Senior Cinematographer (Video Production)

Location: San Francisco; on-site. Must be based in or able to work on-site in San Francisco, with flexibility for travel and long shoot days.

Salary: $150,000–$180,000 USD annually, plus equity. USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions; international salaries are set according to the local market.

Company

Perplexity is a technology product company developing a visual brand across product and people-focused content.

What you will do

• Define and evolve Perplexity’s cinematographic language with the Creative Director and Video Lead, establishing repeatable approaches for lighting, lensing, composition, movement, and color.
• Shoot and light candid office moments, executive interviews, product demos, social content, events, documentary stories, and other day-to-day content.
• Lead cinematography for brand films, campaigns, partnerships, and launches, scaling from solo work with a minimal kit to small or full camera and lighting crews.
• Own camera, lighting, and movement decisions from creative development through capture, including packages, tests, tech scouts, crew recommendations, and on-set camera and lighting leadership.
• Design, build, and run the in-house studio, including lighting, audio, grip, monitoring, gear purchasing, organization, maintenance, and ready-to-shoot packages.
• Handle color grading in DaVinci Resolve and support media management, selects, stringouts, and light edits when turnaround is tight.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience as a cinematographer or DP across branded, commercial, documentary, and interview work.
• A standout reel demonstrating visual authorship, lighting craft, camera movement, and an eye for honest, unscripted moments.
• A strong point of view combined with the sensitivity to work within and strengthen an existing brand.
• Deep command of camera systems, lenses, exposure, color pipelines, lighting, grip, and on-set monitoring.
• Hands-on ability to build a camera, shape light, operate, troubleshoot, and lead a crew.
• Judgment to create premium images under real constraints, either solo with a small kit or while leading a full production.
• Strong pre-production instincts for turning creative ideas into technically sound, right-sized plans.
• Experience briefing and leading freelance crews and vendors on set and managing professional production equipment.
• Working proficiency in DaVinci Resolve for color grading, selects, and light edits.
• Collaborative, low-ego approach with the ability to bring strong opinions, take direction, and solve problems with partners.
• Ability to move quickly in an ambiguous, high-output environment without compromising craft, safety, or footage.
• Based in or able to work on-site in San Francisco, with flexibility for travel and long shoot days.

Nice to have

• A strong Bay Area and Los Angeles network of camera, lighting, grip, sound, production, and rental partners.
• Experience in an in-house brand studio at a technology or consumer company.
• Strong documentary instincts and experience working with founders, executives, talent, or non-professional performers.
• Experience with multi-camera interviews, live events, tabletop or product cinematography, motion-control systems, or virtual production.
• Color-grading experience and a strong understanding of how capture decisions carry through finishing and delivery.

Culture & Benefits

• Close collaboration with the Creative Director, Video Lead, Video Producer, Brand Lead, designers, motion designers, Growth, Comms, Product Marketing, and external production partners.
• Producers and the Video Lead handle crewing, budgets, schedules, contracts, and logistics so the role can focus on production and craft.
• Full-time U.S. employees receive equity, health, dental, vision, retirement, fitness, commuter, and dependent care benefits.
• Full-time employees outside the U.S. receive benefits tailored to their region of residence.