Technical Artist, Environment Optimization Intern [Spring 2027]
Summary
12-week remote spring 2027 internship at Crystal Dynamics supporting technical art on active AAA projects, focused on environment optimization: building Maya/Unreal tools and Python scripts, troubleshooting DCC-to-engine pipelines, and reducing content debt, with the first week onsite in San Carlos, CA for onboarding.
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, and 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:
- Acquire essential skills using industry-standard tools, software and scripting languages such as Unreal Engine, Maya and Python, with an emphasis on environment-focused workflows.
- 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 for environment content.
- Support mid, senior, and lead technical artists by building and refining tools or scripts, troubleshooting pipelines and DCC to engine integration issues, supporting environment 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, environment optimization, and efficient asset performance.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Portfolio demonstrating foundational tech art skills, including one or more of the following:
- Environment art examples, modular asset workflows, set dressing support, and/or environment optimization work.
- Maya or Unreal scripts, tools, or workflows that improve environment 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. 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. Your recruiter can provide more information about total compensation.
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.
Your recruiter will be able to share more information about total compensation.
Not sure if you are qualified? We hope that you will still choose to apply so we may review your application!
Please be advised that our company is aware of scammers impersonating us, and we assure you that all legitimate communication will come from the official Crystal Dynamics email address domain "@crystald.com" or will be an automated response from our applicant tracking system using "no-reply@us.greenhouse-mail.io". If you have any concerns about the validity of a message from our staff, feel free to contact us.
For more information on how to avoid scams like this please see our Jobs Scams & Phishing Attempts help page, or visit the FTC website.
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.
Skills
As published by greenhouse · 19 questions · 6 written answers
Basics
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Cover Letter
Short answers (4)
- Preferred First Name optional
- What college/university are you currently attending? optional
- What is your major? optional
- Do you have a password for any of your portfolios/reels that you would like to share? optional
Pick from a list (9)
- What is your expected graduation date?
- Are you able to be onsite in San Carlos, CA from Feb 1st - Feb 5th, 2027?
- Are you able to work full time (40 hours) a week?
- In which country are you currently located?
- What state will you be working remotely from during the internship?
- On June 1st, 2026, will you be at least 18 years of age?
- Are you legally permitted to live and work in the United States or Canada on a permanent basis without needing employer sponsorship (e.g., U.S. or Canadian citizen, permanent resident, asylee)?
- Do you currently have valid authorization to work in the United States or Canada (e.g., F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, CPT, H-1B, TN, E-3, L-2, O-1, or other work authorization)?
- Will you require employer sponsorship to continue working in the United States or Canada in the future (for example, after your F-1 OPT or STEM OPT work authorization expires)?
Written answers (6)
- Please provide a link to a portfolio, website, or reel:
- Please provide a brief description of your favorite piece you worked on.
- Why did you choose that piece?
- What did you contribute to it?
- If you had more time, resources, technology, how would you improve upon it?
- Anything you would like to clarify above? optional
