Seismology Expert - Computational Problem Designer

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: STEM Computational Scientific Software & Evaluation Design - Seismology & Geophysics
Type: Contract
Compensation: $70–$100/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: 15–20 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

• Design graduate-level computational problems using domain-specific scientific software libraries like ObsPy or SPECFEM.
• Evaluate AI models by testing their ability to solve complex multi-step scientific workflows.
• Develop strategies for designing queries or experiments to uncover hidden information efficiently.
• Collaborate with AI teams to refine problem designs based on calibration feedback.
• Work independently and asynchronously to improve AI model performance and reasoning strategies.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM domain (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience).
• Proficiency with scientific software libraries evidenced by research publications or professional work.
• Strong Python programming skills for writing problem setups and solution validators.
• Ability to work in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes.
• Available for at least 15–20 hours per week.

Preferred

• Experience across multiple listed domains or tools.
• Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design.
• Background in scientific pedagogy or exam/problem-set design.
• Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments.

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

• Upload resume
• AI interview based on your resume
• Submit form

Resources & Support

• For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
• For any help or support, reach out to: [email protected]

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.