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Research Engineer Phd Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mercor

ML Research Engineer - PhD

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$75 - $90/hr

Position: Human Baseliner for Open-Ended ML Research Tasks Type: Contract Compensation: $75-$90 ... Time in a PhD program counts. * Attended a top-100 university or worked at FAANG or a comparable ...

NYU Langone Health

Research Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Dorry Segev, MD, PhD, Dr. Sommer Gentry, PhD, and Dr. Michal Mankowski, PhD the Research Engineer will join a multidisciplinary team committed to addressing critical challenges in organ ...

NYULMC

Research Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

Dorry Segev, MD, PhD, Dr. Sommer Gentry, PhD, and Dr. Michal Mankowski, PhD the Research Engineer will join a multidisciplinary team committed to addressing critical challenges in organ ...

NYU Langone Health

Research Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Dorry Segev, MD, PhD, Dr. Sommer Gentry, PhD, and Dr. Michal Mankowski, PhD the Research Engineer will join a multidisciplinary team committed to addressing critical challenges in organ ...

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Research Engineer Phd information

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How much do research engineer phd jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for research engineer phd in the United States is $106,012.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $104,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a research engineer PhD?

A Research Engineer PhD is a professional who has completed a doctoral degree (PhD) and works on developing innovative solutions, conducting advanced experiments, and pushing the boundaries of technology or science. They often work in academic, industrial, or government research settings, applying deep technical expertise to solve complex problems. Their responsibilities typically include designing experiments, analyzing data, publishing findings, and sometimes collaborating with product development teams. Research Engineer PhDs are valued for their ability to combine scientific research with practical engineering applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research engineer PhD?

To thrive as a Research Engineer PhD, you need advanced knowledge in engineering principles, research methodologies, and data analysis, typically supported by a doctoral degree in engineering or a related field. Expertise with simulation software, programming languages (such as Python or MATLAB), and familiarity with publishing tools or laboratory equipment is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for driving innovation, producing publishable research, and effectively collaborating within multidisciplinary teams.

What opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration can a research engineer PhD expect in a typical organization?

As a Research Engineer with a PhD, you will frequently collaborate with professionals from various disciplines, such as data scientists, software developers, and product managers. This interdisciplinary work is essential for translating research into practical applications and advancing innovative projects. You can expect to contribute your expertise in scientific methods and advanced technical knowledge while gaining insights from colleagues in adjacent fields. Such collaboration not only enriches project outcomes but also broadens your professional skill set and fosters career growth.

What is the difference between Research Engineer Phd vs Research Scientist?

AspectResearch Engineer PhdResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsPhD in relevant field, advanced technical skillsMaster's or PhD, strong research background
Work EnvironmentLabs, R&D departments, technical project teamsAcademic, corporate R&D, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, engineering firms, research institutionsUniversities, research labs, industry R&D
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for research roles requiring engineering expertiseBroader research roles, academic positions

Research Engineer Phd and Research Scientist roles both require advanced degrees and involve research activities. However, Research Engineer Phd positions typically focus on applied engineering projects within industry settings, emphasizing technical development and innovation. Research Scientists often work in academic or research institutions, focusing on fundamental research and scientific discovery. The choice depends on whether you prefer industry-focused engineering work or academic research pursuits.

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Research Engineer Phd jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Engineer Phd job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,012 per year, or $51 per hour.

ML Research Engineer - PhD

San Francisco, CA • Remote

Mercor
See more jobs at Mercorexternal

$75 - $90/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Human Baseliner for Open-Ended ML Research Tasks
Type: Contract
Compensation: $75–$90/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: 20+ hours/week

Role Responsibilities

  • Attempt open-ended machine learning research tasks under a fixed time and compute budget.
  • Work independently in a sandboxed Linux environment with internet access.
  • Use preferred tools, including IDEs and AI coding assistants like Cursor, Claude Code, and ChatGPT.
  • Record full working sessions via screen recording.
  • Complete pre-task and post-task questionnaires.
  • Submit final work product, screen recording, and completed questionnaires for evaluation.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • 3+ years of machine learning experience. Time in a PhD program counts.
  • Attended a top-100 university or worked at FAANG or a comparable company.
  • Experience with PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
  • Deep expertise in at least one focus area: pretraining, PPO, reward shaping, fine-tuning, LoRA, RLHF, architecture design, contrastive training, generative modeling, multilingual experience, or data pipelines.

Required Domain Expertise

  • Practical experience in Pretraining, Reinforcement learning, Post-training, Dataset curation, or Model architecture.

Logistics

  • One baseline attempt per contractor per task.
  • Each task may only be attempted once.
  • All work is confidential and covered by NDA.
  • Compute and environment are provided; no personal GPU required.

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

  • Upload resume
  • AI interview based on your resume
  • Submit form

Resources & Support

  • For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
  • For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.