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Mercor

Embedded Systems / Kernel Engineer

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team to be at the core of the AI revolution, where your expertise fuels the development of the most advanced Large Language Models. 1. Overview Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team and help build foundational AI models from…

Field
Machine learning
Where
United States
Commitment
part time
Hours
up to 20/week
Openings
15
Employment
W-2 employee of Cincinnatus LLC, per the listing
Posted
yesterday

Pay data for your profession: Data scientist AI trainer jobs

How this pay compares

At $125/hr (the midpoint of $100 to $150), this role pays more than 86% of the 72 open machine learning roles with a listed pay range, above the median of $90.

Among platforms with 10 or more priced machine learning roles, Mercor has the highest median ($108/hr across 10 roles) and Alignerr the lowest ($63/hr across 13).

Mercor roles that closed since late October stayed listed a median of 39 days (136 roles). Mercor posted this one yesterday.

Computed from 2,746 open roles we track across Mercor, micro1, Handshake AI, Alignerr, Appen and OpenTrain AI, refreshed daily. Midpoints of listed ranges; “up to” ceilings are left out of medians.

What you would earn at this rate

Per week, before tax

$2,500

Per month, if the work is steady

$10,833

Tax
The listing describes a W-2 employee role, so the employer withholds US tax from each paycheck.

Assumes paid hours only; unpaid assessments, onboarding and gaps between projects lower the real figure. Full take-home calculator · Track what you actually earn

Open machine learning roles on each platform

The same kind of work, priced on every platform we track, with the best-paid open role on each.

PlatformOpenMedianBest-paid open role
Mercorthis role10$108/hrMachine Learning Engineer Talent Network$70-250/hr
micro112$90/hrApplied Scientist$245-280/hr
OpenTrain AI41$90/hrBioinformatics Machine Learning Expert$175/hr
Alignerr13$63/hrSoftware Engineer - Machine Learning$90-120/hr
Handshake AI3up to $75/hr3 pricedData ScientistUp to $120/hr

“Up to” rows list only ceilings, so their median is a maximum, not comparable with the range midpoints above them.

All 79 open machine learning roles →

The full listing

As posted on Mercor. See the original

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team to be at the core of the AI revolution, where your expertise fuels the development of the most advanced Large Language Models.

1. Overview

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team and help build foundational AI models from the ground up. We're seeking talented Embedded Systems, Firmware, Kernel and Chip Design Engineers with hands-on expertise in low-level C/C++, operating system internals, firmware or hardware design (RTL) to bring deep systems-level expertise and elevate the quality of our AI training data.

This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC, with the opportunity to be placed at a leading AI Lab as part of their extended workforce.

2. Key Responsibilities

  • Guide research and engineering teams to close knowledge gaps and improve AI model performance in embedded systems and kernel engineering, firmware and device drivers, and hardware design and verification topics.
  • Design challenging, domain-relevant tasks, and write accurate and well-structured solutions to embedded systems and kernel engineering problems.
  • Evaluate embedded systems and kernel engineering tasks and solutions and provide clear, written technical feedback.
  • Design and evaluate low-level tasks covering memory management, concurrency, device drivers, RTOS behavior and hardware description languages.
  • Develop rubrics to assess correctness, safety and performance of systems-level and hardware design solutions.
  • Collaborate with other subject matter experts to ensure consistency and accuracy in training data.

3. Core Qualifications

  • 4+ years of dedicated professional experience in embedded systems, firmware, OS kernel or chip design at a recognized, top-tier organization (semiconductor, OS, devices, automotive or aerospace).
  • Strong production C and/or C++ for resource-constrained or performance-critical systems.
  • Hands-on experience in at least one of: Linux kernel or driver development, RTOS and firmware, or RTL design and verification (Verilog, SystemVerilog, VHDL, UVM).
  • Demonstrable career progression.
  • Ability to engage reliably for at least 20 hours/week during weekdays.
  • Strong written communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical decisions clearly.

About Cincinnatus LLC:

Cincinnatus LLC is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology companies to source and employ highly skilled professionals for contingent and contract-based opportunities. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record for these engagements, providing W-2 employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance, while placing employees directly within client teams to work on high-impact initiatives.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Cincinnatus is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or any other legally protected characteristic.

From applying to your first payment on Mercor

  1. 1

    Apply to this listing

    Apply on Mercor with your resume.

  2. 2

    AI interview

    Take Mercor's recorded AI interview, about 20 minutes. A completed interview carries over to other listings that use the same one.

  3. 3

    Work

    Hourly work is counted in weeks that run Saturday to Friday.

  4. 4

    First payment

    Mercor pays each Wednesday around noon Pacific through Stripe (or Wise). Stripe holds a first payout for 7 days, and standard transfers take up to 5 business days to reach your bank.

Sources: Mercor talent docs: AI interview, Mercor talent docs: payments

Full Mercor profile: watch-outs and the public record →

Pay history

Mercor has listed this role at $100-150/hr since Nov 10, 2026 with no change.

What workers report about Mercor

Anonymous reports from people who applied or worked there: whether they got work, what they were paid and how fast.

Other machine learning roles

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