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Game Designer Intern Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Game Designer Intern information

What does a game designer intern do?

A Game Designer Intern assists in the creation and development of video games by contributing ideas, designing game mechanics, and helping with documentation. They often work closely with senior designers and other team members to prototype levels, balance gameplay elements, and test features. Interns also learn about the game development process, receive feedback, and may participate in brainstorming sessions or playtesting. The role is ideal for those looking to start a career in game development and gain hands-on experience in a collaborative environment.

What does a game designer intern do?

In a game designer intern role, you gain experience with designing video games as a student enrolled in a relevant college degree program. Your internship duties are to shadow your mentor as they teach you the responsibilities and skills game designers need to design and implement a vision into a working video game. You work with gaming clients under the oversight of your mentor to learn more about following client needs and goals to create their games. These positions are temporary, with design companies usually offering them over the summer months. Many companies pay their interns a salary throughout their internship, but some companies only provide unpaid positions.

What is the difference between Game Designer Intern vs Game Artist Intern?

AspectGame Designer InternGame Artist Intern
Required SkillsGame design principles, creativity, basic programmingArt skills, graphic design, 2D/3D modeling
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, game development studiosArt departments, visual development teams
Common Industry UsageUsed in game development companies focusing on gameplay and mechanicsUsed in studios focusing on visual assets and art creation

Game Designer Interns focus on creating gameplay mechanics, storylines, and user experience, while Game Artist Interns concentrate on visual assets, character design, and environment art. Both roles are essential in game development but serve different creative functions within the industry.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a game designer intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Game Designer Intern, you can expect to contribute to various stages of the game development process, from brainstorming and prototyping new gameplay mechanics to assisting with level design and playtesting. Interns often collaborate closely with artists, programmers, and senior designers, gaining hands-on experience in refining game systems and balancing gameplay. You'll likely attend team meetings, provide feedback on in-development features, and help document design decisions. This role offers a valuable opportunity to learn industry best practices while building a portfolio of real-world projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game designer intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Designer Intern, you need a solid grasp of game design principles, storytelling, and basic programming or scripting knowledge, often supported by coursework in game development or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and prototyping software, as well as version control systems, is highly valued. Creativity, teamwork, and strong communication skills help you effectively contribute ideas and work within multidisciplinary teams. These skills are essential for translating concepts into engaging gameplay experiences and collaborating efficiently in a dynamic development environment.
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Designer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Game Designer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Game Designer Intern jobs in Virginia? For Game Designer Intern jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Game Designer Intern jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Game Designer Intern job openings:
Infographic showing various Game Designer Intern job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution.

Unity 3D Developer Intern

Obsidian Solutions Group LLC

Fredericksburg, VA • On-site

$21 - $30/hr

Internship

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Description

Primary Work Location: Fredericksburg, VA

Must be a U.S Citizen: Yes


Obsidian Labs, the applied innovation, rapid prototyping, and advanced engineering division of Obsidian Solutions Group, is seeking a Unity 3D Developer Intern to support the design and development of immersive simulation environments. This role provides hands-on experience working alongside a multidisciplinary team building next-generation capabilities that integrate game engine technologies, geospatial systems, and real-time data into operationally relevant training and decision-support tools.


The intern will contribute to the development of interactive simulation features supporting Obsidian Labs' flagship platforms, including VERTEX, enabling advanced Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training for defense, public safety, and critical infrastructure missions. This is an opportunity to directly support cutting-edge human-machine teaming applications and immersive training systems in a mission-driven environment


Requirements

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain interactive simulation applications in Unity for desktop, WebGL, Android, and immersive (AR/VR) platforms. 
  • Integrate real-time data, geospatial information, and external systems into Unity applications.
  • Debug, optimize, and improve application performance across multiple platforms. 
  • Collaborate with software engineers, designers, and subject matter experts to translate mission requirements into technical solutions. 
  • Contribute to technical documentation and development best practices. 


Required Skills and Experience

  • Currently enrolled as a senior or recently graduated with a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. 
  • Experience developing applications in Unity using C#. 
  • Strong understanding of object-oriented programming principles. 
  • Experience debugging, testing, and writing clean, maintainable code. 
  • Familiarity with Git or other version control systems. 
  • Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. 
  • Applicants must submit a portfolio, GitHub repository, or demo project that demonstrates Unity development experience. Applications without a portfolio submission will not be considered.


Desired Skills and Experience

  • Experience developing AR/VR applications in Unity. 
  • Experience developing multiplayer or networked Unity applications. 
  • Experience integrating REST APIs, third-party SDKs, or networked services into Unity applications. 
  • Experience with 3D modeling tools (Blender, Maya, or similar) is a plus


Physical Requirements and Work Environment

  • Normal office and lab environment


Travel Requirements

  • N/A


Company Description

Obsidian Solutions Group LLC (OSG) is a fast-growing professional services firm based in Fredericksburg, VA. We create value for our customers by delivering technology-enabled & mission-oriented technical solutions that solve complex problems, protecting people, information, and assets. Our core capabilities are in providing Enterprise IT, Intelligence Analysis, Production & Development and Knowledge-Based Professional Services Solutions that enable the customer's mission. Obsidian Solutions Group LLC is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business.


A career at Obsidian Solutions Group means you are able to put your expertise, credentials, and talents to great use working with customers in the DOD and Intelligence Community, while enjoying the excitement of working in a fast-growing organization committed to making a difference for our customers and in our community. Contribute independently and collaboratively alongside our amazing team of doers and thinkers. Obsidian Solutions Group is small enough to offer a family atmosphere yet large enough to deliver a highly competitive compensation package. We hire and retain the best in the industry, offering exceptional benefits that protect the well-being of our employees, their spouses and domestic partners, and their families.


Our corporate philosophy is centered on hiring and retaining employees with the requisite skills, professional experience, personal commitment, and ethical standards necessary to foster a culture of operational excellence necessary to surpass our customer's expectations.


Disclaimer


The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.


Obsidian Solutions Group is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, protected veteran status, and any other non-merit factor, or any other characteristic protected by law.