Cinematic Specialist - Fully Remote

Mercor; New York (NY); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cincinnatus LLC is seeking an experienced cinematographer and lighting specialist to join a leading AI lab’s GenAI team in New York. This full-time role defines camera and lighting standards for generative video, tests outputs, and helps shape reviewer guidelines.

Requirements include 7+ years in film/TV or virtual production, credits on multiple projects, a meticulous eye for optics and color, and reliable 40-hour availability on weekdays.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in film, television or virtual production.
• Credits on 2+ professional films.
• Background in DP/Cinematographer; Gaffer/Chief Lighting Technician; Camera Operator/DIT; or Virtual Production/CG Lighting & Camera Layout.
• Meticulous eye for lens optics, sensor behavior, lighting, exposure and color spaces.
• Hands-on use of generative image/video tools (Runway, Midjourney, Sora, Kling).
• Nice to have: calibrated 4K display for pixel-level review.

Responsibilities

• Set the quality bar: Define standards for optics, sensor behavior, camera motion, lighting motivation and exposure; critique current evaluations; build taxonomy of failure modes.
• Curate benchmarks: Generate and curate examples of camera and lighting setups; test early model capabilities against them.
• Critique model outputs: Review generated footage and write precise notes on lensing, movement, lighting and exposure.
• Shape reviewer pool and captions: Define reviewer vetting/calibration; ensure captions describe optical/lighting detail accurately.
• Collaborate with other experts to keep evaluations consistent and accurate.

Skills

Years of experience

Cinematography expertise

Written communication

Optics and color

Reliability 40h/wk

Tools

Runway

Midjourney

Sora

Kling

Job description

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 AI models.

1. Overview

A leading AI lab is building generative video models that aim to capture true cinematic fidelity: lens choices, sensor behavior, camera motion, motivated lighting, exposure and color, carried faithfully into a new output. We're looking for experienced cinematographers and camera and lighting specialists to help define what excellent camera and lighting work looks like, and to judge where the models get it right or wrong. This is a full-time role of approximately 40 hours per week.

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

• Set the quality bar: Define clear standards for optics, sensor behavior, camera motion, lighting motivation and exposure, critique current evaluations, and help build a taxonomy of the ways generated footage fails.
• Curate benchmarks: Identify, generate and curate strong examples of excellent and genuinely hard camera and lighting setups, and test early model capabilities against them.
• Critique model outputs: Review generated footage shot by shot and write precise, actionable notes on lensing, movement, lighting and exposure.
• Shape the reviewer pool and captions: Help define how human reviewers are vetted and calibrated, and review captioning guidelines so optical and lighting detail is described accurately.
• Collaborate with other experts to keep evaluations consistent and accurate.

3. Core Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in film, television or virtual production.
• Credits on 2+ professional films.
• A background in at least one of: Director of Photography / Cinematographer (film, TV or commercial); Gaffer / Chief Lighting Technician; Camera Operator, 1st AC or Digital Imaging Technician (DIT); or Virtual Production / CG Lighting & Camera Layout Supervisor.
• A meticulous eye for lens optics, sensor behavior, motivated lighting, exposure and color spaces.
• Hands‑on use of generative image and video tools (e.g., Runway, Midjourney, Sora, Kling) to create your own samples for testing and comparison.
• Nice to have: reliable access to a calibrated 4K display for pixel‑level review.
• Ability to engage reliably for approximately 40 hours/week during weekdays.
• Strong written communication and the ability to turn optical and lighting detail into precise language for captions and evaluation templates.

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.