Nuclear Security Engineer (Remote, Task-Based)
Listing checked September 15, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
A panel of nuclear materials and safeguards specialists will red-team frontier AI models for Mercor, testing how well a model judges misuse potential. You write single-turn prompts at three levels: benign, dual-use, and adversarial, then judge model replies against a policy standard and draft the reference answer with technical reasoning. The work sits on the dual-use line where a material-balance calculation can close an inspector's account or hide a gap. Expect sustained reading and writing about misuse scenarios, with briefings and freedom to pause without penalty.
What You'll Do8
- 1Craft tough single-turn prompts in nuclear security that span benign, dual-use, and adversarial categories.
- 2Score each model response against a set policy standard and decide whether the model handled the request as intended.
- 3Write reference answers that show the correct reply and explain the technical reasoning behind it.
- 4Identify where a routine professional question crosses into misuse territory, such as a material-accounting query that masks a gap.
- 5Test whether the model answers legitimate questions in full while refusing requests that could enable harm.
- 6Document each judgment in plain language that a non-specialist can follow.
- 7Provide domain context from material control and accountability, physical protection, vulnerability assessment, or insider threat work.
- 8Flag edge cases where a protection assessment or adversary path analysis reveals both defensive and offensive details.
Requirements10
- 1Direct experience with nuclear material control and accountability program design, operation, or assessment at a national laboratory or licensee.
- 2Background in physical protection system engineering, including sensors, barriers, delay, response force, or performance testing.
- 3Track record with vulnerability assessment and adversary path analysis for nuclear facilities.
- 4Work on insider threat or human reliability programs.
- 5Knowledge of nuclear security policy, training, or international assistance programs.
- 6Red-teaming experience, with preference for AI model evaluation panels.
- 7Strong technical writing, published research, or expert witness work, with a writing sample or link.
- 8Ability to separate benign professional questions from adversarial probing in nuclear security.
- 9Comfort reading and writing about misuse scenarios for extended periods.
- 10No reliance on classified, export-controlled, NDA-bound, or prepublication-review material.
Who Should Apply
Candidates with hands-on MC&A, physical protection, or vulnerability assessment work fit best. You need to write clear rationales and separate routine questions from probes that seek harmful detail. The role suits someone who has held responsibility for keeping nuclear material where it belongs, whether at a national lab, licensee, or policy program. People without direct nuclear security practice, or those who cannot share a writing sample, often score low. A common rejection reason is treating every dual-use prompt as dangerous, or missing the line because the candidate lacks red-team experience.
Salary Insight
The source lists a one-time payment of $75 for this task. That figure fits a short, discrete engagement rather than a full project budget, so treat it as pay for a single prompt-and-review assignment. If the panel grows into multiple tasks, ask how the team prices extra work.
Pay and demand for Cybersecurity roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$55/hour
This role
$75 fixed
Most Cybersecurity roles pay $23–$76 per hour.
Based on 46 similar roles that publish pay · 3 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
- 60
- Listed in last 30 days
- 27
- Remote
- 97%
Hiring most right now: Neon (29) · micro1 (16) · AfterQuery (4)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- red teaming37%
- penetration testing32%
- reverse engineering30%
- prompt injection28%
Figures from Cybersecurity roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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Compensation
$75 fixed
Required Skills
Application Tip
Send a short writing sample that walks through a dual-use judgment in nuclear security, such as a material-accounting or vulnerability assessment scenario. Name the exact frameworks you have used, like MC&A, physical protection, or adversary path analysis, and note any red-teaming or expert witness work. Also state upfront whether you hold NDA, export-control, or prepublication obligations so the team can scope tasks.
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