ASTROPHYSICS SOFTWARE DESIGNER - EXPERT

About the job Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark , General Catalyst , Peter Thiel , Adam D'Angelo , Larry Summers , and Jack Dorsey . Position: STEM Computational Scientific Software & Evaluation Design - Astrophysics & Cosmology Type: Contract Compensation: $70–$100/hour Location: Remote Commitment: 15–20 hours/week Role Responsibilities • Design graduate-level computational problems using domain-specific scientific software libraries. • Evaluate AI systems' ability to solve research-grade problems, from querying simulations to interpreting outputs. • Develop experimental strategies to recover hidden information from data, emphasizing strategic reasoning. • Calibrate tasks against state-of-the-art AI models, refining problem designs to achieve target difficulty. • Work independently and asynchronously to iterate on problem designs based on calibration feedback. • Utilize astropy and related tools for cosmological calculations and observational data reduction. Qualifications Must-Have • Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM domain ( MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience ). • Demonstrated proficiency with scientific software libraries, evidenced by research publications or professional work. • Strong Python programming skills for writing problem setups and solution validators. • Ability to work in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes. • Available for at least 15–20 hours per week . Preferred • Experience across multiple listed domains or tools. • Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design. • Background in scientific pedagogy or exam/problem-set design. • Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments. Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete) • Upload resume • AI interview based on your resume • Submit form Resources & Support • For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome • For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.