Animator Co-op (Summer 2027 - 8-months - Sports Tech )

Electronic Arts; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Electronic Arts in Vancouver is seeking an undergraduate Animator Co-op for an 8-month internship starting in May 2027. You will be mentored by our Senior Technical Animator and collaborate with experienced animators, engineers, and ML experts to shape the future of character animation.

Join the EA SPORTS Tech A-Team to gain hands-on experience with Frostbite, refine motion capture, and help build animation systems while learning pipelines that power multiple EA titles.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Animation or related technical discipline.
• Entry-level experience; internships, coursework, or personal projects in animation.
• Experience creating high-quality character animation.
• Solid foundation in character animation principles and body mechanics.
• Familiarity with Autodesk Maya or MotionBuilder.
• Interest in Python scripting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with EA’s Frostbite Engine.
• Refine and polish motion capture animation to AAA game quality.
• Learn to build modern animation systems such as state machines, motion matching, and node based programming.
• Collaborate with engineers and UX designers to design and refine animation workflows/pipelines.
• Assist with tool adoption, debugging, and workflow feedback across EA teams.

Skills

Character animation

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Animation degree (pursuing)

Tools

Autodesk Maya

MotionBuilder

Python scripting

Job description

Role ID

216233

Worker Type

Intern - Temporary Employee

Studio/Department

Work Model

Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

EA SPORTS is one of the most iconic brands in entertainment – connecting hundreds of millions around the world to the sports they love through a portfolio of industry-leading video games.

EA’s Character Animation Research Team (known as the A-Team) is a small team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. We’re committed to advancing the field of Character Animation. Our vision of the future is one where video-games characters not only look believable, but move convincingly, as well. Our technology is shared across multiple games in EA including FC, Madden, NHL, skate.™, Battlefront, Dragon Age and more.

We're looking for an undergraduate Animator Co-op student to join our EA SPORTS Tech A-Team for an 8-month internship beginning in May 2027. You'll receive mentorship from our Senior Technical Animator and collaborate directly with experienced animators, engineers, and ML experts to help shape the future of character animation.

Unlike a traditional game team animation role, this internship offers the unique opportunity to work directly with the team building the technologies that power animation across EA. You'll gain hands-on experience with these tools and systems, develop an understanding of how they're created and improved, and build valuable skills that can translate to virtually any game team.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with EA’s proprietary game engine, the Frostbite Engine.
• Refine and polish motion capture animation to AAA game quality.
• Learn to build modern animation systems such as state machines, motion matching, and node based programming.
• Brainstorm and collaborate side-by-side with engineers and UX designers to design and refine animation workflows/pipelines.
• Learn how partner game teams work across EA by assisting with tool adoption, debugging, and workflow feedback.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds who meet the core requirements to apply, even if you do not meet every qualification.

Requirements

• You must be legally authorized to work in Canada for the entire internship - visa sponsorship is not available.
• You must be enrolled in an accredited degree program and return to school for at least one semester following your internship with EA.
• You must be graduating in May 2028 or later , including the time needed to complete your internship (for example, you must be returning to school for at least 1 semester following your co-op with EA).
• Relocation support may be available if you meet specific eligibility criteria.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Animation or a related technical discipline.
• Entry-level experience; prior internship, coursework, or personal projects in animation.
• Experience creating high-quality character animation.
• Solid foundation in character animation principles and body mechanics.
• Familiarity with industry-standard 3D software tools such as Autodesk Maya, MotionBuilder, or equivalent.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to quickly identify and resolve issues.
• Interest in motion capture data, rigging, or scripting (Python/DCC tools) is a plus.

Preferred Technical Skills (Nice-to-Haves)

• Python scripting.
• Node-based programming.
• Interest in vibe-coding and using AI agents in their work.

Pay Transparency - North America

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.