Software Developers (Must own MacBook)

$50–60/hr

rate as listed

Workload: ~10–20 hrs/week
Engagement: Project-based
Location: Worldwide
Field: STEM and Coding

Complete and narrate software development workflows on your own Mac to help evaluate and improve AI models. The work includes building, debugging, refactoring and reviewing code for approximately 10-20 hours per week.

The work

You will complete realistic software development tasks on your own Mac, including building features, debugging failures, refactoring implementations and reviewing code. You will also narrate your reasoning so the resulting workflows can be used as high-quality training and evaluation data for a research project with an AI lab.

What Mercor screens for

The initial application includes a resume review and a brief, three-minute AI interview focused on research and reasoning. Candidates should be ready to give verifiable examples of professional or postgraduate work, explain technical decisions under follow-up and demonstrate hands-on experience in one or more programming languages. The languages named as examples are Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Swift, Java and Go. Familiarity with macOS development tools such as VS Code, Xcode, Terminal, Git and package managers is also expected.

Hardware and background

You must own a MacBook or Mac with an Apple M-series chip or Intel processor running macOS 15 or higher. The stated background is either current or recently completed Master's studies, or 2-3 years of relevant experience plus a Bachelor's degree from what the platform describes as a prestigious institution. A brief paid assessment follows the initial interview for candidates who progress.

Logistics

The expected commitment is approximately 10-20 hours per week, with an immediate start preferred. The listing indicates that work is performed on your own Mac, but it does not explicitly confirm the remote-work arrangement or whether hours are fully asynchronous. Pay band: $50–60/hr

What they look for

Software development through building, debugging, refactoring and code review
Hands-on experience with at least one programming language
macOS development workflows using tools such as Terminal, Git, VS Code, Xcode and package managers
Clear narration of technical reasoning while working
Professional coding experience or qualifying Master's-level study
Written and verbal communication

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: This checks whether your background fits the stated experience or study pathway and whether you can anchor it in a project with verifiable scope, dates and responsibilities.
A strong answer: Give a concise timeline, identify your exact ownership and name the language, tools and outcome of one representative project. Distinguish clearly between work you completed yourself and contributions made by a team.
Where people lose it: Candidates lose points by describing a team product without stating what code they personally wrote, reviewed or debugged.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

STEM AND CODING on Sidequest

What stem and coding AI work pays

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