Engine and Tools Programming Intern – Undergraduate

Insomniac; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Insomniac Games in Burbank, CA, is seeking an Engine and Tools Programming Intern (Undergraduate) to gain hands-on experience developing the game engine technology that powers our titles.

You’ll work with experienced programmers using C++ to design, build, and optimize runtime and tools components, with opportunities to explore tools development, animation, or rendering during a 12-week internship.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in CS, CG, or related field.
• Proficiency in C++.
• Experience with game engines or development patterns.
• Strong debugging skills and analytical thinking.
• Collaborative and communicative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop game engine technology with real-time performance focus.
• Build efficient low-level systems to support pipelines and workflows.
• Create tools for content creators to develop assets.
• Maintain and improve engine systems for performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with production teams to address technical challenges.
• Document technical implementations to support ongoing development.
• Explore new engine tech and industry trends.

Skills

C++

Game engines

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or Computer Graphics

Job description

Engine and Tools Programming Intern - Undergraduate

United States, Burbank, CA

Role Summary:

Join the engineering team at Insomniac Games and gain hands‑on experience developing the game engine technology that supports the creation of our games.

As an Engine Programmer Intern, you'll work alongside experienced programmers to design, develop, and improve the runtime and tools components of Insomniac’s engine technology. You'll primarily use C++ to build efficient systems, improve performance, and create tools that help content creators develop game assets.

Depending on your interests and expertise, you'll have opportunities to explore tools development, animation, low-level engine architecture, or rendering. This internship offers practical experience with real‑time game engine development, technical problem-solving, and collaboration with production teams while learning how engine technology supports game development.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Design and develop game engine technology with guidance from team leads, focusing on real‑time performance and usability.
• Build efficient low-level systems that support higher‑level pipelines and game development workflows.
• Design and implement tools that help content creators develop and manage game assets.
• Maintain and improve existing engine systems to enhance functionality, performance, and reliability.
• Explore the capabilities and limitations of specific game platform hardware to better understand how it affects engine development.
• Collaborate with production teams to identify technical challenges, troubleshoot issues, and develop practical solutions.
• Investigate and respond to bug reports, feature requests, and questions related to engine technology.
• Document technical implementation details to support collaboration and ongoing development.
• Explore technological developments in the game industry and learn how new approaches can support engine development.

What We’re Looking For:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as C++.
• Experience with game engines or game development patterns.
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve technical issues.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with artists and programmers.
• Interest in learning about emerging game development technologies and staying informed about industry trends.
• Students with expected graduation between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university. Undergraduate
• Able to work during one of the following periods: May 17th - August 6th or June 14th - September 3rd . Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.
• Must be available for the entire 12-week internship period.

At this time, SIE will only consider applicants who are authorized to work for any employer in the United States and who will not require work visa sponsorship from SIE now or in the future to maintain their authorization to work in the United States.

Our intern positions offer a fixed hourly pay rate. Please note that the pay rate is exclusive to the internship period and may not reflect what pay may look like following the completion of an internship

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job‑related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

Intern Pay Range

$45.75 - $45.75 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

US Voluntary Demographic Question

Voluntary Self-Identification

Our vision at PlayStation is to bring out the best in our global team members by creating a sense of belonging, being a place where they can grow, and ensuring everyone feels valued, heard, and supported so we can push the boundaries of play. Please know that the completion of this form is entirely voluntary. Your personally identifiable information (name, address, etc) will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you choose to provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file for XX time.

Protected Veteran

You are a protected veteran under United States law if any of the following apply to you:

• Disabled Veteran: a veteran of the U.S. military who is entitled to compensation (or who would be entitled to compensation if not for the receipt of military retired pay) under the administration of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and/or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.
• Recently Separated Veteran: a veteran who has discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. military within the last three years.
• Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran: a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, participated in a U.S. military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Disability

Under U.S. law, you are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition.

Identifying yourself as an individual with a disability is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer will be maintained confidentially and will not be seen by selecting officials or anyone else involved in making personnel decisions, nor will it be shared with our accommodations team . Completing the form will not negatively impact you in any way, regardless of whether you have self‑identified in the past.

The application deadline for this role is November 21, 2026