Lighting & Cinematography Consultant at Mercor

Lighting & Cinematography Consultant | $60–90/hr | Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY

Join a leading AI lab's GenAI team as a Lighting and Cinematography Consultant, where your deep expertise in light, color, and cinematic storytelling will directly shape the evaluation standards for next-generation AI relighting models. This is a part-time W-2 position employed through Cincinnatus LLC, with placement within a top-tier AI lab's extended workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish Standards: Define criteria for high-quality scene lighting — balancing emotional resonance with physical fidelity — and identify gaps in current evaluation approaches.
• Curate Benchmarks: Select compelling examples of both straightforward and complex lighting scenarios to build meaningful evaluation benchmarks.
• Identify Key Losses: Pinpoint the most critical factors to get right when assessing model outputs.
• Shape the Evaluation Pool: Help define reviewer profiles and rubrics for human assessors evaluating AI-generated lighting.

Core Qualifications

• 7–10 years of professional experience in film, VFX, or the video game industry.
• Proven track record on 2 or more professional films or games.
• Specialization in at least one of: Lighting TD, Look Development Artist, 3D Lighting Artist, or Director of Photography (DP) / Cinematographer.
• Deep understanding of light physics, cinematic illumination, and color science.
• Ability to translate complex visual observations into clear, precise written language.
• Availability for on-site sessions in Playa Vista (Los Angeles), CA or New York, NY once or twice per month.

About the Employer

Cincinnatus LLC is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology firms to place highly skilled professionals in structured, role-based positions. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record, providing W-2 employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance support while embedding employees directly within client teams.

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