Source Security Specialist
About this role
About the work
Mercor is assembling a panel of radiological safety experts to red-team frontier AI models. The goal is to test whether a model can correctly judge the misuse potential of a technical request, answering legitimate questions fully while refusing genuinely dangerous ones.
You will:
- Write challenging single-turn prompts in your domain, labelled across three levels: benign, dual-use, and adversarial.
- Evaluate the responses that come back against a defined policy standard, and judge whether each was handled correctly.
- Write the reference answer, what a correct response looks like, and the technical reasoning for why.
This domain lives on the dual-use line more than most. The same isotope underpins cancer therapy and industrial radiography; the same shielding calculation protects a worker and conceals a source. A model that refuses a routine dose question is failing as badly as one that answers a question it shouldn't. Drawing that line reliably is why we need practitioners rather than generalists.
Background we're looking for
We're looking for people who have assessed how Category 1 and 2 sources actually get stolen, shielded or moved, the security and vulnerability side of a licensed programme, not just its paperwork. What matters most is being able to tell a routine professional question from one that's fishing for something else: the same shielding calculation protects a worker and conceals a source. You will be writing prompts that sit exactly on that line, then judging whether the model held it.
Examples of relevant backgrounds (ideally with red-teaming experience):
- Security or vulnerability assessment of licensed facilities holding Category 1 and 2 sources
- Physical protection design and review, detect, delay, assess and respond; insider threat considerations
- Source recovery, consolidation or security-upgrade programmes for disused and orphan sources
- Regulatory security inspection and compliance, 10 CFR 37 or national equivalents
- Transport security for radioactive material, routing, escort, tracking and chain of custody
What this role demands beyond technical depth
This is writing-intensive work. Every judgment you make needs a written rationale that a non-specialist can follow. Prior technical writing, published research, or expert witness experience is a strong signal; please include a sample or link. You will also be reading and writing about misuse scenarios in your field for sustained periods. We brief experts on this in advance, and you can pause or step away at any point without penalty.
Before you apply
Your work here will not involve, and must not draw on, classified or export-controlled information, or anything covered by an NDA or prepublication review obligation. If you hold such obligations you may still be a good fit; tell us in your application and we will scope the work accordingly.
Details
- Pay: $65 to $75 per task
- Company: Neon
- Location: Remote
- Eligible locations: Worldwide (no restriction)
- Platform: Mercor
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Source Security Specialist role pay?
Mercor lists this Source Security Specialist position at $65 to $75 per task. Pay is set by Mercor and your exact offer depends on your experience and the scope of the work.
Is the Source Security Specialist role remote, and can I work from home?
Yes. Mercor lists this Source Security Specialist position as fully remote, so you can work from home or anywhere with a reliable computer and internet connection.
Is Source Security Specialist full time or part time?
Mercor lists this as a contractor remote role. Full details are in the role description above.
Which countries can apply for Source Security Specialist?
Mercor lists this role with no country restriction. Check the Mercor listing for current requirements before applying.
Do I need experience to apply for Source Security Specialist?
The requirements are listed in the role description above. Mercor screens applicants through its own process, and relevant skills or credentials strengthen your application.
How do I apply for the Source Security Specialist role, and is it legit?
Use the apply button on this page to go straight to the official Mercor listing. Mercor is a real hiring marketplace and applying is free. No legitimate employer charges you to apply.
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