CUDA Kernel Optimizer - ML Engineer

1) Role Overview

Mercor is engaging advanced CUDA experts who specialize in GPU kernel optimization, performance profiling, and numerical efficiency. These professionals possess a deep mental model of how modern GPU architectures execute deep learning workloads. They are comfortable translating algorithmic concepts into finely tuned kernels that maximize throughput while maintaining correctness and reproducibility,

2) Key Responsibilities

Develop, tune, and benchmark CUDA kernels for tensor and operator workloads.

Optimize for occupancy, memory coalescing, instruction-level parallelism, and warp scheduling.

Profile and diagnose performance bottlenecks using Nsight Systems, Nsight Compute, and comparable tools.

Report performance metrics, analyze speedups, and propose architectural improvements.

Collaborate asynchronously with PyTorch Operator Specialists to integrate kernels into production frameworks.

Produce well-documented, reproducible benchmarks and performance write-ups.

3) Ideal Qualifications

Deep expertise in CUDA programming, GPU architecture, and memory optimization.

Proven ability to achieve quantifiable performance improvements across hardware generations.

Proficiency with mixed precision, Tensor Core usage, and low-level numerical stability considerations.

Familiarity with frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Triton (not required but beneficial).

Strong communication skills and independent problem-solving ability.

Demonstrated open-source, research, or performance benchmarking contributions.

4) More About the Opportunity

Ideal for independent contractors who thrive in performance-critical, systems-level work.

Engagements focus on measurable, high-impact kernel optimizations and scalability studies.

Work is fully remote and asynchronous; deliverables are outcome-driven.

Access to shared benchmarking infrastructure and reproducibility tooling via Mercor support resources.

5) Compensation & Contract Terms

Typical range : $120–$250 / hour , depending on scope, specialization, and results achieved. Payments will be based on accepted task output over flat hourly.

Structured as a contract-based engagement , not an employment relationship.

Compensation tied to measurable deliverables or agreed milestones.

Confidentiality, IP, and NDA terms as defined per engagement.

6) Application Process

Submit a brief overview of prior CUDA optimization experience, profiling results, or performance reports.

Include links to relevant GitHub repos, papers, or benchmarks if available.

Indicate your hourly rate, time availability, and preferred engagement length.

Selected experts may complete a small, paid pilot kernel optimization project

7) About Mercor

Mercor connects domain experts with top AI research and technology organizations through project-based contracts.

Contractors operate independently, with full flexibility over methods, timelines, and tools.

Our mission is to help top engineers and researchers access frontier technical work without rigid employment structures.