Mechanical Engineer - CAD Specialist - AI Trainer

Mercor; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 344,000 - 482,000; Part time

Job summary

Mercor is seeking mechanical and CAD engineers for a part-time role to support a research project with an AI lab. You will perform mechanical design and CAD tasks on a MacBook, narrate your process, and contribute high-quality training data for advanced AI models.

The position is designed for 2–3 years of experience or current postgraduate students, with immediate start preferred and a focus on clear communication and rigorous documentation.

Qualifications

• Must own a MacBook or Mac with Apple M-series/Intel, macOS 15+.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field with hands-on 3D modeling/drafting experience.
• Proficiency in Mac-compatible CAD tools (Fusion 360, Onshape, Shapr3D, FreeCAD); familiarity with GD&T is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Complete and narrate real mechanical design and CAD tasks on your Mac to create high-quality training data for AI models.
• Engage in 2-3 hour weekly tasks with flexible, part-time scheduling without high-pressure expectations.
• Explain engineering decisions clearly while you work.

Skills

CAD modeling

3D drafting

MacOS proficiency

GD&T knowledge

Strong communicator

Research mindset

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Masters candidate or 2-3 years experience

Tools

Fusion 360

Onshape

Shapr3D

FreeCAD

Job description

Role Overview:

Mercor is looking for mechanical and CAD engineers with 2-3 years of professional experience, or currently enrolled postgrad engineering students, to support a research project with a leading AI lab. You will work through real engineering design workflows on your own Mac to help benchmark and improve cutting-edge AI models.

Qualifications:

• Required: You must own a MacBook or Mac with an Apple M-series chip or Intel processor, running macOS 15 or higher. Applicants without a Mac cannot be considered.

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, with hands-on 3D modeling and drafting experience

• Proficiency in Mac-compatible CAD tools such as Fusion 360, Onshape, Shapr3D, or FreeCAD; familiarity with GD&T and engineering drawings is a plus

• Currently pursuing or recently completed Masters studies, or have 2-3 years of relevant experience + Bachelors from a prestigious institution

• Ability to clearly explain your engineering decisions while you work

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Job Details:

• Part-time commitment of approximately 10-20 hours per week

• Responsibilities include completing and narrating real mechanical design and CAD tasks on your Mac to create high-quality training data for advanced AI models

• Clearly structured responsibilities without the high pressure typically found in internships or full-time consulting roles

• Immediate start preferred

Application and Onboarding Process:

• Submit your resume, followed by a brief (3-minute) conversation with our AI interviewer to assess research and reasoning skills

• Complete a brief paid assessment to further evaluate your fit for the role

• You will receive follow-up communication within a few days regarding your application status and next steps