[Hiring] Game Design Intern @Crystal Dynamics

Role Description

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!

Qualifications

• 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.

Requirements

• Learn and apply development workflows in Unreal Engine, using Blueprint scripting, rapid prototyping, and playtesting to turn design ideas into working gameplay.
• Help improve existing combat and traversal mechanics by reproducing issues, debugging Blueprint logic, tuning gameplay values, and building small test spaces to evaluate movement distances, timing, readability, and game feel.
• Prototype clearly scoped gameplay features with guidance from the project’s design leadership.
• Help develop and document repeatable workflows for designing, building, and testing gameplay and levels.

Benefits

• 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.
• Ability to accrue additional paid time-off.

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 Makes You Stand Out

• Foundational hands-on experience with Unreal Engine and Blueprint scripting, demonstrated through a small playable project, prototype, or coursework.
• Portfolio examples should show one or more of the following:
  • Gameplay logic or systems you helped build, such as a character ability, movement mechanic, interaction, encounter, or simple progression system.
  • A playable gameplay or level prototype that demonstrates experimentation, attention to the player experience, and iteration based on testing or feedback.
  • 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.