> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2881404-python-engineer-codebase-specialist](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2881404-python-engineer-codebase-specialist). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Python Engineer - Codebase Specialist

- **Company:** Mercor, Inc.
- **Location:** New York, NY, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $161,800.0 - $184,600.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Programming Tools, Python (Programming Language), Software Engineering, Web Application Frameworks, Git, Containerization, Codebase
- **Published:** September 13, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerjet.com/jobad/usedaf6efe3b32e5c04f4c6a16e2e4b220

## About the Role

* 3+ years of professional software engineering experience, with substantial production Python.
 * Demonstrated ability to navigate a large, unfamiliar Python codebase and explain how it behaves at runtime.
 * Fluency in Python internals that matter in real systems: import machinery, descriptors and metaclasses, async and event loops, packaging, and C-extension boundaries.
 * Precise written English: the questions and rubrics you write are the product.
 * Comfortable with git at commit level, containerized environments, and command-line tooling.

Preferred

 * Experience with web frameworks, developer tooling, type checkers, or scientific/numeric libraries is highly relevant.

Compensation & Legal

 * Payment is per approved task; every task is reviewed by a second engineer and a super reviewer before acceptance.

## Description

* Select tasks from a pre-validated pool of Python repositories, each pinned to a specific git commit and arriving with an engineering question, positive and negative rubrics, foils, and a golden solution.
 * Explore the repository until you genuinely understand the subsystem in question, including the relevant PR or issue history.
 * Rewrite the task's question so it defeats frontier coding agents while remaining well-defined and fairly answerable.
 * Adjust rubrics and foils so they reward correct reasoning and reject plausible-but-wrong answers.
 * Run the full validation loop in Studio - Check, Golden, Run, Analyze - and iterate until every stage passes.
 * Document your work in the task README and submit for expert review, addressing reviewer feedback on returned tasks., PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.


## Related Videos

- [Getting to Know Your Legacy (System) with AI-Driven Software Archeology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1437-getting-to-know-your-legacy-system-with-ai-driven-software-archeology)
- [How a Small Team Shrank a Microsoft Monorepo by 94%](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1236-how-a-small-team-shrank-a-microsoft-monorepo-by-94)
- [Containers and Kubernetes made easy: Deep dive into Podman Desktop and new AI capabilities](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1133-containers-and-kubernetes-made-easy-deep-dive-into-podman-desktop-and-new-ai-capabilities)
- [Boost your coding productivity with Github Copilot Agent](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1542-boost-your-coding-productivity-with-github-copilot-agent)
- [Git for Code Reviews](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/429-git-for-code-reviews)
- [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions)

## Related Articles

- [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers)
- [Dev Digest 137 - AI'm not sure about this](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/485-dev-digest-137-ai-m-not-sure-about-this)
- [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)
- [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs)
- [Find a Developer Job: 12 Best Job Sites For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/165-find-a-developer-job-12-best-job-sites-for-developers)
- [13 AI Tools for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/302-13-ai-tools-for-developers)