3D Generalist: Modeling, Rigging & Animation (AI Evaluation)

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 generative AI models.

1. Overview

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team and help build foundational AI models from the ground up. We're seeking a talented 3D Generalist with deep, hands-on studio experience in modeling, rigging and animation, Blender-first and comfortable scripting it with Python, to bring real 3D production judgment and elevate the quality of our AI training data. This is a full-time commitment of 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

• Guide research teams to close knowledge gaps and improve AI model performance in 3D modeling, texturing, rigging and animation, and 3D product modeling.
• Design challenging, real-world 3D tasks drawn from studio and client workflows, and produce reference deliverables in editable source formats such as .blend, .fbx, .glb and, where CAD is involved, .step or .stl.
• Evaluate AI-generated 3D assets and give clear, written feedback, catching problems with topology, UVs, materials, scale, skin weights, rig behavior and animation loops.
• Develop guidelines, rubrics and quality checks for 3D work, including scripted mesh, UV and rig checks in Blender Python.
• Collaborate with other subject matter experts to ensure consistency and accuracy in training data.

3. Core Qualifications

• 5+ years of shipped 3D work at a game studio, animation or VFX studio, product-visualization or e-commerce 3D team, or creative agency (for example Riot, Ubisoft, Epic, Blizzard, Pixar, Blue Zoo, Framestore, The Mill, Buck, Wayfair, IKEA, Nike, Apple, Threekit); crowd rating, data labeling and personal projects do not count.
• Daily, production-level Blender, with Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, Substance Painter or Houdini as secondary tools; you can open a stranger's .blend and diagnose it quickly.
• Python scripting in Blender (bpy): you have written scripts or add-ons that batch, validate, rig, export or otherwise automate production work, and can share them.
• Clean quad topology, retopology of sculpts or scans, UV unwrapping and packing, baking from high to low, and PBR metal-rough texturing at 4K.
• Skeletal rigging and skinning: joint placement, weight painting, IK/FK controls, shape keys, and looping animation exported as .glb or .fbx that plays correctly in a real-time engine or web viewer.
• Fluency with editable source formats: .blend, .fbx, .glb/.gltf, .usd/.usdz, .obj, and CAD exchange formats (.step, .stl, .3dm, .iges); CAD modeling in Rhino, Fusion 360, SolidWorks or FreeCAD is a plus.
• Hands-on use of generative 3D and image tools (for example Meshy, Tripo, Hunyuan3D, Rodin, Luma Genie, Midjourney, Flux) in real work, with a clear view of what their output still gets wrong and the judgment to tell a strong result from a plausible-looking weak one.
• A public portfolio or reel of shipped work on ArtStation, Sketchfab or a personal site, plus a code link for scripts where possible; you will be asked to walk through it.
• Ability to engage reliably for at least 40 hours/week during weekdays.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to explain creative decisions 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.