Lead Assistant Editor

Zambezi’s award-winning, full‑service production studio, FIN Studios, is looking for a technical powerhouse to join our team as a Lead Assistant Editor. This role serves as a key operational driver within our Post‑Production department, acting as the primary point person for the editorial team to ensure a seamless, high‑integrity transition from production through final delivery.

The ideal candidate is a post production specialist who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and can proactively troubleshoot technical hurdles under pressure. In this role, you will contribute to the evolution of our studio processes, executing robust workflows and maintaining the highest quality standards while remaining "hands‑on" with editorial tasks. We are looking for a candidate who helps bridge the gap between traditional post‑production and the future of filmmaking, possessing a keen eye for design and aesthetic continuity, experience supporting 2D/3D animation pipelines and an active interest in implementing Generative AI video and design tools into the studio workflow.

As a technical anchor for our editorial staff, you will ensure project organization is flawless, support the technical growth of junior staff, and keep the FIN Studios pipeline running at peak efficiency.

• Contribute and implement codified post‑production processes across all departments, including Editorial, Sound, Color and VFX.
• Provide proactive and responsive technical support for the editorial team. Serve as the first line of defense for troubleshooting hardware/software crashes, NLE issues and server connectivity.
• Assist in maintaining server organization (NAS), drive health and cloud‑based collaboration tools. Ensure the team is equipped with necessary software, plugins and hardware.
• Execute high‑level Assistant Editor tasks, including complex project setups with challenging production media and organizational tasks in all aspects of the post‑production pipeline, from initial project setup, media ingest, and asset management while providing editorial support.
• Quality assurance for the output of Assistant Editors; ensure all ingest, organization and delivery tasks strictly adhere to technical standards; serve as the final QC layer for all junior‑level project files.
• Coordinate and manage project assets across cloud and on‑premise servers. Oversee the end‑to‑end management of data, from ingest to final archive.
• Serve as the technical expert and point of support for the finishing process (prep for Color, VFX, and Sound Mix), proactively troubleshooting and resolving issues during high‑stakes conforms, to ensure every export meets 100% accuracy for broadcast and digital specifications.
• Coordinate the technical setup for freelance artists, facilitating access to project structures, assets and security protocols to help ensure a frictionless start.
• Consult with Producers and the Head of Post on technical schedules, providing insight into realistic prep‑to‑delivery timelines and flagging potential resource conflicts.
• Support the evolution of the studio pipeline by testing and implementing emerging technologies, including AI‑assisted tools, new social formats and evolving codec standards to ensure peak technical efficiency.

• 5+ years of experience in Post Production, with a proven track record in an Assistant Editor capacity.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro (including Adobe Team Projects) and ability to navigate DaVinci Resolve to run routine processes.
• Fluent in end‑to‑end workflows, including proxy‑offline/online pipelines, finishing prep for color/mix and high‑volume versioning for social platforms, broadcast commercial delivery and branded content.
• A comprehensive understanding of codecs, frame rates, color spaces and metadata management, paired with experience managing server infrastructure (Lucid Link, NAS).
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana) to track deliverables and maintain team organization.
• A composed, positive attitude with the ability to translate complex technical issues into actionable insights for non‑technical Producers and Clients.

Our benefits package includes 100% covered medical, dental and vision insurance, an open PTO policy to encourage rest and inspiration, 401(k) matching and monthly stipends for both wellness and technology to ensure you have the tools you need to thrive. The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000. Exactly where a prospective employee will be paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, the candidate’s depth of experience and qualifications in relation to the job description and the actual job duties of the role.

While this range reflects the expectations as laid out in the description, we are often open to a wide variety of profiles to find the right candidate for Zambezi.