--- title: 'Engine and Tools Programming Intern – Undergraduate at Insomniac Games' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/engine-and-tools-programming-intern-undergraduate-insomniac-games-united-states-xd567k49hch7' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-30' --- # Engine and Tools Programming Intern – Undergraduate at Insomniac Games - **Company:** Insomniac Games - **Location:** United States Burbank, CA - **Compensation:** $46/hr - **Posted:** 2026-10-20 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-30 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/insomniac/jobs/6227080004 ## Job description Job ID: R-125841 Role Summary: Join the engineering team at Insomniac Games and gain hands-on experience developing the game engine technology that supports the creation of our games. As an Engine Programmer Intern, you'll work alongside experienced programmers to design, develop, and improve the runtime and tools components of Insomniac’s engine technology. You'll primarily use C++ to build efficient systems, improve performance, and create tools that help content creators develop game assets. Depending on your interests and expertise, you'll have opportunities to explore tools development, animation, low-level engine architecture, or rendering. This internship offers practical experience with real-time game engine development, technical problem-solving, and collaboration with production teams while learning how engine technology supports game development. What You’ll Be Doing: - Design and develop game engine technology with guidance from team leads, focusing on real-time performance and usability. - Build efficient low-level systems that support higher-level pipelines and game development workflows. - Design and implement tools that help content creators develop and manage game assets. - Maintain and improve existing engine systems to enhance functionality, performance, and reliability. - Explore the capabilities and limitations of specific game platform hardware to better understand how it affects engine development. - Collaborate with production teams to identify technical challenges, troubleshoot issues, and develop practical solutions. - Investigate and respond to bug reports, feature requests, and questions related to engine technology. - Document technical implementation details to support collaboration and ongoing development. - Explore technological developments in the game industry and learn how new approaches can support engine development. What We’re Looking For: - Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field. - Proficiency in programming languages such as C++. - Experience with game engines or game development patterns. - Strong problem-solving and debugging skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve technical issues. - Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with artists and programmers. - Interest in learning about emerging game development technologies and staying informed about industry trends. Eligibility: - Students with expected graduation between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university. Undergraduate - 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 $45.75—$45.75 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](https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-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. ## About Insomniac Games ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Insomniac Games is a AAA video game developer best known for creating the *Spyro the Dragon*, *Ratchet & Clank*, *Resistance*, and *Marvel's Spider-Man* franchises. - **Entity Type**: Private (Wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, acquired in 2019) - **Headquarters**: Burbank, California, USA (with a second studio in Durham, North Carolina) - **Founded**: 1994 - **Founders**: Ted Price ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Computer Games / Interactive Entertainment (AAA Game Development) - **Target customers**: B2C (console gamers, primarily on PlayStation platforms) - **Mission or purpose statement**: To create games that have a positive and lasting influence on people's lives. ## Products & Services - **Marvel's Spider-Man (2018)**: Open-world action-adventure game, a critical and commercial smash hit. - **Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020)**: Standalone expansion/sequel. - **Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023)**: Sequel featuring both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. - **Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021)**: A flagship PlayStation 5 title showcasing near-instant loading and dimensional rifts. - **Spyro the Dragon (1998)**: Iconic classic platformer that defined a generation. - **Resistance (2005)**: First-person shooter franchise for PlayStation 3. - **Marvel's Wolverine (In Development)**: An upcoming, darker, mature-themed action game. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not applicable (private subsidiary). Acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2019 for an undisclosed sum. - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue estimated at **$120.0M** (per LinkedIn). Over 70 million games sold lifetime. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: **Sony Interactive Entertainment** (parent company), **Marvel Entertainment** (key IP partner). - **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew **+11.5% YoY** to 387 employees. Actively hiring for *Marvel's Wolverine* and future projects. Continues to be one of the most prestigious first-party PlayStation studios. ## Competitive Advantages - **Proven Track Record**: Consistently delivers critically acclaimed, high-selling games (Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank). - **Proprietary Engine & Tech**: Uses a heavily customized version of Insomniac's own engine, allowing for technical innovations like the near-instant loading in *Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart*. - **Strong IP Relationships**: Exclusive partnership with Marvel for high-profile games, and owns beloved original IPs like *Ratchet & Clank*. - **Sony Backing**: As a first-party studio, has access to massive resources, marketing, and job stability without the financial volatility of an independent studio. ## Strategic Focus - **Current priorities**: Shipping *Marvel's Wolverine*; continuing the *Spider-Man* franchise; maintaining a high standard of quality and technical innovation for PlayStation 5. - **Direction for growth**: Expanding the team (especially in technical and design roles) to handle multiple AAA projects simultaneously. ## Why Work Here - **Culture & Awards**: Has earned 20 local, regional, state, and national awards for its workplace culture. - **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Supports **remote, in-studio, or hybrid** work arrangements. Remote employees must be based in the US or Canada. [insomniac.games](https://support.insomniac.games/hc/en-us/articles/46679299624595-Does-Insomniac-Games-support-remote-work-Can-I-work-remote-from-an-international-country-Can-I-work-from-Europe) - **Notable Perks**: Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k) matching, profit sharing, paid time off, sabbatical, game discounts, and a strong focus on work-life balance. [insomniac.games](https://insomniac.games/benefits-perks/) - **Engineering Culture**: Highly collaborative environment with a focus on technical excellence. Talent frequently moves between Insomniac and other top studios like Naughty Dog, Epic Games, and Blizzard. - **Employee Rating**: 4.1/5.0 on LinkedIn (57 reviews), with strong scores in Culture (4.1) and Compensation (4.1). ## Sources 1. [Insomniac Games Official Site](https://insomniac.games/) 2. [Insomniac Games Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/insomniac) 3. [Insomniac Games Remote Work FAQ](https://support.insomniac.games/hc/en-us/articles/46679299624595-Does-Insomniac-Games-support-remote-work-Can-I-work-remote-from-an-international-country-Can-I-work-from-Europe) 4. [Insomniac Games Benefits & Perks](https://insomniac.games/benefits-perks/) 5. [Insomniac Games LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/insomniac-games) ## Other roles at Insomniac Games - [Narrative Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/narrative-coordinator-insomniac-games-united-states-wwcb70z8jb6s) — United States - [Senior User Experience Researcher](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-user-experience-researcher-insomniac-games-united-states-456excnsx7pt) — United States - [Senior Combat Designer (Enemies / Bosses)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-combat-designer-enemies-bosses-insomniac-games-united-states-4n7573070jkk) — United States - [Audio Design Intern- Undergraduate or Master's](https://feeny.ai/job/audio-design-intern-undergraduate-or-master-s-insomniac-games-united-states-12r8gxgw8a39) — United States Burbank, CA - [Lighting Intern- Undergraduate](https://feeny.ai/job/lighting-intern-undergraduate-insomniac-games-united-states-burbank-yh83ewavj7fx) — United States Burbank, CA - [Tech Art Intern- Undergraduate](https://feeny.ai/job/tech-art-intern-undergraduate-insomniac-games-united-states-burbank-vm9c9yevej6k) — United States Burbank, CA - [User Research Intern (Tools)- Master's](https://feeny.ai/job/user-research-intern-tools-master-s-insomniac-games-united-states-burbank-mr0x48hfc3b1) — United States Burbank, CA - [Dialogue Intern- Undergraduate](https://feeny.ai/job/dialogue-intern-undergraduate-insomniac-games-united-states-burbank-ke6hqdg0m9md) — United States Burbank, CA - [Game Design Intern-Undergraduate](https://feeny.ai/job/game-design-intern-undergraduate-insomniac-games-united-states-burbank-jy69591rnd6e) — United States Burbank, CA - [Gameplay Programming Intern - Undergraduate](https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-programming-intern-undergraduate-insomniac-games-united-states-burbank-q1180q5443g9) — United States Burbank, CA / United States