Network Engineering & Simulation Expert — Hephaestus
Mercor • Remote
Education
Not stated
Type
Hourly
Pay
$70-90/hr
Your rate depends on your experience and the task.
Listed
6d ago
Checked
Only apply if this role fits your skills and interests.
About this role
From the Mercor listing
Role Overview
Mercor is seeking experienced network engineers to build and validate technical tasks for AI systems working with enterprise, data-center, and service-provider networks.
The work focuses on executable network configurations, reproducible simulated or emulated topologies, troubleshooting, and measurable verification. Contributors create the network artifacts and reference solutions behind each task and test whether a proposed configuration produces the required behavior.
Key Responsibilities
Design realistic tasks involving routing, switching, network services, segmentation, access policies, redundancy, or performance.
Build reproducible network topologies and device configurations using relevant tools such as containerlab, GNS3, EVE-NG, Mininet, ns-3, FRRouting, or equivalent platforms.
Configure and debug scenarios involving technologies such as BGP, OSPF, VLANs, IPv4/IPv6, DNS, DHCP, NAT, VPNs, or firewalls, within your area of expertise.
Develop automated checks for reachability, route selection, policy enforcement, isolation, convergence, failover, latency, throughput, and packet loss. Use tests of live behavior alongside configuration inspection.
Produce reference configurations, traffic or failure scenarios, and verification scripts; validate both successful and deliberately incorrect cases.
Package topology files, configuration dependencies, scripts, packet captures, and results so another engineer can reproduce the outcome.
Review AI-generated configurations and diagnose the cause of failures. Use coding agents to support automation while independently validating network behavior.
Ideal Qualifications
5+ years of professional network engineering experience, with direct ownership of enterprise, data-center, cloud, or service-provider networks.
Strong hands-on routing, switching, troubleshooting, and network-policy skills.
Experience building network labs, simulations, or emulations and analyzing traffic with tools such as Wireshark, tcpdump, or iperf. Familiarity with every listed platform is not required.
Ability to write and debug Python, shell, Ansible, or comparable automation for repeatable setup and verification.
Sound judgment about protocol behavior, failure modes, measurement limitations, and differences between simulated and production networks.
Clear technical communication. Relevant certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, or JNCIP, and experience with network test automation, are a plus.
Compensation
- Writers: $70–$80/hour.
- Reviewers: $90/hour.
Requirements
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in Generalist
How long hiring takes
On the platforms we refer people to, half of hires came within about 25 days of applying. Time from applying to hire:
Talent pool members
When your profile is a strong match, we can put you forward to Mercor. Set up your profile first if you haven't.
Set up your profile →Typical contract length
Across 10 Mercor Generalist listings we've tracked, contracts typically run about 6.8 weeks. Length varies by project.
Why this role
At $70-90/hr, this Network Engineering & Simulation Expert — Hephaestus role asks you to check AI answers in Generalist the way a colleague in your field would.
Skills and categories
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Common questions
Does it cost money to apply to Mercor?
No, applying to and joining Mercor is free. Mercor charges the client a fee on top of your rate. If anyone asks you to pay to join, treat it as a scam.
Is Mercor for freelancers or full-time contractors?
Mercor places you with one client for a set contract, such as 'Python Tutor for 3 months'. Most roles are steady contract work rather than one-off tasks.
What does task-based AI training work look like?
Short, hands-on tasks such as recording videos, sorting images, rating AI answers or checking data. Most take 5 to 60 minutes each.
Can I choose my own hours?
Usually, yes. You log in when you want, pick up a task, finish it and submit it, with no meetings. Other people work from the same pool of tasks, so some days there may be no work until more is added.
What does Generalist work look like for a Network Engineering & Simulation Expert — Hephaestus?
You check AI answers to Generalist questions, correct their errors and write expert reasoning. As a Network Engineering & Simulation Expert — Hephaestus, you're hired for that judgment, so hands-on Generalist experience matters.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $70-90/hr, an hourly rate. Where you land in the range depends on your background and the assessment. Pay can change after we check the listing, so confirm the rate on the platform's application page.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
Apply opens Mercor's site, where you create an account and follow its sign-up steps.
How soon will I start working after applying to Mercor?
Usually after a few weeks. Applying puts you in Mercor's pool of candidates, and you start once a client, such as an AI lab, picks your profile.