Mercor

Berlin

Astrophysics Software Designer - Expert

FULL TIME REMOTE MID
Posted 7 days ago

Quick Summary

Role Overview

This contract role involves designing graduate-level computational problems in astrophysics and cosmology to evaluate AI systems. You will work with scientific software libraries to create research-grade tasks and refine them based on AI model performance.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design graduate-level computational problems using domain-specific scientific software libraries
  • Evaluate AI systems ability to solve research-grade problems and interpret outputs
  • Develop experimental strategies to recover hidden information from data using strategic reasoning
  • Calibrate tasks against state-of-the-art AI models to achieve target difficulty levels
  • Iterate on problem designs independently based on calibration feedback
  • Utilize astropy and related tools for cosmological calculations and data reduction

Requirements Snapshot

  • Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM domain such as a Masters or PhD
  • Proficiency with scientific software libraries evidenced by research or professional work
  • Strong Python programming skills for writing problem setups and solution validators
  • Ability to work in a Linux environment with remote compute sandboxes
  • Availability to commit at least 15 to 20 hours per week

Expected Impact

You will play a critical role in advancing AI capabilities by creating rigorous benchmarks that test the limits of machine reasoning in complex scientific domains. Your work ensures that AI models are accurately evaluated against high-level research standards in astrophysics and cosmology.

This summary was generated from the original job posting (AI-assisted, human-reviewed). For full details, see the description below.

Job Description

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 - Astrophysics & Cosmology

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.Evaluate AI systems' ability to solve research-grade problems, from querying simulations to interpreting outputs.Develop experimental strategies to recover hidden information from data, emphasizing strategic reasoning.Calibrate tasks against state-of-the-art AI models, refining problem designs to achieve target difficulty.Work independently and asynchronously to iterate on problem designs based on calibration feedback.Utilize astropy and related tools for cosmological calculations and observational data reduction.

Qualifications

Must-Have

Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM domain (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience).Demonstrated 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)

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Resources & Support

For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcomeFor any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

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

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