Animation Performance Consultant at Mercor

Animation & Acting Performance Consultant | $60–90/hr | Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY

A leading AI lab is seeking an experienced film or animation professional to help shape the evaluation standards for a cutting-edge performance transfer model. This is a part-time, W-2 position employed through Cincinnatus LLC, embedded within an elite GenAI team at the forefront of AI development.

About the Role

The team is building a performance transfer model designed to faithfully carry an actor's timing, emotion, and physical nuance into new AI-generated outputs. Your expertise will define what "good" looks like — and ensure the model honors the craft of performance rather than flattening it.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish evaluation standards: Define clear criteria for emotional resonance and physical fidelity, and identify gaps in current evaluation approaches.
• Curate benchmarks: Identify performances that are easy or difficult to capture, creating meaningful tests for model evaluation.
• Shape the reviewer pool: Help define the ideal expertise profile, rubric, and criteria for human reviewers assessing model outputs at scale.
• Collaborate with subject-matter experts: Work alongside peers to maintain consistency and accuracy across evaluations.

Core Qualifications

• 7–10 years of professional experience in entertainment or animation.
• Proven track record on 2 or more professional film productions.
• Specialization in at least one of: Character Animation, Character Technical Design, Acting Coach/Teacher, or Director of Photography.
• A meticulous eye for micro-expressions, emotional beats, and authentic human performance subtleties.
• Familiarity with AI tools and workflows, including generating visual samples for testing.
• Ability to translate complex visual details into precise, data-ready language.
• Ability to attend on-site sessions in Playa Vista (LA), CA or New York, NY once or twice per month.
• (Optional) Access to a 4K-resolution monitor for pixel-level review.

Employment Details

This role is a structured, part-time W-2 position through Cincinnatus LLC, an enterprise staffing company partnering with leading technology firms. Cincinnatus handles all employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance — placing you directly within the client's internal team for high-impact work.

Cincinnatus is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals.