Quantitative Finance Expert
Mercor • Remote
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$150/hr
Listed
86d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiWhat We Know About This Role
- Weekly hours
- 10–20 hrs/week
About this role
From the Mercor listing
About the Role
Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research lab to train frontier models on rigorous quantitative reasoning. We're hiring Quantitative Finance Experts to evaluate and compare model outputs on challenging finance problems, helping shape how the next generation of AI reasons about markets, derivatives, and risk.
Your experience in quantitative modeling, derivatives pricing, and statistical analysis will ensure each evaluation is accurate, precise, and grounded in real-world financial reasoning.
What You'll Do
Compare two AI-generated responses to the same prompt and decide which one is better
Work from the provided input files and read each model's reasoning / thought process to inform your judgment
Clearly explain why one output outperforms the other, citing methodological soundness, correctness, and quality of quantitative reasoning
Provide written feedback the research team uses to improve model behavior
Participate in onboarding and specialty calibration sessions
You're a Good Fit If You
Have 2+ years of professional experience in quantitative finance (hedge fund, quant trading, derivatives, risk, or equity research)
Hold an advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a quantitative field such as Financial Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or Economics - or equivalent industry experience
Are comfortable programming in Python (NumPy/pandas) for modeling and analysis
Demonstrate excellent written communication with high attention to detail
Role Highlights
Flexible workload: 10–20 hours per week
Role starts immediately; applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- PhD's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in Business
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 →What to Expect
Looking at Mercor Business listings we've tracked, contracts in this domain typically run about 3 weeks. Actual length varies by project, but this gives you a realistic baseline going in.
Based on 31 extracted Mercor Business listings.
Why this role
This Quantitative Finance Expert role pays $150/hr for your Business judgment directly, without requiring case files, client meetings, or firm overhead to get there.
Talent pool
We're light on Business candidates
We've matched 55 people with a Business background against 1011 Business 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 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 Business work look like for a Quantitative Finance Expert?
Tasks here are scoped to Business, not generic labeling. As a Quantitative Finance Expert, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Business) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Business 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 many hours per week does this role require?
Based on the listing, this role is scoped at 10–20 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 $150/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.