VFX Intern

Electronic Arts Ltd; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Electronic Arts is seeking a VFX Intern for the Apex Legends team to learn real-time VFX creation for a premier live-service shooter. You will collaborate with art, design, animation and engineering to implement and iterate VFX in the game engine under guidance.

You should be pursuing a Bachelor’s in Real Time VFX, Game Art, Animation or Computer Graphics, with a strong artistic sense and curiosity for the craft.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or holding a degree related to Real Time VFX or game art.
• Solid understanding of aesthetics, composition, color theory and timing in VFX.
• Familiarity with DCC tools (Maya, Houdini, Photoshop).
• Experience with game engines or particle systems (Unreal, Unity, Niagara/Cascade) a plus.
• Able to take feedback and work collaboratively with artists, designers and engineers.

Responsibilities

• Support creation and implementation of real-time VFX for characters, weapons, environments and seasonal content.
• Collaborate with art, design, animation and engineering teams to ensure visual clarity and smooth integration.
• Learn engine implementation by prototyping, implementing and iterating VFX in game engine and proprietary tools.
• Assist with performance profiling and basic optimization to balance quality and speed.
• Participate in art reviews and iterate on feedback to meet the studio's quality bar.

Skills

Foundational art skills

Tool familiarity

Game engine exposure

Collaborative mindset

Problem-solving

Passionate gamer

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Time VFX / related

Tools

Maya

Houdini

Photoshop

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.

As a VFX Intern on the Apex Legends team, you will learn what it takes to create high-quality, real-time VFX for one of the world’s premier live-service shooters. You will report into the VFX Director.

• Support VFX Creation: Help create and implement real-time VFX for character, weapons, environmental elements, and seasonal content that fit the intense sci-fi aesthetic of Apex Legends.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner with Art, Design, Animation, and Engineering to ensure your VFX support gameplay clarity and integrate smoothly into the game.
• Learn Engine Implementation: Work directly within our game engine and proprietary tools to prototype, implement, and iterate on VFX assets.
• Optimize and Profile: Learn to balance visual quality with performance constraints, assisting with basic performance profiling and optimization.
• Review and Iterate: Actively participate in art reviews, gather feedback from leads, and iterate on your work to meet the studio's quality bar.

Qualifications

We are looking for an aspiring artist who is eager to learn, technically curious, and passionate about the craft of real-time VFX.

• Academic Endeavors: Working towards a bachelors degree in Real Time VFX, Game Art, Animation, Computer Graphics, or a related academic program.
• Foundational Art Skills: A strong sense of aesthetics, composition, color theory, and timing as they apply to VFX.
• Tool Familiarity: Basic hands-on experience or familiarity with relevant DCC tools (such as Maya, Houdini, Photoshop, etc).
• Game Engine Exposure: Some experience implementing assets or working with particle systems (like Niagara or Cascade) in game engines like Unreal Engine, Unity, or proprietary editors.
• Collaborative Mindset: Comfort receiving feedback, iterating on your work, and working alongside artists, designers, and engineers in a collaborative environment.
• Problem-Solving Spirit: A curious, analytical approach to troubleshooting VFX issues and working within the technology of our pipeline.
• Passionate Gamer: A genuine passion for playing and making games, with an interest in first-person shooters and sci-fi art styles.

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.

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.