CUDA Engineering Expert
Mercor • Remote
Education
Not stated
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$300/hr
Listed
121d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Mercor listing
1. Role Overview
Mercor is seeking GPU kernel optimization experts to contribute to a project with a leading AI lab. This opportunity is designed for freelancers with strong C++ skills, practical GPU programming experience, and the ability to improve kernel performance using profiler-guided analysis. You’ll help evaluate, optimize, and reason about GPU kernels across modern hardware environments. This is a contract-based opportunity for specialists who enjoy squeezing performance out of modern GPU architectures.
2. Key Responsibilities
Analyze and optimize GPU kernels for performance, efficiency, and hardware utilization
Use profiler metrics such as L2 cache hit rate, L2 throughput, occupancy, and related signals to guide kernel improvements
Review GPU kernel implementations and identify bottlenecks without requiring extensive background in the underlying algorithms
Write, modify, and reason about C++17, Python, and GPU programming code
Apply CUDA, HIP, shader programming, or related kernel programming expertise to improve performance outcomes
Document optimization decisions clearly, including when specific profiler metrics are or are not useful
3. Ideal Qualifications
Available to work at least 20 hrs/wk
Fluent in core C++ features through C++17
Working knowledge of Python and Git
Fluent in at least one GPU programming model, such as CUDA, HIP, Slang, HLSL, GLSL, or related kernel programming
At least 1 year of professional or graduate-level research experience working with GPUs
Strong understanding of GPU profiler performance metrics and how to use them to optimize kernels
Ability to optimize GPU kernels without needing deep prior context on every algorithm
Experience with CUDA, HIP, CUDA C++ Core Libraries, inline PTX assembly, or tensor core-level optimization is a plus
Experience optimizing kernels for NVIDIA Blackwell hardware is a plus
Familiarity with NSight Compute is a plus
Prior experience with GPU hardware organizations such as NVIDIA, AMD, or Qualcomm is a plus
Open-source contributions related to GPU kernel optimization are a plus
4. Application Process
Submit your resume or relevant technical background to get started
Qualified applicants may be asked to complete a brief technical assessment or submit additional information
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in STEM
How long hiring takes
Across the AI training platforms we refer candidates to, the median gap between referral and hire is about 30 days. It varies by platform and role, so treat it as a rough guide for this one.
Talent Pool members
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Set up your profile →Why this role
$300/hr for CUDA Engineering Expert work puts your STEM expertise on the same footing as an AI lab's own research staff, without the overhead of running a consulting practice around it.
Talent pool
We're light on STEM candidates
We've matched 65 people with a STEM background against 726 STEM listings we've tracked, so most go out without one. Set up a profile and we'll consider you for a role like this one.
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Common questions
Does it cost money to apply to Mercor?
No, applying and joining Mercor is free. Mercor's revenue comes from a fee it charges the client on top of your hourly rate, not from applicants. Treat any request for payment to join as a red flag.
Is Mercor for freelancers or full-time contractors?
Mercor places you with one client for a defined engagement, like 'Python Tutor for 3 months', rather than having you grab small tasks from a shared queue. Most roles function as steady contract work, not one-off gigs.
Is AI training work the same as traditional consulting?
No. Instead of client deliverables, you're given complex scenarios to evaluate: grading the AI's logic, correcting its hallucinations, and supplying expert-level reasoning it doesn't have on its own. The job is closer to teaching than consulting.
Why do these AI training roles pay so much?
Because general knowledge isn't what's being tested. The model already knows the basics; what it needs is expertise on edge cases, the rare, difficult, highly technical judgment calls only a senior professional in the field would make correctly.
What does STEM work look like for a CUDA Engineering Expert?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a CUDA Engineering Expert, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to STEM) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on STEM background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Expert is named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with this, expect the screening process to test for it directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $300/hr, an hourly rate. Pay can change between when we last checked the listing and when you apply, so confirm the current number on the platform's own application page before committing time.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Mercor's external site to complete your application there. This listing links through a referral, but the process is identical to applying directly; the link just routes you correctly. Create an account on their site and follow their onboarding steps.
How soon will I start working after applying to Mercor?
Not immediately. Mercor is a talent marketplace, not a task queue, so applying puts you in a pool of candidates. You start working only once a specific client, like a major AI lab, selects your profile, and that matching process can take weeks.