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…
- Field
- Generalist
- Where
- United States
- Commitment
- full time
- Hours
- up to 40/week
- Openings
- 20
- Employment
- W-2 employee of Cincinnatus LLC, per the listing
- Posted
- 5 days ago
How this pay compares
The title points to rating and reviewing ai output: judging a model's answers or code against guidelines, such as which of two is better or whether one is correct and safe. What each kind of AI training work pays
At $95/hr (the midpoint of $70 to $120), this role pays more than 80% of the 206 open generalist roles with a listed pay range, above the median of $60.
Among platforms with 10 or more priced generalist roles, Alignerr has the highest median ($80/hr across 17 roles) and micro1 the lowest ($50/hr across 54).
Mercor roles that closed since late October stayed listed a median of 39 days (136 roles). Mercor posted this one 5 days ago.
Computed from 2,746 open roles we track across Mercor, micro1, Handshake AI, Alignerr, Appen and OpenTrain AI, refreshed daily. Midpoints of listed ranges; “up to” ceilings are left out of medians.
What you would earn at this rate
Per week, before tax
$3,800
Per month, if the work is steady
$16,467
- Tax
- The listing describes a W-2 employee role, so the employer withholds US tax from each paycheck.
Assumes paid hours only; unpaid assessments, onboarding and gaps between projects lower the real figure. Full take-home calculator · Track what you actually earn
Open generalist roles on each platform
The same kind of work, priced on every platform we track, with the best-paid open role on each.
| Platform | Open | Median | Best-paid open role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alignerr | 17 | $80/hr | Frontier Data Lead – Client Success & AI Partnerships$85-120/hr |
| Mercorthis role | 22 | $63/hr | Luxury Automotive Strategy Expert$300-350/hr |
| OpenTrain AI | 115 | $61/hr | Contract Manager and Negotiator (English)$150/hr |
| micro1 | 60 | $50/hr | Member of Technical Staff, Enterprise AI$300k-700k/yr |
| Handshake AI | 24 | up to $88/hr | Intelligence Expert (Bachelor's, Master's and PhDs) - AI TrainerUp to $200/hr |
“Up to” rows list only ceilings, so their median is a maximum, not comparable with the range midpoints above them.
All 238 open generalist roles →The full listing
As posted on Mercor. See the original
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.
From applying to your first payment on Mercor
- 1
Apply to this listing
Apply on Mercor with your resume.
- 2
AI interview
Take Mercor's recorded AI interview, about 20 minutes. A completed interview carries over to other listings that use the same one.
- 3
Work
Hourly work is counted in weeks that run Saturday to Friday.
- 4
First payment
Mercor pays each Wednesday around noon Pacific through Stripe (or Wise). Stripe holds a first payout for 7 days, and standard transfers take up to 5 business days to reach your bank.
Sources: Mercor talent docs: AI interview, Mercor talent docs: payments
Full Mercor profile: watch-outs and the public record →Pay history
Mercor has listed this role at $70-120/hr since Nov 6, 2026 with no change.
Across Mercor's generalist roles, the median listed pay was $55/hr on Nov 1, 2026 (20 roles) and is $63/hr as of Nov 11, 2026 (21 roles).
What workers report about Mercor
Anonymous reports from people who applied or worked there: whether they got work, what they were paid and how fast.
Other generalist roles
- Luxury Automotive Strategy ExpertMercor$300-350/hr
- Member of Technical Staff, Enterprise AImicro1$300k-700k/yr
- Open Source GitHub Maintainermicro1$150-300/hr
- Member of Technical Staff, Infrastructuremicro1$320k-500k/yr
- Strategic Project Leadmicro1$300k-500k/yr
- Intelligence Expert (Bachelor's, Master's and PhDs) - AI TrainerHandshake AIUp to $200/hr