Data Engineer
Mercor • Remote
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$14/hr
Listed
274d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Mercor listing
Contribute to AI training by labeling and categorizing data to improve model accuracy and performance.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
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
Apply through this link and we can put you forward to Mercor when your profile is a strong match. Not every applicant is submitted. If you're not in the pool yet, set up your profile first.
Set up your profile →Interview Prep
Sample questions for a Data Engineer role, written in-house to help you prepare.
How do you design an ETL pipeline to be idempotent so reruns don't duplicate data?
I design loads around upserts keyed on a natural or surrogate key rather than plain inserts, and I make each pipeline stage stateless with respect to its inputs so rerunning it with the same input produces the same output. Partitioning by a processing date and overwriting the whole partition on rerun is another reliable pattern, especially for batch pipelines.
When would you choose a star schema over a snowflake schema for a data warehouse?
A star schema keeps dimension tables denormalized, which trades storage and some data redundancy for simpler, faster queries. That's the right call when query performance and ease of use for analysts matter more than storage efficiency. A snowflake schema is worth the extra join complexity when dimension tables are large, change frequently, and normalization meaningfully reduces storage and update anomalies.
How do you handle schema evolution in a pipeline that ingests data from a source you don't control?
I treat the ingestion layer as schema-tolerant by landing raw data first, before any strict schema is enforced, and applying schema validation at a later transformation stage. This way a new or renamed field upstream doesn't break ingestion outright. I also version the schema explicitly so downstream consumers can detect and handle changes rather than silently breaking.
What's your approach to choosing between a batch and a streaming architecture for a new data pipeline?
The deciding factor is how fresh the data needs to be for the downstream use case, not how technically interesting streaming is. If consumers only need daily or hourly updates, batch is simpler to build, debug, and operate. Streaming is worth the added complexity only when there's a real requirement for near-real-time data, like fraud detection or live dashboards.
Why this role
This Data Engineer role is fully remote and pays $14/hr, a solid way into Software Engineering work without needing to live near an office or relocate for it.
Skills and categories
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Common questions
Does Mercor's application require an on-camera interview?
Yes, every applicant records a video interview with an AI interviewer that asks questions about your resume. Clients review that recording to judge communication skills before matching, so there's no way to apply without going on camera.
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.
What does task-based AI training work look like?
Practical, hands-on data work: recording short videos, categorizing images, rating text responses, or analyzing data. Tasks are designed to be short and distinct, typically 5 to 60 minutes each.
What does Software Engineering work look like for a Data Engineer?
Tasks here are scoped to Software Engineering, not generic labeling. As a Data Engineer, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Software Engineering) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Software Engineering background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Coding 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 $14/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.
Is a PhD required?
For this specific role, yes, or near-equivalent professional depth. The credential gate is enforced at the assessment stage, not just on paper. That said, active PhD candidates and people with equivalent published research have qualified without a formal degree. The assessment is the real filter.
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.