Data Scientist
Mercor • Remote, India
Education
Bachelor's
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$14/hr
Listed
274d ago
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- Weekly hours
- 40 hrs/week
About this role
From the Mercor listing
Mercor is hiring a Data Scientist to help build advanced analytics and data-driven infrastructure for its AI lab partner focused on developing intelligent agent-based systems. This role is ideal for analytical thinkers who excel at turning large-scale data into actionable insights and enjoy working at the intersection of machine learning, experimentation, and real-world applications. You’ll be designing data pipelines, statistical models, and performance metrics that drive the next generation of autonomous systems.
- Have a strong background in data science, machine learning, or applied statistics.
- Are proficient in Python, SQL, and familiar with libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, and PyTorch/TensorFlow.
- Understand probabilistic modeling, statistical inference, and experimentation frameworks (A/B testing, causal inference).
- Can collect, clean, and transform complex datasets into structured formats ready for modeling and analysis.
- Have experience designing and evaluating predictive models, using metrics like precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC-AUC.
- Are comfortable working with large-scale data systems (Snowflake, BigQuery, or similar).
- Are curious about AI agents, and how data can shape the reasoning, adaptability, and behavior of intelligent systems.
- Enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams — from engineers to research scientists — to define meaningful KPIs and experiment setups.
- This listing is only for people residing in India.
- Develop data collection and preprocessing pipelines for structured and unstructured data from multiple agent simulations.
- Build and iterate on machine learning models for performance prediction, behavior clustering, and outcome optimization.
- Design and maintain dashboards and visualization tools for monitoring agent performance, benchmarks, and trends.
- Conduct statistical analyses to evaluate the efficacy of AI systems under various environments and constraints.
- Collaborate with engineers to design evaluation frameworks that measure reasoning quality, adaptability, and efficiency.
- Prototype data-driven tools and feedback loops to automatically improve model accuracy and agent behavior over time.
- Work closely with AI research teams to translate experimental results into scalable, production-grade insights.
- Work at the forefront of AI agent intelligence and help define how data shapes their evolution.
- Blend machine learning, experimentation, and data engineering in one role.
- Collaborate with top-tier AI engineers on new agent benchmarks and feedback mechanisms.
- Contribute to a mission that merges algorithmic reasoning, real-world performance, and human-like decision-making.
- Part-time (20 hrs - 40 hrs/week)
- Weekly bonus of $500 - $1000 USD per 5 task created.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in one of: Remote, India
- 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 Scientist role, written in-house to help you prepare.
How do you determine the required sample size for an experiment before running it?
I run a power analysis based on the minimum effect size that would actually matter for the business decision, the expected baseline variance, and the desired statistical power, typically 80%. Skipping this step is how teams end up running underpowered experiments that can't reliably detect real effects, then wrongly concluding a change had no impact.
What's the difference between correlation and causation, and how do you establish the latter with observational data?
Correlation just means two variables move together, which can be driven by a third confounding factor rather than either variable causing the other. With observational data, I look for natural experiments, instrumental variables, or matching techniques to approximate a controlled comparison, since a true randomized experiment usually isn't available and correlation alone can't support a causal claim.
How would you choose between a simpler statistical model and machine learning approach for a forecasting problem?
For data with clear seasonal and trend patterns and limited history, a statistical model like ARIMA or exponential smoothing is often more reliable than machine learning, which typically needs more data to outperform simpler methods. I'd benchmark both against a holdout period rather than assuming the more complex option is automatically better.
How do you handle a situation where your model's predictions need to be explained to justify individual decisions?
I'd use an inherently interpretable model where possible, or apply a post-hoc explanation method like SHAP values on top of a more complex model if the added performance is worth the extra explanation layer. The explanation needs to be accurate to how the model actually makes decisions, not just a plausible-sounding story layered on afterward.
What to Expect
Looking at Mercor Data Science listings we've tracked, contracts in this domain typically run about 3.6 weeks. Actual length varies by project, but this gives you a realistic baseline going in.
Based on 16 extracted Mercor Data Science listings.
Why this role
At $14/hr, this remote Data Scientist role pays competitively without asking you to relocate, interview in person, or keep fixed hours in Data Science.
Talent pool
We're light on Data Science candidates
We've matched 9 people with a Data Science background against 293 Data Science 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.
Set up your profileSkills 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 Data Science work look like for a Data Scientist?
Tasks here are scoped to Data Science, not generic labeling. As a Data Scientist, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Data Science) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Data Science background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
AI Training 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 many hours per week does this role require?
Based on the listing, this role is scoped at about 40 hours per week. Treat this as a real commitment expectation, not a loose estimate.
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.
Can I apply from outside India?
This specific role is open only to people based in India. If you are somewhere else, applying is unlikely to lead to an offer even if you pass the assessment, because the restriction is usually about where the work can legally be contracted rather than your skills. Read the full description for any tax-residency or right-to-work caveats before you apply.
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.