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Video Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lemonlight

Video Editor

Marina, CA · On-site

About the Video Editor position We are looking for a talented video editor to assemble recorded footage into a finished project that matches director's vision and is suitable for broadcasting.

Lemonlight

Video Editor

Marina, CA · On-site

About the Video Editor position We are looking for a talented video editor to assemble recorded footage into a finished project that matches director's vision and is suitable for broadcasting.

Lemonlight

Video Editor

Marina, CA

About the Video Editor position We are looking for a talented video editor to assemble recorded footage into a finished project that matches director's vision and is suitable for broadcasting.

PlanetScale

Video Producer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You are highly self-directed and operational. You can take a loose idea, turn it into a plan, get ... Video is one of the biggest ways we can make that community even stronger, and as our first ...

New

PlanetScale

Video Producer

San Francisco, CA

You are highly self-directed and operational. You can take a loose idea, turn it into a plan, get ... Video is one of the biggest ways we can make that community even stronger, and as our first ...

New

Nvidia

Senior Video Producer

Santa Clara, CA

Develop, produce, direct, film, and edit high-quality video content for NVIDIA audiences ... Translate complex technical topics into clear, engaging, and visually compelling stories. * Lead in ...

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All JobsVideo JobsVideo Director JobsVideo Director Jobs in California

Video Director information

See California salary details

$19.1K

$58.1K

$116K

How much do video director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for video director in California is $58,128.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39,658.00 and $68,056.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a video director do?

A Video Director is responsible for overseeing the creative and technical aspects of video production. They work closely with producers, writers, camera operators, and editors to bring a project’s vision to life, guiding actors and crew to achieve the desired look and feel. Their duties include interpreting scripts, planning shots, managing on-set logistics, and making key decisions on visual style and pacing. Video Directors play a crucial role in ensuring the final product aligns with the project's goals and maintains high production quality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a video director?

To thrive as a Video Director, you need a strong background in visual storytelling, film production, and creative direction, often supported by a degree in film, media, or a related field. Mastery of editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, camera equipment, and familiarity with industry-standard workflows is crucial. Exceptional leadership, communication, and time management skills set standout directors apart by enabling them to guide teams and translate creative visions into reality. These skills ensure the creation of compelling content, efficient production processes, and effective collaboration across all stages of video projects.

What are the most common challenges a video director faces when leading a production team, and how can they be addressed?

A Video Director often faces challenges such as balancing creative vision with budget constraints, managing tight shooting schedules, and ensuring effective communication among diverse team members. To address these, it's important to maintain clear, proactive communication, set realistic expectations early, and collaborate closely with department leads like producers, cinematographers, and editors. Flexibility and problem-solving skills are crucial for adapting to unforeseen changes on set, and successful directors foster a collaborative, respectful environment to keep the team motivated and focused on shared goals.

What is the difference between Video Director vs Video Producer?

AspectVideo DirectorVideo Producer
Primary RoleOversees creative vision, directs filming, and guides actors/crewManages production logistics, budgeting, and scheduling
Required SkillsCreative vision, leadership, communicationProject management, organization, budgeting
Work EnvironmentOn set during filming, creative meetingsPre-production planning, coordination, post-production
Industry UsageFilm, television, commercialsFilm, television, online content production

While both roles are essential in video production, the Video Director focuses on the creative aspects and guiding the artistic vision during filming. The Video Producer handles the logistical, financial, and organizational tasks to ensure the project stays on track. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the video industry.

How do you become a video director?

To become a video director, individuals typically gain experience by working in related roles such as videographer or assistant director, develop strong skills in storytelling, editing, and camera operation, and often pursue a degree or training in film, media production, or related fields. Building a portfolio of work and networking within the industry are also important steps toward securing directing opportunities.

How much do video directors make?

Video directors' salaries vary based on experience, industry, and project scope. According to industry data, the median annual salary for a video director is around $70,000, with some earning over $100,000 for high-profile or commercial work. Many directors also earn additional income through freelance projects and royalties.

What are the most commonly searched types of Video jobs in California?

The most popular types of Video jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Video Director jobs in California?

For Video Director jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Video Director jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Video Director jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Video Director jobs?

Cities in California with the most Video Director job openings:

Video Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,128 per year, or $27.9 per hour.

Video AI Engineer

Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

San Jose, CA • On-site

$137K - $275K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

What you can expect
As a Video AI Engineer, you'll enhance video codecs, video generation, and real-time 3D reconstruction to improve video quality, immersion, and performance in Zoom products. You will work across our stack, developing software ranging from Web Server to business application layers for our distributed, cloud-hosted backend. Working alongside leading experts in the field, you'll deliver happiness to our users and grow your knowledge base every day.
About the Team
With eight specialized departments, the engineering team functions as a highly collaborative, diverse powerhouse. Each department mission is to deliver seamless and innovative communication solutions. These range from software development and machine learning to quality assurance teams that work to create and maintain Zoom's user-friendly interfaces and robust infrastructure. The team continues to push the boundaries of communication technology, bringing people together regardless of their physical distance.
Responsibilities
  • Building and developing video and generative video processing applications on both desktop and mobile systems.
  • Participating in research and performance evaluation of video processing, video generation, and 3D reconstruction algorithms.
  • Designing and developing algorithms in Zoom's video and 3D reconstruction processing pipelines at both module and system levels.
  • Implementing video, neural rendering, and 3D Gaussian Splatting algorithms with modular, well-organized, and production-ready code.
  • Optimizing video, generative, and 3D reconstruction algorithms to achieve real-time performance on corresponding platforms.
  • Customizing, integrating, and shipping deep learning models-including video generative models and 3D neural rendering models-across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
  • Setting up test environments, developing test tools, and designing unit tests for runtime verification of video and 3D pipeline components.

What we're looking for
  • Hold a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field; or a Masters degree with 3 years of relevant experience; or 7 years of equivalent professional experience.
  • Have experience with C/C++ or Objective-C, and Python, talking avatar/head/portrait(with released projects and top conference papers).
  • Have hands-on experience with video generation or video diffusion models, neural rendering techniques (e.g., NeRF, 3D Gaussian Splatting), and 3D reconstruction systems.
  • Have hands-on experience with machine learning techniques such as generative models, diffusion models, discriminative models, or transfer learning.
  • Possess experience with or a solid understanding of at least one deepfake detection approach. This includes biometric analysis-based methods, vision-language model (VLM)-based techniques, interactive behavior analysis, or multimodal signal modeling that leverages visual, temporal, and audio cues.
  • Have familiarity with multi-threaded programming and communication mechanisms.
  • Have understanding of multimedia stream data processing flows, ideally including 3D scene or point cloud pipelines.

Salary Range or On Target Earnings:
Minimum:
$137,700.00
Maximum:
$275,400.00
In addition to the base salary and/or OTE listed Zoom has a Total Direct Compensation philosophy that takes into consideration; base salary, bonus and equity value.
Note: Starting pay will be based on a number of factors and commensurate with qualifications & experience.
We also have a location based compensation structure; there may be a different range for candidates in this and other locations
At Zoom, we offer a window of at least 5 days for you to apply because we believe in giving you every opportunity. Below is the potential closing date, just in case you want to mark it on your calendar. We look forward to receiving your application!
Anticipated Position Close Date:
08/31/26
Ways of Working
Our structured hybrid approach is centered around our offices and remote work environments. The work style of each role, Hybrid, Remote, or In-Person is indicated in the job description/posting.
Benefits
As part of our award-winning workplace culture and commitment to delivering happiness, our benefits program offers a variety of perks, benefits, and options to help employees maintain their physical, mental, emotional, and financial health; support work-life balance; and contribute to their community in meaningful ways. Click Learn for more information.
About Us
Zoomies help people stay connected so they can get more done together. We set out to build the best collaboration platform for the enterprise, and today help people communicate better with products like Zoom Contact Center, Zoom Phone, Zoom Events, Zoom Apps, Zoom Rooms, and Zoom Webinars.
We're problem-solvers, working at a fast pace to design solutions with our customers and users in mind. Find room to grow with opportunities to stretch your skills and advance your career in a collaborative, growth-focused environment.
Our Commitment
At Zoom, we believe great work happens when people feel supported and empowered. We're committed to fair hiring practices that ensure every candidate is evaluated based on skills, experience, and potential. If you require an accommodation during the hiring process, let us know-we're here to support you at every step.
If you need assistance navigating the interview process due to a medical disability, please submit an Accommodations Request Form and someone from our team will reach out soon. This form is solely for applicants who require an accommodation due to a qualifying medical disability. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed.
Our interviews are supported by BrightHire, a tool that helps us create a consistent and thoughtful interview experience and may include recordings. Please refer to our candidate privacy statement for more information of how we use your data.

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