Gameplay Programming Intern - Undergraduate

Insomniac Games; Burbank (CA); Hybrid; USD 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Insomniac Games is offering an undergraduate Gameplay Programming Intern position in the United States (Burbank, CA) with remote options. The role focuses on hands-on development of gameplay features using C++ and close mentorship from senior engineers.

You will work on character controls, player abilities, enemy behaviors, and interactive environments, gaining experience across gameplay systems and development workflows in a collaborative studio setting.

Qualifications

• Pursuing BS/BSE in CS/CE or related programs (Physics/Math with programming ok)
• 6–12 months related experience beneficial but not required for students
• Ability to program in C++
• Interest in gameplay programming and creating engaging player experiences
• Creative, self-motivated, responsible approach to learning and tasks
• Passion for video games and programming, willingness to tackle technical challenges
• Graduation window May 2026–Dec 2029; Undergraduate status
• Must be able to work the 12-week internship period and during designated dates

Responsibilities

• Develop and improve gameplay features in C++ with mentors
• Contribute to controls, cameras, characters, breakables, and interactive objects
• Support enemy behaviors, player abilities, and gameplay mechanics
• Work on platform features, trophies, and visual effects
• Investigate, track, and fix gameplay bugs to boost performance
• Collaborate with the Gameplay Programming team on technical solutions
• Gain hands-on experience with gameplay techniques and development workflows

Skills

C++

Education

BS in Computer Science

BSE in Computer Engineering

Job description

Gameplay Programming Intern - Undergraduate

United States, Burbank, CA; United States, Remote

Job ID: R-125855

Role Summary:

Join the Gameplay Programming team at Insomniac Games and gain hands‑on experience developing gameplay features that help bring video games to life.

As a Gameplay Programming Intern, you'll work alongside experienced programmers to create and improve gameplay systems that shape how players interact with the game. You'll contribute to features such as character controls, player abilities, enemy behaviors, and interactive environments while applying your C++ programming skills to real-world game development projects.

Throughout the internship, you'll receive mentorship from senior members of the Gameplay Programming team, strengthen your technical and problem-solving skills, and learn how gameplay features are designed, implemented, and refined in a collaborative game development environment.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Develop and improve gameplay features using C++ while collaborating with experienced programmers.
• Contribute to gameplay systems involving controls, cameras, characters, breakables, and interactive objects.
• Support the development of enemy behaviors, player abilities, and other gameplay mechanics that shape the player experience.
• Work on platform features, trophies, and visual effects as part of gameplay development projects.
• Investigate, track, and fix bugs to improve gameplay functionality and performance.
• Collaborate with the Gameplay Programming team to explore technical solutions and learn how gameplay features are developed and refined.
• Gain hands‑on experience with gameplay programming techniques and development workflows through mentorship from senior team members.

What We’re Looking For:

• Currently pursuing a BS/BSE in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Students majoring in Physics or Math with computer programming experience will also be considered.
• Six to twelve months of related experience and/or training is beneficial but not required for currently enrolled students.
• Ability to program in C++.
• Strong interest in gameplay programming and using technical skills to create engaging player experiences.
• A creative, self‑motivated, and responsible approach to learning and completing assigned work.
• Passion for video games and programming, with an interest in developing gameplay features and solving technical challenges.
• 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 3 rd . 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

$41.50 - $50 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. That vision begins our candidates, and we are working to better understand the diversity of our candidate population. This data will also be aggregated and sent to the government for reporting purposes. 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.

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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.

By checking this box, I agree to allow Insomniac Games to retain my data for future opportunities for employment for up to 1460 days after the conclusion of consideration of my current application for employment.

By checking this box, I consent to Insomniac Games collecting, storing, and processing my responses to the demographic data surveys above.

The application deadline for this role is November 21, 2026