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Expert Software Engineer – Scala / Kotlin / OCaml

Mercor
Pay
$120 - $200 / hr
Hourly
Location
Worldwide
Remote
Posted
May 31, 2026

Description

About the Opportunity

A leading AI research organization is evaluating how advanced AI systems perform in specialized engineering domains, and is seeking expert software engineers with deep, hands-on experience in Scala, Kotlin, and/or OCaml. You'll apply your expertise to assess complex, real-world technical scenarios — directly shaping how cutting-edge AI performs in these ecosystems. Single-language specialists are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do

  • Apply your language expertise to evaluate technical tasks against real-world professional standards

  • Review intricate code-level situations and provide precise, structured written assessments

  • Work inside containerized repositories (Docker), running and interpreting programmatic and CI-style checks to judge whether an engineering environment is sound

  • Provide clear written rationales explaining your expert judgments

  • Complete well-defined, time-bounded tasks with explicit evaluation criteria

Who We're Looking For

We value strong CS fundamentals, fast ramp-up, and high ownership — engineers who can flex across languages are especially valued, and deep single-language specialists are very welcome. The ideal candidate brings:

  • 5+ years of professional software engineering in one or more of:

  • Scala — functional/OOP JVM development; distributed systems; Spark, Akka, Cats, or ZIO; data engineering contexts

  • Kotlin — JVM and Android development; coroutines; modern backend services

  • OCaml — typed functional programming; compilers, tooling, or formal/systems work

  • Comfort working in Docker/CI-based repo environments and reading automated checks — or the ability to ramp on these fast

  • Ability to articulate not just what code does but why it's correct or idiomatic, clearly in writing

  • Welcomed: engineers from top product, data, or research engineering backgrounds; non-traditional digital footprints are fine — a GitHub profile is not required

Why This Work Matters

Scala, Kotlin, and OCaml power distributed data systems, modern mobile and backend platforms, and high-assurance software — domains where AI systems still have limited depth. Your assessments directly influence how they learn to operate in them.

Engagement Details

  • Compensation: $120–200/hour, based on depth and experience

  • Expected commitment: 20–40 hrs/week

  • Task flow is variable — work tends to arrive in waves, and there can be a lag between task batches. We're looking for people who stay flexible, including availability on weekends when needed, and who take ownership of keeping the project moving forward

  • No proprietary tooling required — tasks are completable without employer-provided systems

Interested in this position?

Apply directly on the company's website