About the role#
This 12-week internship offers hands-on experience within a professional development environment. You will work directly on active AAA projects, collaborate with experienced mentors, and gain insight into the production scope and workflows of modern game creation. This position is open to individuals who graduated from a college or university program in 2026.
What you'll do#
- Contribute to active AAA game development projects.
- Participate in the full animation pipeline, including motion capture processing, keyframe animation, and engine implementation.
- Support mid, senior, and lead artists by polishing animation assets and fixing issues.
- Develop technical skills using industry-standard tools, with a specific focus on Unreal Engine, Maya, and MotionBuilder.
What you'll need#
- A degree in Animation, Art, Game Art, Technical Art, Game Design, Game Development, Engineering, or a related field.
- A portfolio demonstrating foundational animation skills, such as timing, weight, posing, pacing, and camera composition.
- Experience with motion capture cleanup or animation retargeting.
- Exposure to industry-standard development software and engines.
- Involvement in game jams, personal projects, or group projects.
- A willingness to learn from feedback and adapt to new workflows.
- Legal eligibility to work in the United States.
Location & details#
- The internship runs from February 1st to April 23rd, 2027.
- You must be available to work full-time (40 hours per week) during core business hours.
- The role is remote, but the first week of the program requires you to be on-site at our studio in San Carlos, California, for onboarding.
- Compensation is $20-23 per hour, based on your confirmed work location.
- Interns are eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- A complete application must include a resume, a cover letter, and a link to your portfolio.
About Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics is a game development studio located in San Mateo, California. Founded in 1992, the company creates titles such as the Tomb Raider franchise, Gex, and the Legacy of Kain series. It operates as a subsidiary of the Embracer Group. The studio employs between 201 and 500 people.
How to get in at Crystal Dynamics
Applying early to Crystal Dynamics gives you a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, helping you get your materials in before the pile grows. You should aim to be among the first candidates in the system. Reaching out to the right person often yields better results than a standard application. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can contact them directly to ask about the position or a potential referral. This direct approach often improves your response rate significantly.
