Gameplay Engineer Intern

Electronic Arts Ltd; West Chatsworth (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Electronic Arts in California is seeking an enthusiastic Gameplay Engineering Intern to join our team, building and supporting high-quality, player-facing gameplay features for a live-service multiplayer game. You will work under mentoring to prototype, implement, and polish mechanics that shape moment-to-moment gameplay.

This paid, full-time summer internship offers 12 weeks, mentorship from senior engineers, collaboration with designers and artists, and exposure to production-grade code and

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or equivalent degree program in Computer Science, Game Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Solid understanding of core computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, memory management, debugging).
• Good working knowledge of modern C++ or C.
• Hands-on experience developing games (personal projects, game jams, capstones, or modding).
• Collaborative attitude and clear communication within a team.
• Passion for multiplayer, live-service games.

Responsibilities

• Prototype, implement, and polish player-facing gameplay mechanics.
• Maintain existing gameplay systems with a focus on readability, performance, and stability in a multiplayer setting.
• Investigate, reproduce, and resolve gameplay bugs across a large codebase.
• Collaborate with artists, designers, and QA to ship features.
• Participate in technical design discussions, stand-ups, and code reviews.
• Document new systems and contribute to tooling and workflows.

Skills

CS fundamentals

C++ proficiency

Game development experience

Collaboration & communication

Multiplayer/live-service games

Education

Bachelors in CS/Game Engineering/SE

Pursuing degree

Tools

Perforce

Git

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

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.

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.

About the Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic Gameplay Engineering Intern to join our team in building and supporting high-quality, player-facing gameplay features for a live-service multiplayer game.

In this role, you will work under the mentorship of experienced engineers and partner with designers, animators, and cross-disciplinary developers to prototype, implement, and polish mechanics that shape moment-to-moment gameplay. This internship is an immersive opportunity to write production-grade code, learn modern live-service game architecture, and see your contributions directly impact the player experience.

Your Responsibilities

• Feature Implementation: Partner with designers and senior engineers to prototype, build, and polish player-facing gameplay mechanics (e.g., character abilities, weapon feel, locomotion, or game modes).
• System Maintenance & Polish: Assist in maintaining existing gameplay systems with a focus on code readability, performance, and stability in a multiplayer environment.
• Bug Investigation & Quality: Investigate, reproduce, and resolve gameplay bugs, edge cases, and regressions across a large-scale game codebase.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work alongside artists, animators, designers, and QA to bring features from initial concept to release-ready state.
• Code Reviews & Learning: Actively participate in technical design discussions, engineering stand-ups, and code reviews, incorporating constructive feedback into your daily workflow.
• Documentation & Tooling: Help document new systems and contribute to internal gameplay workflows and developer quality-of-life tools.

What We Are Looking For

• Academic Background: Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or equivalent degree program in Computer Science, Game Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong Foundations: Solid understanding of core computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, memory management, and debugging).
• C++ Proficiency: Good working knowledge of modern C++ or C, demonstrated through academic coursework, personal projects, game jams, or open-source contributions.
• Game Development Experience: Hands‑on experience developing games (via personal projects, game jams, school capstones, or custom engine/modding work).
• Collaboration & Communication: A proactive attitude, curiosity to learn, and the ability to articulate technical ideas clearly in a team environment.
• Passion for Games: Genuine excitement for multiplayer, competitive, or live-service games.

Bonus Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Familiarity with multiplayer networking concepts (client‑server architectures, prediction, replication, or lag compensation).
• Experience with 3D game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity, or proprietary/custom engines).
• Familiarity with scripting languages commonly used in gameplay logic (e.g., Python, Lua, Squirrel, or C#).
• Experience with source control systems (e.g., Perforce, Git).Experience profiling, benchmarking, or optimizing real‑time systems.

What You’ll Gain

• 1-on-1 Mentorship: Dedicated guidance from senior engineering mentors invested in your technical growth and professional development.
• Real Production Experience: Hands‑on contribution to a real‑world, large‑scale codebase rather than isolated sandbox projects.
• Cross-Discipline Exposure: Direct exposure to the collaborative dynamics between engineering, design, art, and production in a AAA studio setting.
• Studio Culture: Participation in intern events, technical talks, studio playtests, and networking opportunities across our development pods.

Youmustbe available for afull-timepaid internship in the summer of 2027.

At this time, we are consideringUndergradstudents who will be enrolled in an accredited degree program in the summer of 2027, slated to graduateno earlier than December 2027. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis during the 12-week internship. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Please ensure that your graduation date is visible on your resume.

Pay Transparency - North America

• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) $24 - $38 USD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA. Interns in California are also eligible for Voluntary Disability Insurance.

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.