Technical Artist, Character Optimization Intern [Spring 2027]

Crystal Dynamics; San Carlos (CA); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive regional salary

Employer-paid medical, dental, vision

Professional development reimbursement

Flexible hybrid on-site/off-site work

Company-paid holidays

Additional paid days in December

Accrue additional paid time-off

Job summary

Crystal Dynamics is offering a remote spring internship for candidates across most U.S. states. This 12-week program provides hands-on work on active AAA projects, with mentorship and professional development in a professional setting.

Onboarding begins onsite at our San Carlos, CA studio, followed by a flexible hybrid arrangement. Ideal graduates have a portfolio in tech art, experience with Unreal/Maya/Python, and a strong eagerness to learn in a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Graduated from a college or university program in 2026.
• Degree in Animation, Art, Game Art, Technical Art, Game Design, Game Development, Engineering, or related fields.
• Availability to work full-time (40 hrs / week) for 12 weeks Feb 1–Apr 23, 2027, including onboarding onsite.
• Legal eligibility to work in the United States.
• Submit resume, cover letter, and portfolio/GitHub.

Responsibilities

• Acquire essential skills using industry tools such as Unreal Engine, Maya and Python.
• Contribute to a mentored project from proposal to polish with technical design docs.
• Support senior artists by building/refining tools, debugging pipelines, and optimizing assets.
• Learn advanced game development tech focusing on Unreal Engine and asset performance.

Skills

Tech art portfolio

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Animation, Art, Game Art, Technical Art, Game Design, Game Development, Engineering, or related fields

Tools

Unreal Engine

Maya

Python

Job description

Crystal Dynamics is constantly seeking the best gaming talent worldwide to add to our 30-plus year legacy of game development creating new and iconic franchises. We are committed to making great games with great people and living the dream while doing it.

Benefits for our regular full-time positions include, but are not limited to,

• a competitive regional salary
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• professional development reimbursement
• flexible hybrid on-site/off-site work opportunities
• company paid holidays
• plus additional paid days in December when the studio is closed for holiday break
• the ability to accrue additional paid time-off

Join us and help shape an amazing studio culture, where we’re building award-winning franchises like Tomb Raider and more!

Crystal Dynamics is now accepting applications for a remote spring internship, open to candidates across most U.S. states. As part of this 12-week program, you will take part in meaningful, hands‑on work that contributes directly to active AAA projects. Throughout the program, you will step into a professional development environment where ongoing projects, experienced mentors, and collaborative teams give you a direct view into AAA game creation. This internship is designed to help you build industry‑ready skills, form strong professional relationships, and deepen your understanding of how world‑class games are made!

Eligibility Criteria:

• Graduated from a college or university program in 2026 (Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter).
• Degree in Animation, Art, Game Art, Technical Art, Game Design, Game Development, Engineering, or related fields.
• Availability to work full-time (40 hrs / week), during core business hours, for the duration of the program (February 1st – April 23rd, 2027), including the first week onsite at our studio in San Carlos, CA for onboarding.
• Legal eligibility to work in the United States.
• Submission of a complete application that includes a resume, cover letter, and a link to your portfolio or GitHub.

What You Will Gain:

• Practical Project Involvement: Contribute to active game development efforts while learning production scope, workflows, and the advanced tools used across modern AAA pipelines.
• Professional Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced professionals with deep industry knowledge.
• Skill Development: Expand your skill set, establishing a solid foundation for your professional journey.
• Team Collaboration: Work alongside our dedicated onsite and remote teams including fellow interns, building valuable professional relationships within the gaming industry.

What You Will Do:

• Acquireessential skills using industry-standard tools, software and scripting languages such as Unreal Engine, Maya and Python.
• Participate in the technical art tools and pipeline workflow on a small, mentored project, moving from proposal and prototype through technical design documentation, implementation, iteration, and polish.
• Support mid, senior, and lead technical artists by building and refining tools or scripts, troubleshooting pipelines and DCC to engine integration issues, supporting character optimization workflows, reducing content debt through automation, and documenting fixes clearly.
• Enhance your understanding of advanced game development technology, with a focus on Unreal Engine, character optimization, and efficient asset performance.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Portfolio demonstrating foundational tech art skills, including one or more of the following:
  • Simple character rigs, skinning examples, and/or character optimization work.
  • Maya or Unreal scripts, tools, or workflows that improve character performance and production efficiency.
• Industry involvement outside classroom curriculum such as game jams, personal projects and/or contributions to group projects that show going above and beyond.
• Exposure to industry-standard development software tools and engines.
• Willingness to tackle challenges, learn from feedback, and adapt to new tools or workflows.
• Ability to communicate your ideas with eagerness to learn and put feedback into action.

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation for this internship is $21-24/hr, plus a stipend to help with expenses during the duration of the program. Compensation is location-based and will be aligned to the intern’s confirmed work location during the program. Interns are also eligible for a medical, dental, and vision benefits package.

Check out our Crystal Dynamics Internship FAQ page for additional questions.

Thank you for your interest in an internship at Crystal Dynamics. We can’t wait to see what you bring to our world of game development!

The pay for this internship role includes the base hourly rate, and does not include the medical, dental and vision benefits package that interns will also be eligible for.

Internship Pay Rate (United States)$21—$24 USD

Crystal Dynamics is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to identifying and implementing positive and persistent measures to ensure equal opportunity in the recruitment, hiring, development, training, promotion and compensation of a diverse team employee group. This includes persons of different race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding, genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, political affiliation, age, veteran status, uniform service member status, marital status, physical or mental disability, or citizenship, as well as any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Crystal Dynamics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. If you require any accommodations, please notify us at your earliest convenience during the interview process.

By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you have read and understand Crystal Dynamics's Privacy Notice.