Insomniac Games has created and developed award-winning video game franchises across multiple platforms for 25 years, selling more than 70 million games along the way. We’re best known for developing the PlayStation®4 smash-hit, Marvel's Spider-Man (2018), and creating iconic PlayStation franchises such as Spyro the Dragon (1998), Ratchet & Clank (2002) and Resistance (2005). With studios in Burbank, Calif. and Durham, NC, Insomniac has earned 20 local, regional, state and national awards for our workplace culture. You can learn more about us at https://insomniac.games
The intern will create and polish visual effects assets, including materials, meshes, and particles for gameplay and cinematics.
They will also collaborate with the VFX team to optimize effects for performance while maintaining high visual quality.
What you need
Candidates must be currently pursuing a B.F.A. in Computer Art, Illustration, Game Design, or a related field with an expected graduation between 2026 and 2029.
Proficiency in Maya, Photoshop, and real-time engines like Unreal or Unity is required.
Education: a bachelor's degree
Key skills
Visual effectsMayaPhotoshopHoudiniUnrealUnityGame designParticle systemsMaterial creationMesh creationLevel set dressingCinematicsPerformance optimizationCollaborationTechnical art
Keywords for your resumePro
The words this employer's screening is likely to look for.
This job lists resume keywords
The terms this posting uses, pulled out so you can mirror them in your resume. Jigup Pro members see the list on the job board.
Job ID: R-125840
Role Summary:
Join the Visual Effects Art team at Insomniac Games and gain hands-on experience creating visual effects for AAA game production.
As a Visual Effects Art Intern, you'll work alongside experienced artists in a creative, collaborative game studio environment. You'll contribute to visual effects development, from creating and polishing assets to optimizing effects for gameplay and cinematics.
Throughout the internship, you'll receive mentorship from senior team members, learn the Insomniac process for creating visual effects art, and gain practical experience using industry tools such as Maya, Photoshop, Houdini, and proprietary tools. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to a AAA game production and earn a game credit for your work.
What You’ll Be Doing:
Create and polish visual effects assets that contribute to the visual experience of a game.
Develop visual effects from scratch, including creating materials, meshes, and particles.
Set dress levels and cinematics with visual effects to enhance gameplay and storytelling.
Optimize visual effects to maintain performance while achieving the intended visual quality.
Use Maya, Photoshop, Houdini, and proprietary tools to create and refine visual effects.
Collaborate with the VFX department to complete project milestones and contribute to game production.
Learn game industry techniques and the Insomniac process for creating visual effects art while developing your creative, technical, and teamwork skills.
What We’re Looking For:
Currently pursuing a B.F.A. in Computer Art, Illustration, Game Design, Product Design, or equivalent.
Six to twelve months of related experience and/or training is beneficial.
Strong foundation skills and production design skills.
Proficiency in Maya, Photoshop, and a real-time toolset such as Unreal or Unity.
Creative, self-motivated, and responsible, with the ability to contribute in a collaborative, fast-paced studio environment.
Passion for video games and art, with an interest in learning visual effects techniques used in game development.
Eligibility:
Students with expected graduation between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university. Undergraduate- Graduate
Able to work during one of the following periods: May 17th - August 6th or June 14th - September 3rd. 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
$36.50—$40.25 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.