Internship – Physically Based Rendering, Vulkan & Digital Twins (f/m/x)

Carl Zeiss AG; Oberkochen; Hybrid; EUR 12,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship by researchers

Thesis / final project opportunities

Flexible hybrid work model

Access to modern graphics hardware

Job summary

ZEISS Corporate Research is seeking motivated students in computer graphics to contribute to an in-house physically based rendering platform for digital twins. You will work on GPU-accelerated rendering, PBR, and real-time lighting while collaborating with researchers and engineers.

The role offers mentorship from PhD-level experts, opportunities to write a bachelor or master thesis, and a mix of remote and on-site work with access to modern graphics hardware.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in Computer Science, Visual Computing, or a related field.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and software engineering fundamentals.
• Solid understanding of graphics concepts such as rendering pipelines, shaders, lighting, materials, or GPU programming.

Responsibilities

• Developing and extending GPU-accelerated rendering features using Vulkan.
• Implementing physically based rendering (PBR) and material models.
• Designing and optimizing shader pipelines using Slang and modern graphics APIs.
• Investigating advanced rendering techniques such as ray tracing, global illumination, and real-time lighting.
• Developing prototypes and demonstrators for visual digital twin applications.
• Running experiments, benchmarking performance, and evaluating rendering quality.
• Collaborating closely with researchers and engineers to integrate new technologies into ongoing projects.
• Presenting your work and contributing to technology evaluations.

Skills

C++

Graphics programming

Vulkan

Shader pipelines

CUDA

Neural rendering

English communication

Education

Currently enrolled in Computer Science / Visual Computing

Computational Engineering

Physics related studies

Tools

Vulkan

Slang

CUDA

Job description

Shape the Future of Digital Twin Technology at ZEISS At ZEISS Corporate Research, we explore breakthrough technologies that shape future generations of ZEISS products. We are looking for motivated students who are passionate about computer graphics, GPU programming, visual computing, and digital twins to contribute to the development of an in-house physically based rendering platform. You will work on realistic rendering and physics-based simulation technologies that enable highly interactive visual digital twins for future ZEISS applications.

Your Role

• Developing and extending GPU-accelerated rendering features using Vulkan
• Implementing physically based rendering (PBR) and material models
• Designing and optimizing shader pipelines using Slang and modern graphics APIs
• Investigating advanced rendering techniques such as ray tracing, global illumination, and real-time lighting
• Developing prototypes and demonstrators for visual digital twin applications
• Running experiments, benchmarking performance, and evaluating rendering quality
• Collaborating closely with researchers and engineers to integrate new technologies into ongoing projects
• Presenting your work and contributing to technology evaluations

What We Offer

• Work on cutting-edge rendering and digital twin technologies
• Mentorship by experienced researchers and PhD-level experts
• Opportunity to influence future ZEISS products and technology roadmaps
• Access to modern graphics hardware and research environments
• Possibility to continue as a working student for up to two years and/or write your bachelor or master thesis
• Flexible working arrangements with a mix of remote and on-site work

Your Profile

• Enrolled in Computer Science, Visual Computing, Computer Graphics, Computational Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Strong programming skills in C++ and software engineering fundamentals
• Solid understanding of computer graphics concepts such as rendering pipelines, shaders, lighting, materials, or GPU programming
• Interest in real-time rendering, physically based rendering, ray tracing, digital twins, simulation, or graphics systems
• Experience with Vulkan, Slang, or CUDA or related technologies is beneficial
• Experience with neural rendering techniques such as Gaussian splatting is beneficial
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams
• Good English communication skills

Nice to Have

• Personal rendering projects
• Graphics-related coursework
• Open-source contributions
• GitHub portfolio or demo projects
• Students who have built their own rendering engine, game engine components, GPU applications, shaders, or graphics research prototypes are especially encouraged to apply.

Sounds exciting? Then become part of #teamZEISS and help us shape the future!

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team: Selina Safradin Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That's just what our employees are doing every single day - in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together. Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow. Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.