Engineering Manager, Applied AI

Engineering ManagerWe're hiring Engineering Managers to lead teams within our Applied AI organization.Applied AI builds systems that directly improve model quality, including evaluation infrastructure, annotation products, and emerging multimodal capabilities. You'll lead a team of engineers, partner with product and research, and help define how Mercor stays at the frontier of AI.You will also build partnerships with leading AI labs and directly contribute to improving the quality of frontier models through data, evaluation, and systems.This role requires high ownership and abstraction: setting direction, driving outcomes, and staying hands-on while leading.What You'll Work OnBuild and scale teamsManage and grow a team of 6–10 engineersCoach and develop high-potential engineersEstablish strong ownership, culture, and execution standardsShape the team: define hiring processes, establish engineering practices, and scale a high-performing team from the ground upDrive Applied AI systems and outcomesDrive insights and methodology behind evaluation systems that benchmark and improve model performanceLead development while driving improvements in data quality, operational efficiency, system stability, and scalabilityScale products that generate high-quality training data and improve human-in-the-loop workflowsOwn technical directionLead system design for complex AI systemsStay close to the technical work and guide engineers through ambiguous problemsTranslate high-level AI goals into clear engineering roadmaps and execution plansOperate across a broad scopePartner with product, research, operations, and external AI labsWork across systems, data insights, and custom partnerships to drive model qualityShape the organizationIntroduce lightweight processes as the organization scalesHire and develop strong engineering talentHelp define engineering management at MercorWhat We're Looking For6–10 years in engineering; 2–3+ years managing teamsStrong background in building scalable systemsAbility to lead in ambiguous environments with sound technical judgmentProven ability to coach engineers and drive executionStrong ownership mindset with pragmatic decision-makingWho Thrives HereWe're looking for engineering leaders who take ownership in ambiguous environments, make pragmatic decisions, and consistently deliver measurable impact.Success MetricsBuild high-performing, well-supported teamsHire and retain strong engineersImprove team velocity and execution qualityContribute to systems that measurably improve model performanceLocationSan Francisco (preferred) or New YorkRelocation assistance will be provided as neededWhy This RoleDirect impact on frontier AI developmentBuild partnerships with leading AI labs and shape how frontier models improveHigh ownership across team, systems, and hiringOpportunity to shape a rapidly scaling organizationWork at the intersection of engineering, product, data, and AI Benefits Bi-annual performance bonus structureGenerous equity grant vested over 4 yearsUp to $15k Relocation bonus$10K housing bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)$1.5K monthly stipend for mealsFree Equinox membership$200 monthly laundry reimbursement$200 monthly personal wellness reimbursementHealth, Dental, Vision insurance