Social Media Editor(Reels & Shorts)

Mumbai (On-site) | Full-Time | 6 working days

About the Company:

Creator Engine is a post-production company that builds broadcast-grade content for creators, studios, and brands. We work across short-form social media - Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook vertical content - and we hold every project to the same standard regardless of format or client.

At Creator Engine, every project is an opportunity to think like a creative partner. We want editors who go beyond cutting footage and actively shape hooks, retention, and payoff that perform natively on short-form platforms. Our work runs on ownership, sharp storytelling instincts, and the ability to make content that earns attention and keeps it.

About the Role:

The format will change. The questions don't.

Hook. Payoff. Retention. Repeatability. Every piece of footage that arrives on your desk gets put through the same filters - whether it's a challenge shoot, a podcast clip, a talking head, or something you've never edited before. Your job is not just to cut. It's to think first, then cut.

You watch content the way most people don't. Not passively - analytically. Reels, Shorts across formats, niches, and markets. Why did this reach 4 million views Where exactly is the hook When does the payoff land and why does it work What would make this format repeatable That's not a morning ritual. It's how you consume everything, all the time. Your screen time is high - and it's spent on the right things. The references you bring to the table are international. Top-tier creators, formats breaking through globally, aesthetics that reflect where the industry actually is.

When footage arrives, you don't open your editing software first. You ask what the hook is, what keeps someone watching past three seconds, and whether there's a clear path to the payoff in what you've been given. Those questions go into the brief, into the conversation with the Creative Producer, before a single cut is made.

Then you edit. Every cut, every piece of on-screen text, every music choice is either earning the viewer's attention or losing it. You know which. You deliver the cut, flag what's working and what isn't, and take direction without losing the thread of why the edit was built the way it was.

Between projects, you're watching whatever just broke through on Shorts or Reels - reading why people shared it, what the re-watch mechanic was, whether the format can be lifted and applied to what CE is making. You bring that into the next brief without being asked.

If you're looking for rigid workflows, fixed instructions, or a just tell me what to do approach, this isn't the right fit.

What You'll Actually Do

• Take full editorial ownership of short-form projects - Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook vertical videos for global creators, partner companies, and client shows
• Build maximum retention into every edit by identifying the hook, distilling the strongest story, and cutting everything that isn't earning its place
• Make confident judgement calls on pacing, structure, and emotional beats when briefs evolve or footage is imperfect
• Actively contribute to story architecture and platform-native storytelling - bringing hook and payoff thinking into briefs and reviews, not just into the timeline
• Own your creative decisions and be ready to explain them clearly to Creative Producers and partners when needed
• Identify what's performing globally across formats and bring that intelligence into CE's work proactively

You're expected to have opinions.

You're expected to explain them clearly.

You're also expected to stay open and adaptable.

This Role May Not Be for You If

• You think about hook and payoff only when you're in the edit, not before
• Your references are mostly local - if the content you consume daily doesn't extend beyond Indian creators, this isn't the right fit yet
• You can say a video has good energy but can't explain specifically what editorial decision created it
• You prioritise speed over storytelling and thought
• You prefer to just edit what's given and move on
• You're uncomfortable with feedback, discussion, or ambiguity

You'll Thrive Here If

• You already think like a Creative Producer, even if your title has always been editor
• You can watch any video that broke through and explain precisely why - not vaguely, but frame by frame: the hook, the retention mechanic, the payoff timing
• You know how to make a format repeatable - not just execute it once
• Your scroll is intentional: you're watching international creators across formats and building a mental library of what's working and why
• You understand short-form platforms as storytelling systems, not just video upload sites
• You deeply care about narrative integrity and real audience experience

Skills & Experience

• Strong experience editing short-form vertical content across Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Videos
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro and generative AI tools - Higgsfield, Eleven Labs, Runway ML, Midjourney, Gemini, ChatGPT, or similar
• Solid storytelling instincts with a clear understanding of hooks, retention mechanics, and platform-specific payoff
• Ability and willingness to conduct necessary research on guests or topics, understand relevant pop culture references, and use them effectively to strengthen storytelling and audience engagement.
• Comfort working with imperfect footage and fast-changing briefs
• Practical understanding of sound design, motion design, and short-form delivery workflows
• Knowledge of YouTube engagement data, analytics, and Meta analytics is a strong advantage.

(These are baseline requirements. What will truly differentiate you is creative production mindset, ownership, and culture fit.)

How to Apply

• We only consider applications submitted through the Google Form
• Incomplete applications or those submitted via email or LinkedIn Easy Apply will not be reviewed.

Why Join Us

• Get mentored by global post-production veterans
• Opportunity to work on high-profile international digital content
• A work environment that rewards creative thinking and ownership
• Exposure to post-production techniques and workflows at the leading edge of short-form
• Real growth opportunities in creative editorial roles

Please read our Culture Memo before applying.

We hire for judgement and ownership before tools or years of experience.