Telecommunications Expert
Mercor • Remote
Education
Master's
Type
Per task
Pay Rate
$1150–$1450/task
Listed
93d ago
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Apply Now → ⚡ Boost your chances - Optimize your resume with Rezi.aiAbout this role
From the Mercor listing
Role Overview\n\nMercor is partnering with leading AI labs to engage experienced telecommunications professionals — network engineers, telecom operations managers, RF specialists, and regulatory and product experts — to improve AI systems' reasoning around network architecture, telecom operations, and communications technology. Contributors will apply their expertise in areas such as cellular network design, broadband infrastructure, VoIP, telecom regulatory compliance, and enterprise communications to evaluate and enhance AI performance on telecommunications-specific tasks. This is a project-based opportunity with potential for ongoing engagement depending on performance and project needs.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\n- Review and evaluate AI-generated outputs related to network architecture design, telecom operations workflows, spectrum management, and communications technology analysis\n \n- Create realistic scenarios based on telecommunications workflows — network provisioning and configuration, fault management and NOC operations, spectrum allocation decisions, regulatory filings (FCC), and customer service escalation processes\n \n- Annotate, label, and validate data across telecom use cases (e.g., network topology accuracy, QoS parameter recommendations, protocol identification, regulatory compliance assessments)\n \n- Provide structured feedback on AI accuracy in areas such as telecom standards and protocols (3GPP, IEEE 802.11, SIP, MPLS), regulatory frameworks (FCC, ITU, ETSI), and telecommunications industry-specific terminology\n \n- Collaborate asynchronously with research teams to refine evaluation frameworks for telecommunications AI\n \n\nIdeal Qualifications\n\n- 3+ years of professional experience in telecommunications at a carrier, MVNO, ISP, equipment vendor, or enterprise communications organization\n \n- Background in one or more areas such as:\n \n - Wireless/cellular networks (4G/LTE, 5G NR, RAN engineering, core network)\n \n - Wireline/broadband infrastructure (fiber, cable, DSL, FTTH)\n \n - Network operations, NOC management, or field engineering\n \n - VoIP, unified communications, or enterprise telephony\n \n - Telecom regulatory affairs, product management, or OSS/BSS systems\n \n- Professional certifications a plus (CCNA/CCNP, CWNA, CompTIA Network+, TIA credentials)\n \n- Strong analytical thinking and ability to translate network and operations workflows into structured evaluation tasks\n \n- Clear written communication and attention to detail\n \n\nCompensation Note\n\n- Task Completion Pay: Competitive and based on task quality (~$1,150 – $1,450 per completed task, subject to change as the project evolves)\n \n- Performance Bonus: Top performers receive a weekly bonus incentive on top of their per task rate!\n \n- Hourly Opportunity: Top performers may be invited to transition to an hourly compensation model based on sustained quality and throughput.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Master's's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in STEM
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 →Why this role
Few outlets pay STEM specialists what the leading AI labs pay for direct judgment. At $1150–$1450/task, this Telecommunications Expert role prices in the expertise itself, separate from hours billed or clients managed.
Talent pool
We're light on STEM candidates
We've matched 65 people with a STEM background against 726 STEM 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.
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 STEM work look like for a Telecommunications Expert?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Telecommunications Expert, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to STEM) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on STEM 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 $1150–$1450/task, a per-task 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.
How does per-task pay translate to an hourly rate?
It doesn't directly, that's the catch. Each task has a listed price and an estimated completion time, but your actual effective rate depends on how fast you work. If a task is estimated at 20 minutes and pays $8, that is $24/hr for a fast worker and $12/hr for a slow one. Track your actual time on the first few tasks before treating the listed rate as your real hourly income.
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.
Do I need a Master's to qualify?
This role lists a master's degree as a requirement. In practice, the domain assessment is the real gate. If you can pass it, the degree is usually secondary. However, some platforms verify credentials formally, so list your actual qualifications accurately on your profile.
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.