Character Art Intern

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 invites dedicated individuals to apply for an internship at our Crystal San Carlos studio. 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:

• Enrolled as a college Junior or Senior (Seniors could have graduated in Fall/Winter 2025 or will be graduating in Spring 2026).
• Pursuing a degree in Animation, Art, Game Art, Technical Art, Game Design, Game Development, Engineering, or related fields.
• Availability to work full-time (40 hrs / week) for the duration of the program (June 1st –August 21st, 2026).
• Able to work onsite at our studio in San Carlos, CA for the first 1- 2 weeks for onboarding.
• The work arrangement for the remainder of the program (onsite, hybrid, or remote) will be confirmed prior to the start date and will vary based on assigned team and project needs.
• 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.

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 and software such as Unreal Engine, ZBrush, Maya and Substance Painter/Designer.
• Participate in various aspects of game development for the character pipeline including sculpting, in-game mesh, UV layout, texturing, material creation, and engine integration.
• Support mid, senior, and lead artists by polishing existing character assets, providing feedback to vendors, helping fix issues, Ingesting assets and any other tasks as assigned.
• Enhance your understanding of advanced game development technology, focusing on Unreal Engine.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Portfolio demonstrating foundational Character Art skills, including one or more of the following:
• Character art examples that showcase understanding of anatomy and proportions.
• Examples of good material and texture use on characters.
• Demonstrate attention to detail and solid design skills.
• Understanding color theory and PBR.
• 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 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 turn feedback into action.

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation for this internship is $21-25 per hour, plus a stipend to help with expenses during the duration of the program. 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! 

Not sure if you are qualified? We hope that you will still choose to apply so we may review your application!

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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.

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