Colorist - Post-Production Specialist

Mercor; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cincinnatus LLC is seeking a senior colorist and post-production specialist to join a cutting-edge GenAI team in Los Angeles. The role focuses on defining quality standards for color, HDR prep, skin tones, and editorial rhythm, with responsibilities to critique model outputs and benchmark progress.

Preferred candidates have 7+ years in post-production, 2+ film credits, and hands-on use of Resolve or Baselight. Full-time W-2 employment with potential lab placement is offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in post-production, color grading and editorial finishing.
• Credits on 2+ professional films.
• Background in Senior DI/Finishing Colorist, or Online Editor/Color Science and Pipeline Specialist (ACES, Rec.709, Rec.2020, P3).
• Meticulous eye for color shifts, skin tones, contrast, banding and editorial rhythm.
• Hands-on use of generative tools to create and finish test visual samples.
• Nice to have: access to a color-accurate 4K/HDR display for pixel-level review.
• Ability to engage reliably for approximately 40 hours/week during weekdays.
• Strong written communication and the ability to turn color and editorial detail into precise language for captions and evaluation templates.

Responsibilities

• Set the quality bar: Define standards for color consistency, skin tones, multi-shot pacing, scene cuts and HDR prep; critique current evaluations; build taxonomy of failures.
• Curate benchmarks: Grade, edit and curate strong examples of color grades and multi-shot edits; test early model capabilities.
• Critique model outputs: Review generated sequences and write precise notes on color shifts, contrast, banding and compression; assess editorial rhythm.
• Shape the reviewer pool and captions: Define how reviewers are vetted and calibrate captions; ensure color/editorial detail is described accurately.
• Collaborate with other experts to keep evaluations consistent and accurate.

Skills

Color grading

Editorial finishing

Post-production

Narrative editing

Generative tools

Tools

DaVinci Resolve

Baselight

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 for theatrical-grade finishing: consistent color across shots, accurate skin tones, multi-shot pacing, clean scene cuts and HDR-ready deliverables. We're looking for experienced colorists, finishing and online editors, narrative editors and post-production specialists to help define what excellent finishing 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 color consistency, skin tones, multi-shot pacing, scene cuts and HDR preparation, critique current evaluations, and help build a taxonomy of the ways generated footage fails.
• Curate benchmarks: Identify, grade, edit and curate strong examples of excellent and genuinely hard color grades and multi-shot edits, and test early model capabilities against them.
• Critique model outputs: Review generated sequences and write precise, actionable notes on color shifts, contrast, banding and compression, and editorial rhythm.
• Shape the reviewer pool and captions: Help define how human reviewers are vetted and calibrated, and review captioning guidelines so color and editorial detail is described accurately.
• Collaborate with other experts to keep evaluations consistent and accurate.

3. Core Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in post-production, color grading and editorial finishing.
• Credits on 2+ professional films.
• A background in at least one of: Senior Digital Intermediate (DI) or Finishing Colorist (Resolve or Baselight, shot matching, HDR and Dolby Vision); Finishing or Online Editor (conform, color pipelines, mastering deliverables); Lead Narrative Film or Television Editor; or Post-Production Supervisor or Color Science and Pipeline Specialist (ACES, Rec.709, Rec.2020, P3).
• A meticulous eye for color shifts, skin tones, contrast, banding and compression, and editorial rhythm.
• Hands-on use of generative tools to create and finish test visual samples.
• Nice to have: reliable access to a color-accurate 4K/HDR display for pixel-level review.
• Ability to engage reliably for approximately 40 hours/week during weekdays.
• Strong written communication and the ability to turn color and editorial 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.