CUDA Engineering Expert
Mercor is seeking GPU kernel optimization experts to contribute to a project with a leading AI lab. Applicant pay shown: $80 - $100 / hour.
- Platform
- Mercor
- Fit category
- Software engineering
- Remote/location
- Remote
- Pay
- Firm hourly pay: $80 - $100 / hour
- Eligibility
- Remote, work authorization mentioned
- Difficulty
- Selective
- Last reviewed
- Jul 1, 2026
Current application
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What this role involves
Mercor is seeking GPU kernel optimization experts to contribute to a project with a leading AI lab. This opportunity is designed for freelancers with strong C++ skills, practical GPU programming experience, and the ability to improve kernel performance using profiler-guided analysis. You'll help evaluate, optimize, and reason about GPU kernels across modern hardware environments. This is a contract-based opportunity for specialists who enjoy squeezing performance out of modern GPU architectures.
Requirements
- Available to work at least 20 hrs/wk
- Fluent in core C++ features through C++17
- Working knowledge of Python and Git
- Fluent in at least one GPU programming model, such as CUDA, HIP, Slang, HLSL, GLSL, or related kernel programming
- At least 1 year of professional or graduate-level research experience working with GPUs
- Strong understanding of GPU profiler performance metrics and how to use them to optimize kernels
- Ability to optimize GPU kernels without needing deep prior context on every algorithm
- Experience with CUDA, HIP, CUDA C++ Core Libraries, inline PTX assembly, or tensor core-level optimization is a plus
- Experience optimizing kernels for NVIDIA Blackwell hardware is a plus
- Familiarity with NSight Compute is a plus
- Prior experience with GPU hardware organizations such as NVIDIA, AMD, or Qualcomm is a plus
- Open-source contributions related to GPU kernel optimization are a plus
Best for
- Experienced technical specialists
- Applicants who can show practical project evidence
- Engineers comfortable with role-specific assessments
Skip this if...
- You need H1-B or STEM OPT support and the live listing says that is not supported
- You need guaranteed acceptance, guaranteed pay, or guaranteed hours
- You are not willing to complete Mercor's application or assessment process
Application tips
- Prepare concise evidence of the specialized experience the role asks for before starting the assessment flow.
- Submit your resume or relevant technical background to get started
- Qualified applicants may be asked to complete a brief technical assessment or submit additional information
- Verify the live Mercor listing details before applying because availability, pay, and requirements can change.
- Review the application steps shown in Mercor so you know which resume, interview, form, or work-authorization items may be reused across roles.