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Senior Software Engineer, Full Stack (Python, Java, Rust, C#, C++)

Company: Mercor · Pay: $90–$110/hr · Location: Remote — United States · Type: contractor, full time · Posted: 2026-09-14

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$90 - $110 / hr

Building the Core of the AI Revolution: Inside the GenAI Engineering Frontier

The artificial intelligence boom has officially transitioned from exploratory research into massive, production-grade systems engineering. Leading AI labs are no longer just training foundational models on static text datasets; they are pushing the boundaries of autonomous coding, agentic reasoning, and complex software generation. For elite full-stack developers, this evolution presents a career-defining opportunity: stepping directly into the engineering core of top-tier AI labs to build, integrate, and stress-test the systems of tomorrow.

Facilitated by cutting-edge talent placement platforms like Mercor, premier engineering roles are becoming vastly more accessible through streamlined, merit-based hiring. Positions such as the Senior Software Engineer, Full Stack (Python, Java, Rust, C#, C++) role offer extraordinary compensation—ranging from $90 to $110 per hour—while placing developers at the absolute forefront of the generative AI revolution.

Comprehensive Job Overview & Role Objectives

This full-time, 40-hour-per-week commitment is designed for senior developers with robust multi-language proficiency and exceptional execution speed. Working directly with an AI lab’s engineering management team on fast-moving, high-impact projects, you will be expected to onboard rapidly and contribute working production code from day one.

Your primary mission will be to build foundational software infrastructure, integrate pre-release model APIs into real-world applications, and rigorously stress-test frontier models before they are shipped to the public or enterprise clients.

Key Responsibilities & Day-to-Day Impact

Engineering at the edge of generative AI requires a unique blend of architectural foresight and rapid prototyping capability. Selected engineers will tackle multifaceted technical challenges across the development lifecycle:

  • Full-Stack Application Development: Build and ship robust full-stack applications, services, and internal tooling using modern ecosystems—including Python, Java, Rust, C#, C++, and TypeScript—that thoroughly exercise frontier model capabilities end-to-end.
  • API Integration & Scaffolding: Seamlessly integrate pre-release model APIs into working software, engineering the critical surrounding scaffolding such as custom tool interfaces, evaluation harnesses, and telemetry pipelines.
  • Failure Mode Diagnosis & Feedback: Systematically diagnose and document model and integration failure modes surfaced during development, translating technical observations into clear, structured written feedback for research teams.
  • Rapid Prototyping: Prototype effectively against shifting requirements, delivering clean, working increments with limited up-front specification.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with engineering managers and peer developers to maintain absolute consistency in code quality, modern architecture, and technical documentation.

Core Qualifications: What It Takes to Qualify

Because these roles support foundational AI infrastructure at world-class organizations, the qualification criteria are rigorous, targeting senior practitioners with proven production mastery.

Must-Have Requirements:
  • 6+ Years Experience: Demonstrated professional background building and shipping production-grade software at a recognized, top-tier organization, including end-to-end system ownership.
  • Multi-Language Mastery: Deep production experience in at least one core language (Python, Java, Rust, C#, or C++), plus demonstrated delivery in a second language across a different ecosystem.
  • Full-Stack Ownership: Hands-on expertise across the entire stack: robust backend service and API design, modern front-end frameworks (React or equivalent), data modeling, and cloud deployment/operations.
  • Rapid Onboarding: Proven ability to plug into an unfamiliar codebase and deliver functional code quickly with minimal ramp-up time.
  • Career Progression & Commitment: Demonstrable upward career trajectory and the availability to engage reliably for 40 hours per week during U.S. weekdays.
  • Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex technical decisions clearly.

Employment Structure, Benefits, and Compliance

This position offers a secure W-2 employment structure through Cincinnatus LLC, an enterprise staffing partner that acts as the employer of record. This ensures full compliance, payroll reliability, and benefits administration while embedding you directly inside a leading AI lab's extended workforce team.

By operating as a W-2 employee placed through modern talent channels, engineers enjoy competitive hourly earnings ($90–$110/hr) without the administrative burden typical of traditional freelance contracting.

Why This Role Defines the Future of Software Engineering

For years, software engineering has focused on building traditional web applications, microservices, and enterprise databases. Today, the paradigm has shifted toward AI-native development. Engineers who understand how to build systems *around* LLMs—managing context windows, tool use, agent loops, and deterministic fallback logic—are acquiring the most valuable skillset of the decade.

This role removes the bureaucracy of legacy corporate tech jobs. You will work on lean, high-velocity teams where your code directly influences how frontier models reason, interact, and perform in real-world production environments.

Secure Your Position in the AI Revolution

Opportunities to work directly with elite AI labs at a senior level are exceptionally rare, and applicant demand for high-compensation remote tech roles remains intense. If you possess the required multi-language background, full-stack mastery, and passion for artificial intelligence, now is the time to make your move.

Responsibilities

  • Full-Stack Application Development: Build and ship robust full-stack applications, services, and internal tooling using modern ecosystems—including Python, Java, Rust, C#, C++, and TypeScript—that thoroughly exercise frontier model capabilities end-to-end.
  • API Integration & Scaffolding: Seamlessly integrate pre-release model APIs into working software, engineering the critical surrounding scaffolding such as custom tool interfaces, evaluation harnesses, and telemetry pipelines.
  • Failure Mode Diagnosis & Feedback: Systematically diagnose and document model and integration failure modes surfaced during development, translating technical observations into clear, structured written feedback for research teams.
  • Rapid Prototyping: Prototype effectively against shifting requirements, delivering clean, working increments with limited up-front specification.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with engineering managers and peer developers to maintain absolute consistency in code quality, modern architecture, and technical documentation.

Qualifications

  • 6+ Years Experience: Demonstrated professional background building and shipping production-grade software at a recognized, top-tier organization, including end-to-end system ownership.
  • Multi-Language Mastery: Deep production experience in at least one core language (Python, Java, Rust, C#, or C++), plus demonstrated delivery in a second language across a different ecosystem.
  • Full-Stack Ownership: Hands-on expertise across the entire stack: robust backend service and API design, modern front-end frameworks (React or equivalent), data modeling, and cloud deployment/operations.
  • Rapid Onboarding: Proven ability to plug into an unfamiliar codebase and deliver functional code quickly with minimal ramp-up time.
  • Career Progression & Commitment: Demonstrable upward career trajectory and the availability to engage reliably for 40 hours per week during U.S. weekdays.
  • Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex technical decisions clearly.

Apply now →