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Mercor · Software & coding

Embedded Systems / Kernel Engineer

Listed on Mercor as “Embedded Systems / Kernel Engineer”

$100-$150/hrRemoteContractPaid in USD
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How this rate compares

This listing

$100–$150 per hour

Typical in Software & coding

$70–$120 per hour

Within the typical range

Typical: the middle of the lowest and highest rates posted by 36 listings in this category on Seoulstart, in US dollars.

What this actually is

You review AI-generated code, rank model outputs against each other, write prompts that test edge cases, and provide expert feedback that gets used to train coding models. Not shipping production software. The platform title (Embedded Systems / Kernel Engineer) reflects the rate band and the expertise required, not the day-to-day work.

How Mercor picks people

  1. Upload your CV and answer the role's written questions.
  2. Do a video interview with Mercor's AI interviewer. Most take about 20 minutes, in English unless the role says otherwise.
  3. Some roles add a skills test. A test you pass once counts for similar roles.
  4. The project team reviews your results and sends offers to the people it picks.

Before you start

  • Take Mercor's free practice interview first. It does not count toward any application.
  • Use Chrome on a computer with a camera and microphone, in a quiet room.
  • You can retake an official interview up to 3 times, but hiring teams see how many times you retook it.

Not every applicant gets an offer. Prepare well for the interview.

How to prepare for the Mercor interview

Source: Mercor's help pages. talent.docs.mercor.com

Can you do this on your visa?

F-2 / F-4 / F-5 / F-6: open. E-1 to E-7: needs concurrent-employment permit. D-2 / D-4 students: S-3 permit, 20 hr/week cap. D-10 / D-8: case by case.

Korean tax on USD income

First 5 years in Korea: foreign-source income only taxed if remitted into Korea. After year 5: worldwide income. Full tax guide.

Original posting from Mercor

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team to be at the core of the AI revolution, where your expertise fuels the development of the most advanced Large Language Models.

1\. Overview

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team and help build foundational AI models from the ground up. We're seeking talented Embedded Systems, Firmware, Kernel and Chip Design Engineers with hands-on expertise in low-level C/C++, operating system internals, firmware or hardware design (RTL) to bring deep systems-level expertise and elevate the quality of our AI training data.

This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC, with the opportunity to be placed at a leading AI Lab as part of their extended workforce.

2\. Key Responsibilities

  • Guide research and engineering teams to close knowledge gaps and improve AI model performance in embedded systems and kernel engineering, firmware and device drivers, and hardware design and verification topics.
  • Design challenging, domain-relevant tasks, and write accurate and well-structured solutions to embedded systems and kernel engineering problems.
  • Evaluate embedded systems and kernel engineering tasks and solutions and provide clear, written technical feedback.
  • Design and evaluate low-level tasks covering memory management, concurrency, device drivers, RTOS behavior and hardware description languages.
  • Develop rubrics to assess correctness, safety and performance of systems-level and hardware design solutions.
  • Collaborate with other subject matter experts to ensure consistency and accuracy in training data.

3\. Core Qualifications

  • 4+ years of dedicated professional experience in embedded systems, firmware, OS kernel or chip design at a recognized, top-tier organization (semiconductor, OS, devices, automotive or aerospace).
  • Strong production C and/or C++ for resource-constrained or performance-critical systems.
  • Hands-on experience in at least one of: Linux kernel or driver development, RTOS and firmware, or RTL design and verification (Verilog, SystemVerilog, VHDL, UVM).
  • Demonstrable career progression.
  • Ability to engage reliably for at least 20 hours/week during weekdays.
  • Strong written communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical decisions clearly.

About Cincinnatus LLC:

Cincinnatus LLC is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology companies to source and employ highly skilled professionals for contingent and contract-based opportunities. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record for these engagements, providing W-2 employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance, while placing employees directly within client teams to work on high-impact initiatives.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Cincinnatus is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Quoted from Mercor's public listing on 2026-11-13. We don't edit platform copy; honest framing is in the title and the “what this actually is” block above.

Mercor pays Seoulstart a fee if it hires you through this link. Your pay is the same.