Senior Acting & Animation Consultant - AI Performance Evaluation

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge research 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 developing a cutting-edge performance transfer model designed to faithfully retain human performance — capturing every nuance, emotion, and detail of an actor's original performance and translating it seamlessly to a new output. The team's philosophy is that AI should augment and honor performance, not replace the human element. We're seeking senior film and animation industry experts — character animators, character technical designers, acting teachers/coaches, and directors of photography — to help define evaluation standards, critique current frameworks, and shape the rater pool used to assess model outputs. This is a part-time advisory engagement based in Playa Vista, CA or New York, NY, with travel to the office once or twice per month.

This is a part-time 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

• Establish evaluation standards — define precise criteria for determining when a performance has been "successfully captured" in terms of emotional resonance and physical fidelity.
• Critique existing evaluation rubrics and pinpoint gaps in how current model outputs are being assessed.
• Curate benchmarks — identify and define prime examples of "excellent" or "hard-to-capture" performances that the model should be tested against.
• Shape the evaluation pool — help define the rater profile, expertise mix, and rubric needed to evaluate model outputs at scale.
• Collaborate with other subject matter experts to ensure consistency and accuracy in evaluation data.

3. Core Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in the entertainment or animation industry at recognized studios, productions, or institutions.
• Proven track record on 2+ professional films, animated features, or major theater productions.
• Specialization in at least one of: Character Animation (focused on human/character performance, not environments, scenes, or objects), Character Technical Design, Acting Teacher or Coach (Film or Theater), or Director of Photography (DP).
• A meticulous eye for micro-expressions, emotional beats, and the subtleties that make a human performance feel authentic.
• Ability to come on-site in Playa Vista, CA or New York, NY for in-person working sessions once or twice per month.
• Demonstrable career progression.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to articulate creative and craft-based judgments clearly.

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.