Viral Short-Form Video Editor (The Velocity Engineer)

THIS IS NOT A STANDARD VIDEO EDITING JOB.

We are not looking for someone who can “edit videos,” sync audio to B-roll, or add trending transitions. We are looking for a Velocity Engineer—a rare breed of editor who doesn’t just execute; they architect viral moments.
Our agency is a high-performance content growth team responsible for delivering a baseline of 10,000,000+ monthly views per client, consistently. We don’t hope for virality; we engineer it. Our editors are the tactical executors of this machine, wielding the craft of pacing, retention psychology, and platform-native editing to turn raw footage into scroll-stopping, view-generating content weapons.

This is not a training ground. This is the major leagues. We only hire editors who have already proven they can create viral short-form content at scale. If the videos you’ve personally edited haven’t collectively generated tens of millions of views across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, this role is not for you.

The Mission: Your Role as a Velocity Engineer
You are the hands that build the virality machine. You will be tasked with editing high-velocity, high-volume short-form content (15-90 seconds) designed for one purpose: maximum retention, explosive reach, and algorithmic favor.

Core Responsibilities:
Viral Editing Execution: You will edit 20-40+ short-form videos per week across TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook, engineering every frame, cut, and transition for maximum viewer retention and platform distribution.
The 3-Second Hook Mastery: You will obsessively craft the first 0-3 seconds of every video to stop the scroll dead. You understand that virality is won or lost in the opening frame.

Retention Architecture: You will strategically pace every video using rapid cuts, pattern interrupts, visual hooks, text overlays, sound design, and motion graphics to hold attention for every single second of the video’s runtime.
Platform-Native Editing: You will edit content that feels native to each platform. You know the difference between a TikTok edit, a Reel edit, and a YouTube Short edit—and you execute each with precision.

B-Roll Storytelling: You will transform simple prompts, scripts, or raw ideas into visually engaging content by masterfully weaving together stock footage, B-roll, screen recordings, and AI-generated assets into cohesive, compelling narratives.
Trend Integration & Speed: You will monitor trending audio, effects, and editing styles in real-time and integrate them into client content at lightning speed, often within hours of a trend emerging.

High-Volume Output Without Quality Loss: You will maintain relentless publishing velocity, editing multiple videos per day while preserving the strategic integrity and viral potential of every piece.
Data-Informed Iteration: You will analyze performance data (avg. watch time, retention graphs, hook drop-off) and use that intelligence to iterate and improve your editing approach in real-time.

Required Experience & Skills: The Non-Negotiables
We are looking for a proven assassin, not a beginner with potential. You must possess:
1. Documented Proof of Viral Scale
A verifiable portfolio demonstrating that videos you personally edited have collectively generated 30,000,000+ total views across short-form platforms. We will require proof: links to accounts, timestamps, creator testimonials, or analytics screenshots.
2. Exceptional Visual Taste & Performance Intuition
You have a strong visual taste and an innate understanding of what performs in short-form content. You can look at a frame and instantly know if it will stop the scroll. You understand the visual language of Reels, TikTok, and Shorts—and you speak it fluently.
3. Mastery of Pacing, Timing, and Flow
You possess excellent pacing, timing, and flow instincts. You know exactly when to cut, when to hold a shot for tension, and when to speed up for energy. Your editing rhythm is hypnotic and keeps viewers locked in.
4. B-Roll Transformation Ability
You have a proven ability to turn simple prompts or scripts into visually engaging B-roll content. You can take a basic concept and elevate it through smart sourcing and sequencing of stock footage, screen recordings, product shots, lifestyle B-roll, and AI-generated assets.
5. Technical Mastery & Tool Proficiency
Expert-level proficiency with short-form editing tools:
CapCut (essential for platform-native mobile editing styles)
Adobe Premiere Pro (primary professional editing software)
After Effects (motion graphics, text animations, visual effects)
DaVinci Resolve (color grading, advanced editing)
Comfortable working with stock libraries, B-roll databases, screen recordings, and AI-generated visual assets
Sound design, audio mixing, and music synchronization
Subtitle/caption styling that enhances retention (not just accessibility)
6. Platform-Native Visual Language
You know how to keep videos clean, modern, and native to the feed—not over-edited or gimmicky. You understand the delicate balance between engaging and overwhelming. Your edits feel like they belong in the user’s feed, not like an ad or corporate content.
7. Strong Compositional Eye
You have a strong sense of composition, motion, and visual hierarchy. You understand how the eye moves through a frame, how to direct attention, and how to use negative space, color contrast, and movement to guide the viewer’s focus.
8. Retention Psychology Expertise
You don’t just “make it look cool.” You understand the neuroscience of attention: how to use visual pacing, audio layering, curiosity gaps, and pattern interrupts to hold a viewer’s attention hostage.
9. Platform Algorithm Fluency
You have an intuitive, battle-tested understanding of what the TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts algorithms reward. You know how editing choices (CTR-optimized thumbnails, hook styles, video length, pacing) directly impact algorithmic distribution.
10. The Eye for Virality
You can watch 10 videos and instantly identify which one will go viral and why. You see patterns others miss. You have an instinctive feel for what “works” before the data even comes in.
11. Brand Consistency & Adaptability
You can follow brand guidelines while maintaining visual consistency across videos. You adapt your editing style to match different brand voices, tones, and aesthetics without losing your viral edge.
12. Speed, Responsiveness & Iteration Agility
You are fast. You can edit a 60-second viral short in under 60-90 minutes without sacrificing quality. You’re responsive to feedback and able to iterate quickly—often turning around revisions within hours, not days.
13. Organized Workflow & File Management
You maintain an organized workflow with excellent file and version management. You use clear naming conventions, organized project files, and efficient systems that allow for rapid collaboration and seamless handoffs.
14. Storytelling Instincts
You understand narrative structure, emotional pacing, and how to build a story arc in 30 seconds. You can take raw, unstructured footage and find the story hidden inside it.
15. Trend Awareness & Adaptation
You live on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. You don’t just watch; you study. You know what’s trending today, what’s emerging tomorrow, and what’s about to die.
16. Collaborative Velocity
You work seamlessly with strategists, on-screen talent, and creative directors. You take strategic direction and execute it with speed, precision, and creative enhancement.

The 3-Stage Proving Gauntlet: Prove Your Craft
To ensure we only bring on Maverick-level talent, every qualified applicant must pass our mandatory 3-Stage Proving Gauntlet. No exceptions.
Stage 1: Portfolio Evidence
Submit a portfolio containing:
Minimum 10 videos you personally edited that collectively generated 30M+ views
Links to the original posts (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts) with visible view counts
A breakdown document stating:
Your specific role in each video
Total views per video
Platform and niche
Asset types used (original footage, stock, B-roll, screen recordings, AI-generated)
Any notable performance metrics (watch time %, virality coefficient, etc.)
Red Flag: If you can’t provide verifiable proof of views, your application will be immediately disqualified.

Stage 2: The Viral Edit Test
You will be given:
A simple script or prompt (2-3 sentences describing the video concept)
Minimal or no original footage (you’ll need to source stock, B-roll, and assets)
A trending audio clip
A target platform (TikTok, Reels, or Shorts)
A strategic objective (e.g., “maximize watch time,” “drive profile visits,” “optimize for shares”)
Your Task:
Create a 30-60 second short-form video designed to go viral on the specified platform using stock footage, B-roll, screen recordings, and/or AI-generated assets.
Deadline: 48 hours from receipt of prompt.
What We’re Evaluating:
Hook strength (0-3 second retention)
Pacing and rhythm (cuts per second, visual flow)
Platform-native style and feel
Audio synchronization and sound design
Text overlay strategy and readability
Visual composition and hierarchy
Ability to transform a simple concept into engaging visuals
Asset sourcing and integration quality
Creativity and “eye for virality”
Overall retention architecture
Clean, modern, feed-native aesthetic

Stage 3: The Live Breakdown Interview
If you pass the first two stages, you will be invited to a live video interview. In this session:
Part A: Viral Deconstruction (15 minutes)
We will show you 3 viral short-form videos (not yours). For each one, you must:
Identify the specific editing techniques used to maximize retention
Explain the pacing decisions and when/why cuts were made
Analyze the visual composition and motion hierarchy
Explain why the algorithm pushed this video (technical and psychological reasons)
Pinpoint the exact moments that held attention and why
Identify what type of assets were used (stock, original, B-roll, etc.)
Critique what could have been done better
Part B: Live Edit Challenge (30 minutes)
You will be given a simple prompt and asked to execute a live speed edit on a screen share using stock or provided assets. We want to see:
Your editing workflow and software proficiency
How you think through creative decisions in real-time
Your speed and efficiency under pressure
Your file organization and project management
How you source and integrate B-roll/stock assets on the fly

What We Offer: The Maverick Advantage
This is not a “gig.” This is a career-defining opportunity to work with elite brands, world-class strategists, and a team that operates at the highest level of the short-form content game.
? Competitive Compensation: Performance-based pay structure with bonuses tied to viral results
? High-Volume Portfolio Growth: Edit for multiple high-profile clients and rapidly build a world-class portfolio
? Elite Team Collaboration: Work alongside top-tier strategists, creators, and growth specialists
? Cutting-Edge Tools & Resources: Access to premium software, stock footage libraries, AI asset tools, and trend intelligence platforms
? Remote Flexibility: Work from anywhere, as long as you deliver results
? Skill Acceleration: Constant exposure to new trends, feedback loops, and performance data to sharpen your craft

Are You In?
If you read this and felt a surge of adrenaline—not intimidation—you might be the Velocity Engineer we’re looking for. This is a rare opportunity to join an elite team that operates at the highest level of the viral content creation game.
Apply now and prepare to prove it.

How to Apply:
Submit the following to ----------
Subject Line: “Velocity Engineer Application – [Your Name]”
Portfolio Link (Google Drive, Dropbox, or portfolio site) with verifiable view counts
A 2-3 minute video introduction answering:
Why you’re the editor we’re looking for
Your editing philosophy for short-form viral content
The single most viral video you’ve ever edited and why it worked
Your approach to sourcing and integrating B-roll/stock assets
Applications without verifiable proof of viral results will not be reviewed.