Engineering Manager, Core Engineering

Mercor's mission is to organize human intelligence to power the AI economy. We partner with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development. Our vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can't be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in our network collectively earn over $3 million a day.

Mercor is creating a new category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Achieving this requires an ambitious, fast-paced and deeply committed team. You’ll work alongside researchers, operators, and AI companies at the forefront of shaping the systems that are redefining society. Mercor is a profitable Series C company valued at $10 billion. We work in-person five days a week in our San Francisco, NYC, or London offices.

We’re hiring Engineering Managers to lead teams across Mercor’s core product and infrastructure surfaces.

Mercor is at an inflection point. We’ve proven we can build systems that scale supply and deliver real value to customers. Now, we are expanding that foundation into a fully liquid, two-sided marketplace—while continuing to strengthen the infrastructure that powers it.

As an Engineering Manager, you will own a critical slice of this system—whether that’s marketplace growth, core platform infrastructure, financial systems, or matching and fulfillment. Regardless of domain, the mandate is the same:

Build systems that scale, teams that execute, and products that materially move the business forward.

This is not a maintenance role. You will operate in an environment with high ambiguity, high velocity, and real consequences—where the systems you build directly impact revenue, trust, and marketplace liquidity.

Own business-critical systems end-to-end
Lead the development of products and infrastructure that directly impact Mercor’s core marketplace—ranging from growth and demand generation to payments, trust, and fulfillment systems.

Build from zero-to-one and scale from one-to-many
Some problems will require rapid experimentation and iteration; others will require designing robust, reliable systems that operate at global scale.

Drive execution in high-ambiguity environments
Translate open-ended problems into concrete plans. Balance speed with quality while maintaining a high bar for outcomes.

Build and lead high-performing teams
Hire, mentor, and develop engineers who operate with ownership and urgency. Create a culture of accountability without unnecessary process.

Partner cross-functionally to ship outcomes
Work closely with product, operations, finance, and other teams to ensure engineering work translates into real-world impact.

Introduce structure where needed
Help Mercor scale from a fast-moving startup into a durable organization—adding the right level of process without slowing down execution.

Stay close to the code
Contribute to technical design and, when needed, implementation—especially in early-stage or high-priority systems.

Design scalable, reliable systems
Architect systems that handle high throughput, real-time decisioning, and global usage—while maintaining correctness and trust where it matters.

Strong technical background
You can design and reason about complex, scalable systems and guide teams through high-stakes technical decisions.

Proven engineering leadership
Experience managing and growing teams in high-growth or ambiguous environments.

Builder mindset
Comfortable going from zero-to-one on systems, teams, or processes. You default to action and iteration.

Ability to operate at high velocity
You can prioritize ruthlessly, make decisions quickly, and execute without perfect information.

Product and business intuition
You understand how engineering work translates into user outcomes, revenue, and marketplace dynamics.

Experience with high-scale or high-stakes systems
This could include payments, marketplaces, growth systems, trust & safety, or real-time data systems.

Strong communication skills
Able to clearly articulate trade-offs and align engineering decisions with broader company goals.

Learn at the frontier of AI and labor
Work alongside top engineers, operators and AI companies shaping the future.

Work on a problem that matters
You’re not optimizing marginal gains—you’re helping rebuild how global labor markets function.

Own meaningful parts of the system
Your work will directly impact how millions of dollars flow and how thousands of people find work.

Build defensibility through network effects
In a world where software is increasingly commoditized, you’ll help build what can’t be cloned: a liquid, global marketplace.

Operate with speed and ownership
Small teams, high trust, real responsibility.

• Bi-annual performance bonus structure

• Generous equity grant vested over 4 years

• Up to $15k Relocation bonus

• $10K housing bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)

• $1.5K monthly stipend for meals

• Free Equinox membership

• $200 monthly laundry reimbursement

• $200 monthly personal wellness reimbursement

• Health, Dental, Vision insurance