Data Scientist III
Mercor • Remote
Education
Bachelor's
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$70–$95/hr
Listed
234d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Mercor listing
We are seeking a highly experienced Data Science Contractor to join our team and provide essential support for strategic initiatives across a major social ecosystem. This position is ideally suited for a data scientist possessing robust analytical capabilities, substantial experience within large-scale data environments, and a commitment to generating significant impact through data-driven insights.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Conduct rigorous analysis of complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights pertinent to the ecosystem (products, partners, platforms, and user interactions).
- Design, implement, and meticulously maintain critical metrics to accurately measure ecosystem health, growth, and engagement.
- Develop and execute structured experiments to rigorously evaluate new features, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem strategies.
- Engage closely with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering) to formally define requirements, deliver comprehensive insights, and inform strategic decision-making.
- Construct sophisticated dashboards and detailed reports to effectively communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Provide timely, high-quality analytical responses to urgent business inquiries.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, or a closely related quantitative field.
- Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in data science, analytics, or a functionally equivalent role (either contract or full-time employment).
- Demonstrated proficiency in SQL and at least one high-level programming language (e.g., Python, R).
- Practical experience utilizing data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Unidash, Metrics360).
- Exceptional communication skills, with the proven ability to articulate and present complex findings with clarity and precision.
- Capacity to operate autonomously and effectively manage competing priorities within a dynamic, high-velocity operational environment.
- Significant experience working with large-scale data infrastructure within technology or platform ecosystems.
- Familiarity with proprietary internal data tools (e.g., Presto, Scuba, Hive).
- Previous professional engagement in a contractor or consulting capacity.
- Substantive knowledge of formal experimentation design principles and causal inference methodologies.
- Advanced Data Analysis & Modeling: Strong proficiency in SQL and at least one programming language (Python, R, etc.).
- Data Visualization: Experience with tools like Tableau, Unidash, or Metrics360.
- Communication & Collaboration: Ability to present complex findings clearly and work cross-functionally.
- Large-Scale Data Experience: Prior work with big data in tech/platform ecosystems.
- Internal Tools: Familiarity with Presto, Scuba, Hive, etc.
- Experimentation & Causal Inference: Knowledge of experiment design and causal analysis.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in Data Science
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
This Data Scientist III role is fully remote and pays $70–$95/hr, a solid way into Data Science work without needing to live near an office or relocate for it.
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.
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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.
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 asynchronous AI training work mean in practice?
No set hours, no check-ins, no meetings. You log in when you want, pick up an available task, complete it, and submit; nobody is waiting on you in real time. That's different from remote employment, where you're expected online during business hours. The tradeoff: you're competing with others for available tasks, so an empty queue means there's simply nothing to do until more work is released.
What does Data Science work look like for a Data Scientist III?
Tasks here are scoped to Data Science, not generic labeling. As a Data Scientist III, 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?
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 $70–$95/hr, an hourly rate. The range reflects experience level and negotiated terms, not a placeholder, so where you land in it depends on your background and the assessment. 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.