Machine Learning Expert - Fully Remote | Upto $90/hr

About the Role

The Machine Learning Expert will be part of a team that values independence, creativity, and the ability to work effectively in a remote setting. With the freedom to choose your tools and approach, this role is ideal for individuals who thrive in environments that require self-motivation and discipline.

What You Will Do

• Attempt open-ended machine learning research tasks under a fixed time and compute budget.
• Work independently in a sandboxed Linux environment with internet access.
• Utilize preferred tools, including IDEs and AI coding assistants like Cursor, Claude Code, and ChatGPT.
• Record full working sessions via screen recording.
• Complete pre-task and post-task questionnaires.
• Submit final work product, screen recording, and completed questionnaires for evaluation.
• Engage with the research tasks with a focus on pretraining, reinforcement learning, post-training, dataset curation, or model architecture.
• Ensure all work is confidential and covered by NDA.
• Collaborate with the mercor team to provide insights and feedback on the research tasks.
• Continuously update and refine your skills in machine learning, staying abreast of the latest developments and technologies.

What We Are Looking For

• 3+ years of machine learning experience, with time in a PhD program counting towards this requirement.
• Experience with PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
• Deep expertise in at least one focus area: pretraining, PPO, reward shaping, fine-tuning, LoRA, RLHF, architecture design, contrastive training, generative modeling, multilingual experience, or data pipelines.
• Practical experience in pretraining, reinforcement learning, post-training, dataset curation, or model architecture.
• Attendance at a top-100 university or work experience at FAANG or a comparable company.
• Strong understanding of machine learning principles and practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to approach complex tasks independently.
• Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud computing platforms such as AWS or Google Cloud.
• Knowledge of containerization using Docker.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
• Participation in open-source machine learning projects.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive hourly rate of $75-$90 per hour.
• The flexibility of working remotely and choosing your own schedule.
• Opportunity to work with a leading AI research lab and contribute to cutting-edge projects.
• Access to a sandboxed Linux environment and the latest AI coding assistants.
• Participation in a dynamic and innovative team that values creativity and independence.
• Professional development opportunities, including access to the latest machine learning tools and technologies.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment, with regular feedback and evaluation.

• Ensure you have a strong foundation in machine learning, including pretraining, reinforcement learning, and fine-tuning, as these are key areas of focus for the role.
• Familiarize yourself with PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow, as experience with these frameworks is required.
• Develop a portfolio that showcases your machine learning projects and accomplishments, highlighting your expertise in areas like dataset curation, model architecture, or generative modeling.
• Prepare for the AI interview by reviewing your resume and practicing responses to common machine learning interview questions.
• Be ready to discuss your experience working in a remote or distributed team environment and how you handle the challenges of independent work.
• Consider highlighting any experience with cloud computing, containerization, or agile development methodologies, as these can be valuable assets in the role.