Software Engineer
Mercor • Remote
Education
Not stated
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$40–$50/hr
Listed
180d ago
Apply opens Mercor in a new tab.
Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Mercor listing
1. Role Overview
We’re hiring Software Engineers to build and ship apps for Mercor’s RL Studio platform. The role involves developing MCP servers and sometimes BUAs, integrating real software into sandbox environments, and ensuring apps are stable, testable, and production-ready.
2. What You’ll Do
Build MCP servers in Python using FastMCP
Integrate web or desktop applications into RL Studio
Work with APIs, Docker, Linux environments, and service configuration
Implement populate/snapshot hooks for app state management
Test apps locally and debug build, runtime, and permission issues
Ensure apps meet platform validation and deployment requirements
3. What We’re Looking For
Strong Python skills
Experience with APIs, backend systems, and debugging
Familiarity with Docker, Linux, and local testing workflows
Ability to work with configuration files and deployment pipelines
Problem-solving skills and attention to technical detail
4. Nice to Have
Experience with FastMCP or similar frameworks
Experience integrating third-party apps or developer tools
Familiarity with web apps, databases, and containerized environments
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 Software Engineering
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 Software Engineer role, written in-house to help you prepare.
How do you approach designing a system when the requirements are still likely to change?
I design around the parts of the problem I'm confident are stable, like the core data model, and keep the parts most likely to change, like specific business rules, isolated behind clear interfaces. Over-engineering flexibility everywhere just adds complexity to parts of the system that were never going to change.
What's your process for debugging an issue that only reproduces in production, not locally?
I add targeted logging around the suspected area and compare production data or configuration against my local setup, since an issue that's environment-specific usually traces back to a real difference between the two rather than a fundamentally different bug. I avoid making speculative changes without first confirming where the divergence is.
How do you decide when a piece of code needs a test versus when it's low-risk enough to skip?
I prioritize tests for logic with real business consequences if it breaks, or code that's likely to be touched again later by someone unfamiliar with it. Simple, rarely-changed glue code gets less coverage, since the cost of a thorough test there often exceeds the risk it's protecting against.
How do you evaluate a proposed technical solution's trade-offs, like performance versus maintainability?
I start from the actual constraint that matters for this specific system, whether that's genuinely performance-critical or whether maintainability is the bigger long-term cost, rather than defaulting to whichever trade-off I personally prefer. Optimizing for performance the system doesn't need just adds complexity nobody benefits from.
This listing calls for this tool directly. Prep for the technical screen:
Why this role
At $40–$50/hr, this remote Software Engineer role pays competitively without asking you to relocate, interview in person, or keep fixed hours in Software Engineering.
Skills and categories
Explore other opportunities in related specializations:
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Common questions
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.
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.
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 Software Engineering work look like for a Software Engineer?
Tasks here are scoped to Software Engineering, not generic labeling. As a Software 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 and Python are named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with these, expect the screening process to test for them directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $40–$50/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.