This is a Backend Engineer (Python) role with Mercor based in Sydney, NSW, Australia

== Mercor ==

Role Seniority - junior, mid level, senior

More About The Backend Engineer (Python) Role At Mercor

Mercor is hiring experienced Python Engineers to support a variety of high-impact research collaborations with leading AI labs. Freelancers will help improve AI systems through work extending coding benchmarks that reflect real-world development across diverse languages and domains.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your engineering expertise toward shaping the next generation of intelligent systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and validate coding benchmarks in Python by curating issues, solutions, and test suites from real-world repositories
• Ensure benchmark tasks include comprehensive unit and integration tests for solution verification
• Maintain consistency and scalability of benchmark task distribution
• Provide structured feedback on solution quality and clarity
• Debug, optimize, and document benchmark code for reliability and reproducibility
  
  

Ideal Qualifications

• 3–10 years of experience as a backend software engineer, ML engineer, or applied data scientist
• Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• Strong proficiency in Python
• Experience with debugging, testing, and validating code
• Comfortable with technical writing and attention to detail
  
  

Project Timeline

• Start Date: Immediate
• Duration: 1 month
• Commitment: Part-time (15–20 hours/week)
• Schedule: Fully remote and asynchronous – flexible working hours
  
  

Compensation & Contract

• $80 per hour plus lucrative bonus per approved task (1 task takes approximately 1 hour to complete)
• Median average pay inclusive of bonuses is $200/hr
• Independent contractor
• Pay is USD and subject to exchange rates
• Daily payment via Stripe Connect
  

Application & Onboarding Process

• Upload your resume
• AI interview: A short, 15-minute conversational session to understand your background, experience, and interest in the role
• Brief assessment testing real-world coding ability, technical depth, and debugging approach
• Follow-up communication within a few days with next steps and onboarding details
  
  

About Mercor Mercor is a San Francisco-based company specializing in connecting elite professionals with cutting-edge AI initiatives. Our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D’Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey. Thousands of professionals across engineering, research, and creative fields have partnered with Mercor on frontier projects shaping the future of AI.

Apply today and leverage your software engineering expertise to help build the future of AI-driven systems!

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

• 📊 Developing coding benchmarks
• ✅ Ensuring comprehensive tests
• 💬 Providing feedback
  
  

Key Strengths

• 🐍 Python proficiency
• 🔧 Debugging and testing
• 📝 Technical writing
  
  

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.