Nuclear Forensics Expert - Safeguards

About the role

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: Forensic Scientist — Nuclear Materials. Type: Contract. Compensation: $65–$75/hour. Location: Remote.

Responsibilities

• Write challenging single-turn prompts in nuclear materials, labeled as benign, dual-use, and adversarial.
• Evaluate AI model responses against a defined policy standard to ensure correct handling.
• Write reference answers with technical reasoning for correct responses.
• Collaborate with experts to draw reliable lines between routine and dangerous questions.
• Work independently and asynchronously to improve AI model performance.

Qualifications

• Experience in nuclear forensics casework or international exercise participation.
• Expertise in radiochemical and mass-spectrometric analysis.
• Knowledge of detection and interdiction technology.
• Familiarity with material signature libraries and attribution methodology.
• Experience in pre- or post-detonation forensics research.

Requirements

• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to provide written rationales.
• Experience in technical writing, published research, or as an expert witness.
• Ability to read and write about misuse scenarios in nuclear materials.