VIDEO EDITOR FOR AI & TECH YOUTUBE CHANNEL. FULL-TIME, LONG-TERM POSITION

VIDEO EDITOR FOR AI & TECH YOUTUBE CHANNEL. FULL-TIME, LONG-TERM POSITION

We're a growing YouTube channel covering AI, automation, robotics, and emerging technology. We're hiring 2 dedicated video editors for full-time, long-term positions.

This is not a side gig or one-off freelance project. We're building something real, and we're looking for editors who want to grow with the channel long-term. If you're early in your career, hungry to build a serious portfolio, and ready to commit to consistent, high-volume work, this is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a channel that's scaling fast. The editors who prove themselves here will have a clear path to expanded roles, higher pay, and real ownership over production.


WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Editing 3 long-form YouTube videos per week (9 to 22 minutes each) plus 1 vertical short (30 to 35 seconds). That's 4 deliverables per week. Each long-form video follows a detailed Editor's Table, a scene-by-scene visual blueprint that tells you exactly what goes on screen at every timecode. Every shot type, every B-roll asset, every visual composition, every documentation link is mapped out for you. You'll never have to guess what the vision is. Your job is to execute it at a high level with creative energy, polished visuals, and dynamic pacing.

Each video requires a visual change every 5 seconds. Zooms, cuts, motion graphics, text animations, transitions, split-screen compositions, kinetic text ---------- nts, and data overlays. This is fast-paced, high-retention editing designed to keep viewers locked in.

The vertical short is pulled from the best clip across your 3 long-form videos. After probation, this increases to 1 short per video (3 vertical shorts per week).


BREAKING NEWS PRIORITY

We also cover breaking AI news. When a major story drops, you may need to reprioritize your current workload and turn around a breaking news video as fast as possible. This means pausing whatever you're working on and editing the urgent video first. Speed and flexibility matter here. If you can't handle shifting priorities on short notice, this role isn't for you.


WHAT'S PROVIDED VS. WHAT YOU BUILD

Provided by us:

All A-roll footage (AI avatar talking head). You do NOT film or source A-roll.

An Editor's Handbook, your permanent reference guide covering every production standard, shot type definition, B-roll category, branded glitch placement, hook rules, avatar cleanup pipeline, and quality benchmarks. This is your go-to document for how things work on this channel. You'll receive it on day one.

A detailed Editor's Table for every video. A scene-by-scene visual blueprint with exact timecodes, shot types, visual assignments, B-roll tags, Director's Notes, and full spoken dialogue for every scene. You'll never have to guess what the vision is.

Documentation links and screenshot instructions. You capture the screenshots.

Stock footage keywords. You pull the clips from Envato Elements (access included).

After Effects composition directives. You build the compositions from detailed descriptions specifying elements, layout, colors, and animation.

YouTube source video search terms. You source real footage clips using WayinVideo (wayin.ai), a tool that lets you search within YouTube videos to find specific ---------- nts.

Quote card text and sources. You design and place them.

Full-screen kinetic text lines. You create bold, impactful typography ---------- nts.

Digital Twin Intro clips. Pre-recorded footage for the channel's signature intro sequence that appears at the start of every video. You'll receive the raw clips and build the intro following the Editor's Table direction.

What you build:

You're not sourcing content or coming up with ideas. Everything is mapped out for you in the Editor's Table, and the Editor's Handbook is your permanent reference for standards. But you ARE building the visuals, compositions, and motion graphics that bring it to life. Your creative judgment matters. How you cut, how you pace, how you build visual energy between scenes is your craft. The Editor's Table is the blueprint. You bring it to life.


THE 40/60 SPLIT

About 40% of each video features the AI avatar on screen. The remaining 60% is full-screen B-roll: custom After Effects compositions, documentation screenshots, source video footage, stock footage, quote cards, and kinetic text. A visual change must happen every 5 seconds. No static frames.


AVATAR SHOT TYPES YOU'LL WORK WITH

You'll work with five shot types that rotate throughout every video:

Full Frame. Pure avatar, direct to camera. Maximum 5 to 6 seconds per clip. Used sparingly at scene endings for emotional payoff.

Split Panel. Avatar on one side (~40% of frame), data/documentation/visual on the other (~60%). This is the primary delivery mode. The panel content changes every 5 seconds.

With Overlay. Avatar visible but kinetic text, stat bars, or lower thirds appear on screen. The viewer's eye is drawn to the data. Maximum 2 per scene.

Zoom Punch. Quick 1 to 2 second tight crop cut on the avatar's face for punchlines and pivots. Target 6 to 8 per video minimum.

PIP Float. Small circular avatar cutout (~30 to 35% of frame) floating over full-screen source footage. Features an orbiting glow trail around the circle edge. Used when real YouTube footage plays underneath the avatar's voice. Target 5 to 7 per video. Can run longer than other shot types (8 to 15 seconds).


B-ROLL TYPES YOU'LL WORK WITH

Every visual in the Editor's Table is tagged with one of six categories:

B.R1, Documentation: Full-screen screenshot of a source page, article, report, or data dashboard. You open the provided link, screenshot the relevant section, and drop it in. This is proof, showing the viewer real evidence.

B.R2, Authority Quote: Quote card overlay attributed to a specific person. For recognizable public figures, include a photo alongside the quote. 0 to 3 per video.

B.R3, AE Composition: Custom After Effects motion graphics. Headline stacks, timelines, comparison charts, data visualizations, ecosystem maps. You build these from detailed written directives. Maximum 8 per video.

B.R4, Stock Footage: Atmospheric footage from Envato Elements. Used for mood and energy, not proof. Short clips only, 3 to 5 seconds maximum.

B.R5, Kinetic Text: Full-screen animated text ---------- nts for key phrases and thesis statements, or lower third name/title/stat bars. Maximum 12 per video.

B.R6a, Source Video: Real YouTube footage sourced via WayinVideo. The Editor's Table provides search terms. You search YouTube for the title, paste the URL into WayinVideo, use "Find ---------- nts" with the provided keywords, select the best clip, and trim. Visual only, always mute source audio. Minimum 8 per video. A visible channel credit ---------- must appear on screen for every source video clip.


BRANDED GLITCH (SOUND IDENTITY)

Every video features 4 branded glitches, a signature chromatic RGB split with a digital glitch sound effect, lasting 0.3 seconds. These are the ONLY sound effects in the entire video. No additional SFX on stat reveals, transitions, scene changes, or anywhere else. The branded glitch is the sound identity of the channel. Placement is specified in the Editor's Table.


LIVE-ACTION VIDEOS (OCCASIONAL)

The majority of your work will be AI avatar videos. However, there will be occasions where you'll edit videos featuring the real Francis on camera. For example, hands-on product reviews, studio walkthroughs, or special topic deep dives. These videos still follow the same B-roll editing standards (documentation screenshots, source footage, AE compositions, kinetic text) but with real human footage as the A-roll instead of the avatar. The AI cleanup pipeline does not apply to these videos. Frequency will vary, but expect this as part of the role.


AI AVATAR CLEANUP (CRITICAL)

The AI avatar footage contains synthesis artifacts (temporal flickering, face-body boundary distortion, micro-jitter, and compression ghosting) that are visible on large screens and monitors. Before any editing begins, all avatar A-roll must go through this cleanup pipeline:

1. After Effects, Neat Video: Apply to all avatar A-roll. Reduces temporal flickering and compression artifacts. This is the primary tool for cleaning AI avatar footage.

2. After Effects, RSMB (ReelSmart Motion Blur): Add motion blur between frames. Smooths the micro-jitter that causes the "dizzy" feeling on AI faces.

3. After Effects, Mocha Face Tracking: Track the face region, apply subtle skin noise reduction to face only. Do not over-smooth. Keep it natural.

4. After Effects, Face-Body Seam Cleanup: Gaussian blur 0.5 to 1px on the boundary where AI face meets body/neck. Hides the synthesis seam.

5. Premiere Pro, Color Grade: Consistent Lumetri color grade across all avatar shots. Match color temperature with B-roll.

6. Premiere Pro, Film Grain Overlay: Organic film grain at 5 to 10% opacity over entire video. Grain masks digital artifacts and makes footage feel natural.

You must also be able to identify and mask unnatural AI movements, such as awkward hand gestures or slow, robotic eye blinks, through strategic cuts, zooms, B-roll placement, and motion graphics. The goal is to never let the viewer notice something is off.

If you've worked with AI-generated footage before (HeyGen, Synthesia, or similar), that's a big plus. If not, you must be willing to learn these techniques quickly.


REQUIRED SKILLS

These are non-negotiable. If you can't demonstrate these in your portfolio or test project, this role isn't the right fit.

Adobe Premiere Pro. Confident, daily-driver level.

Adobe After Effects. Must be comfortable building custom compositions from written directives (animated diagrams, comparison layouts, data visualizations, framework graphics, headline stacks, timelines).

Split-screen composition. Building and managing dynamic split-panel layouts where content changes every 5 seconds.

Motion graphics and kinetic text. Bold full-screen typography, animated stat callouts, lower thirds, text reveals.

Color grading. Lumetri color correction, skin tone matching, consistent grade across mixed footage sources.

Noise reduction and artifact cleanup. Neat Video or equivalent temporal noise reduction experience.

Face tracking. Mocha or similar tool for selective face region processing.

AI footage awareness. Ability to spot and fix synthesis artifacts (ghosting, jitter, face-body seam, unnatural movement) through cleanup tools and strategic editing choices.


OTHER REQUIREMENTS

A computer capable of handling 4K video editing.
Reliable internet and consistent availability.
Strong attention to detail.
Ability to meet weekly deadlines (3 long-form videos + 1 short per week).
Comfortable using Asana for task management and team communication. All assignments, feedback, and deadlines are managed through Asana.


COMPENSATION AND GROWTH

$1,000 USD per month paid bi-weekly ($500 every two weeks). This is probationary pay for the first 90 days.

The $1,000 monthly rate is based on delivering all 16 videos per month (12 long-form + 4 shorts). Pay is tied to output. If deliverables are consistently missed or incomplete, compensation will be adjusted accordingly.

We cover the Upwork service fee. You receive the full $1,000.

Guaranteed pay increase after 90 days as long as quality remains high and you pass probation.

Full-time, long-term position with room to grow.

Envato Elements access provided for stock footage and assets.

Entry-level candidates and recent graduates welcome. We value reliability and hunger over years of experience.


POST-PROBATION GROWTH (AFTER 90 DAYS)

This is where things get exciting. After probation, top performers take on expanded responsibilities and higher pay. This includes:

YouTube thumbnail creation (templates and direction provided).
Full YouTube publishing: uploading, metadata, thumbnails, scheduling.
Script development and content creation support.
End-to-end video production ownership.
1 short per video (3 vertical shorts per week, up from 1).

Expanded responsibilities come with increased pay. The more you grow, the more you earn. We want editors who see this as a career path, not just a paycheck.


WORKING WITH US. WHAT TO EXPECT

This is a professional working relationship and we want to be upfront about how things work so there are no surprises.

Revisions and Quality Control:
Every video goes through a review process before publishing. You should expect feedback and revision requests on most edits, especially in the first few months as we align on style and standards. Revisions are a normal part of the workflow, not a sign that something went wrong. If something doesn't meet our quality standards, you'll be asked to fix it before it goes live. The goal is to get better together over time.

Confidentiality:
All scripts, workflows, production systems, visual templates, and content strategies you're exposed to through this role are confidential. You may not share, reproduce, or discuss any internal materials, processes, or unreleased content outside of this working relationship. This applies during and after your time with us.

Work Ownership:
All content you create in this role (edits, compositions, motion graphics, templates, shorts, thumbnails) belongs to the channel. You may not reuse, repurpose, or include any work created for us in your personal portfolio or for other clients without written permission.

Availability and Communication:
You're expected to be reachable during agreed working hours via Asana. All assignments, deadlines, feedback, and revisions are managed through Asana, not email, not DMs. When breaking news hits, same-day communication and turnaround may be required. If you're unavailable for an extended period, advance notice is expected.

Publishing Authorization (Post-Probation):
Once you're granted access to the YouTube channel for publishing, you may only upload, schedule, or modify content that has been explicitly approved. No unauthorized uploads, title changes, description edits, or scheduling adjustments without sign-off.


PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND CONTRACTOR TERMS

This is an independent contractor arrangement through Upwork. This is not an employment relationship and does not include benefits, severance, or employment protections.

During the 90-day probation period, either party may end the arrangement at any time, for any reason, with no notice required.

After probation, we follow a structured feedback process. If quality standards are not being met, deadlines are consistently missed, or communication breaks down, the process is:

1. Verbal feedback identifying the specific issue and what needs to change.
2. Written notice via Asana with a clear improvement timeline.
3. If the issue persists after written notice, the arrangement will be ended.

We are direct about expectations and fair about giving you the chance to improve. That said, certain actions may result in immediate termination without the above process, including but not limited to: breach of confidentiality, unauthorized publishing or modification of channel content, extended unexcused absence without notice, or any conduct that puts the channel's reputation or operations at risk.

We reserve the right to end the arrangement at our discretion. Reasonable notice will be provided whenever possible.

This is designed to be a long-term home. We're not looking to cycle through editors. We want people who grow with us, take ownership, and build something they're proud of. If you bring the work ethic and talent, we'll bring the opportunity, structure, and pay increases to match.


TO APPLY

Link to your portfolio or 2 to 3 sample edits.
Brief description of your editing setup (computer specs, software).
Your availability and timezone.
Short note on why you'd be a good fit.

We're looking for someone reliable, detail-oriented, and excited to grow with a channel focused on cutting-edge AI content. This is a full-time commitment, ideal for someone early in their career looking to grow with the channel and business