs

Resume showing real experience in your field
Webcam with your full face visible for the AI interview
Government ID

Red flags

Red flagLong waits with no offer after passing the interview
Red flagProjects ending abruptly with little warning

What is Mercor like to work for?

Hiring marketplace that screens professionals with an AI video interview and places them on hourly contracts training and evaluating models for AI labs.

Advertised pay	$20–200/hr
Getting in	Some screening
Application takes	~30 min: resume upload + 20-min AI interview
How you get paid	Weekly, every Wednesday, via Stripe (Wise in a few countries)
Payout record	Pays on time
Countries	Hires in many countries and runs its pay week on India Standard Time; Mercor keeps a list of locations it cannot onboard, and some projects are US-only.

Most listings sit around $50–100/hr; healthcare, legal and finance roles pay the most, language and generalist roles the least.