Is this job worth applying to?

Pay

Above typicalTops out at $180/hr. The typical top rate across 237 priced coding 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

RecentPosted 10d ago. Still listed on Mercor on Nov 6, 2026.

Where you live

Named countries onlyOpen in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and 2 more (from the post).

The job description

Role Overview Mercor is working with a leading AI research lab on a project to improve how AI systems do real-world data science and data engineering work. We’re looking for senior data scientists and data engineers who have deep experience at top technology, quantitative or financial firms. You’ll use that expertise to train and evaluate frontier AI models. This role is open to candidates based in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Key Responsibilities

Designing realistic, challenging data science and data engineering tasks, including but not limited to exploratory analyses, statistical modeling, machine learning pipelines, ETL and data pipeline design, SQL and Python workflows, and experimentation or A/B test write-ups
Illustrating "what good looks like" by writing precise, task-specific criteria for data science and data engineering deliverables
Applying consistent, evidence-based judgment so that assessments are reproducible and defensible
Taking structured feedback from senior reviewers and iterating on submitted work

Ideal Profile

4+ years of professional data science, data engineering or machine learning experience in one of these settings:
A leading technology or quantitative firm (such as FAANG+, Magnificent 7+, top-tier quant funds or equivalent) with a Mid-senior level title. Applied Scientist, Research Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer/Scientist roles also qualify.
A top financial institution (a leading bank, hedge fund or trading firm)
A top-tier consulting firm, working as a data scientist
A Fortune 100 company, with a senior or manager-level title
Experience may be split across more than one qualifying employer
Strong command of Python, SQL, statistical modeling, machine learning, experimentation and causal inference
Proven ability to turn messy real-world data into rigorous analyses and reliable pipelines
Excellent written English, including the ability to explain technical findings clearly
Bachelor's degree from an English-speaking country
A detail-oriented, consistent approach to evaluating complex work
Comfortable receiving feedback and calibrating judgment against set standards

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.