Aerodynamics PhD - Engineering Expert - AI Trainer

Mercor; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercor in Detroit, MI is seeking a senior aerodynamics expert to craft benchmark, hard reasoning questions in external aerodynamics. You will author original, free-response engineering problems grounded in real industry scenarios and provide complete expert solutions.

You will validate difficulty by running the problems against frontier language models until at least one fails, ensuring rigorous quality for advanced AI research applications. A PhD plus 5+ years of experience are required.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with aerodynamics focus and strong research record.
• 5+ years hands-on industry experience in external aerodynamics, CFD, or wind tunnel testing.

Responsibilities

• Author original, free-response aerodynamics problems grounded in real industry scenarios.
• Write expert-level solutions for each problem.
• Validate difficulty by testing against frontier language models.

Skills

External aerodynamics experience

CFD experience

Wind tunnel testing

Propulsion/vehicle aerodynamics

Education

PhD in Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Eng. with thermofluids/aero specialization

Tools

CFD software

Wind tunnel equipment

Job description

We're looking for a senior aerodynamics expert to help build a benchmark of the hardest reasoning questions in the field — questions specifically designed to be difficult enough that today's most capable AI models still get them wrong. You'll author original, free-response engineering problems grounded in real industry scenarios, write a complete expert-level solution for each, and validate difficulty by running it against three frontier language models until at least one fails.

Requirements: PhD in Aerospace Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering with a thermofluids/aerodynamics specialization, plus 5+ years of hands‑on professional/industry experience in external aerodynamics, CFD, wind tunnel testing, propulsion, or vehicle aerodynamics. Backgrounds in rocket/satellite propulsion, structural/aeroelastic FEM, or wind-loads-on-buildings do not map to the taxonomy needed for this role. Candidates from well‑known/blue‑chip employers preferred.