System Design Specialist

Role Description

Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research organization to engage professionals with advanced expertise in Software Engineering. As a Software Engineering Specialist on the Human Data team, you will play a key role in developing high-quality datasets that train and refine large language models. This full-time position is ideal for experienced engineers eager to apply their technical expertise to advance AI capabilities through close collaboration with world-class research and engineering teams.

You will create and curate data in multiple formats including text, voice, and video to help AI systems learn human reasoning, problem-solving, and coding best practices. The role involves designing, evaluating, and refining code in multiple programming languages, ensuring AI-generated solutions meet industry standards for scalability, reliability, and performance. Your work will directly contribute to building next-generation AI systems that support complex, real-world software development.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working with large codebases
• 5+ years of experience designing, implementing, deploying, and testing distributed systems
• Strong knowledge of data structures and algorithms
• Experience integrating databases such as MySQL or MongoDB
• Experience with application frameworks such as SpringBoot or ASP.NET
• Experience with cloud services such as AWS or Azure
• Clear understanding of tradeoffs when selecting technologies and system designs

Requirements

• Curate and annotate code datasets in Python, JavaScript including ReactJS, C or C++, Java, Rust, and Go
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated code for efficiency, scalability, and reliability
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance AI-driven coding solutions for enterprise use
• Design, test, and support distributed systems that power model training and benchmarking
• Integrate databases and extend schemas for robust data pipelines
• Implement logging, performance monitoring, and alerting to maintain system health

Benefits

• Competitive pay ranging from $90,000 to $200,000 annually for U.S.-based professionals, depending on experience and location
• For international candidates, our recruiting team will provide an estimated pay range based on your location
• Comprehensive medical benefits for full-time employees
• Opportunity to engage in projects that directly influence the performance, reliability, and safety of next-generation AI systems

Work Environment and Schedule

• Location options include Palo Alto, CA or fully remote
• The Palo Alto role is in-office five days per week; remote roles require strong self-motivation and reliability
• U.S.-based applicants must reside outside of Wyoming and Illinois
• Visa sponsorship is not available
• Schedule runs 9:00 am to 5:30 pm PST for the first two weeks of training, then 9:00 am to 5:30 pm in your local timezone
• Remote teammates need reliable high-speed internet, a working camera, and a microphone

Application Process

• Submit your resume to get started
• Complete a 20-minute interview focused on your experience and expertise
• Successful candidates advance to additional rounds and meet the team
• The full process typically takes about one week