Technical Art Intern (Summer 2024)

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, 12 company paid holidays, plus additional paid days in December when the studio is closed for holiday break, and the ability to accrue additional paid time-off.

Join us and shape the future of an amazing studio culture committed to creating award-winning franchises like Tomb Raider, the next Perfect Dark, and more! 

Crystal Dynamics invites dedicated individuals to apply for our 12-week, on-site internship program at our Bellevue, WA studio. This internship isn't just a learning opportunity; it's a hands-on development experience on AAA games.  

What You'll Experience: 

• Practical Project Involvement: Engage directly in our current projects, using advanced tools and technology essential in today's gaming industry. 
• Professional Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced professionals with deep industry knowledge. 
• Skill Development: Expand your skill set in a variety of areas, establishing a solid foundation for your professional journey. 
• Team Collaboration: Work alongside our dedicated team and fellow interns, building valuable professional relationships within the gaming industry. 

 Your Role as a Crystal Dynamics Technical Art Intern: 

• Acclimate to our studio environment, understanding team dynamics, and mastering administrative and technical systems critical for your role. 
• Gain an understanding of the project's scope and pipelines. 
• Use profiling tools such as PIX and Unreal Insights to diagnose GPU, CPU, and memory performance issues, and help to recommend potential optimizations to the team when possible.  
• Work closely with artists to identify content debt and fix validation errors. 
• Contribute to a longer project related to tools or materials. Work through the technical development phases – from writing a proposal, to prototyping and creating a TDD, to implementation, iteration, and polish. 
• Collaborate with operations teams and experienced developers both onsite and remotely. 
• Enhance your understanding of advanced game development technology, focusing on Unreal Engine. 
• Engage in regular communication and mentorship with your supervisor and team members. 
• Experience our studio culture by joining fellow interns at studio events and social gatherings.

Ideal Knowledge, Skills, and Experience: 

• Portfolio demonstrating basic Technical Art skills, including one or more of the following: Python tools creation, shader/material authoring, procedural content generation, or graphics programming. 
• Exposure to industry-standard software, tools, and scripting languages such as: PIX for Windows, Autodesk Maya, Python and game engines like Unreal Engine, particularly regarding art content creation best practices and optimization. 
• Willingness to tackle challenges, learn from feedback, and adapt to new tools or workflows.  
• Ability to communicate your ideas and accept constructive feedback.  
• Industry involvement beyond classroom curriculum, such as: game jams, animation specific social clubs, online animation challenges, and/or other activities that showcase your enthusiasm for animation and game development. Even small personal projects or contributions to group projects can be significant! 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• College seniors graduating in Spring 2024, enrolled and pursuing a degree in an Art, Game Art, Technical Art, Game Programming, Engineering, or similar field. 
• Availability to work full time (40 hours) a week onsite at our Bellevue, WA office (yes, this will be a paid internship!) from May 20th to August 9th, 2024. 
• Legal eligibility to work in the United States.

How to Apply: 
To start your journey, apply through our website. The application includes filling out a form, submitting your resume, work samples, and a cover letter. At Crystal Dynamics, we value inclusivity and diversity. We encourage you to apply even if you feel you don't meet every single requirement. We're looking at your skills, experience, and potential. If you make our shortlist, we'll be in touch f