Remote Applied Physics Assessment Specialist

Mercor; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 79,000; Part time

Job summary

Mercor is seeking an Applied Physics Benchmark Specialist on a contract basis to work remotely with flexible, long-term commitments. The role focuses on designing rigorous physics questions and evaluating performance across semiconductor physics, nanoelectronics, and photonics, for advanced AI research contexts.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD (or is a doctoral candidate) in physics or a closely related field, possesses strong graduate-level math, and can communicate complex ideas clearly in

Qualifications

• PhD or doctoral candidate in physics or closely related field.
• Strong command of graduate-level physics concepts and math.
• Excellent written English and ability to express complex ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Author original physics questions testing deep understanding in Semiconductor Physics, Nanoelectronics & Spintronics, and Photonics.
• Ensure questions are unambiguous, self-contained, and precisely defined.
• Rate question difficulty as Medium, Hard, or Expert with correct answer and plausible alternatives.
• Write step-by-step Chain-of-Thought solutions in markdown format.
• Provide 1–5 academic references per question from reputable sources.
• Flag clarity, completeness, precision, or solvability issues and justify edits.

Skills

Graduate-level physics

English writing

Clear technical communication

Education

PhD in Physics or related field

Master's degree considered for exceptional depth

Job description

Mercor is seeking an Applied Physics Benchmark Specialist on a contract basis to work remotely with flexible, long-term commitments. The role focuses on designing rigorous physics questions and evaluating performance across semiconductor physics, nanoelectronics, and photonics, for advanced AI research contexts.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD (or is a doctoral candidate) in physics or a closely related field, possesses strong graduate-level math, and can communicate complex ideas clearly in