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Game Developer Intern Summer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

$17.50 - $22.75/hr

We offer competitive compensation, educational and social programming throughout the summer,as well ashousingassistanceand relocation support for eligible interns. Engineering Intern Opportunities ...

Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$18.25 - $23.75/hr

We offer competitive compensation, educational and social programming throughout the summer,as well ashousingassistanceand relocation support for eligible interns. Engineering Intern Opportunities ...

Showing results 21-40

Game Developer Intern Summer information

What does a game developer intern do during the summer?

A Game Developer Intern in the summer typically assists with various aspects of game development, such as coding, debugging, testing, and sometimes creating art or audio assets under the supervision of senior developers. Interns may work on specific projects, features, or tools, and gain hands-on experience using industry-standard software and workflows. This position is designed to provide practical learning opportunities, mentorship, and a better understanding of how professional game studios operate.

What types of projects and responsibilities can I expect as a game developer intern during the summer?

As a Game Developer Intern during the summer, you can expect to work on a variety of tasks that support the main game development team, such as prototyping gameplay features, fixing bugs, and assisting with coding for game mechanics or user interfaces. Interns often collaborate with designers, artists, and other programmers, gaining exposure to the full game development pipeline. The environment is typically fast-paced and collaborative, offering ample opportunities to learn new technologies and development tools. Interns may also participate in team meetings or brainstorming sessions, providing valuable insights and fresh ideas.

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

To thrive as a Game Developer Intern, you typically need foundational knowledge in computer science, programming languages like C++ or C#, and a passion for gaming, often demonstrated through coursework or personal projects. Familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems like Git, and sometimes coursework in graphics or AI are commonly expected. Creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with others help interns stand out in team-based environments. These skills and qualities are vital for producing engaging games, learning quickly, and contributing meaningfully to development teams during a fast-paced internship.

What is the difference between Game Developer Intern Summer vs Game Programmer Intern Summer?

AspectGame Developer Intern SummerGame Programmer Intern Summer
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing a degree in computer science, game design, or related fieldsSimilar; often requires programming coursework or experience
Work EnvironmentCollaborative game development teams, often in studios or tech companiesSame; focused on coding and technical implementation within game projects
Industry UsageCommonly used in gaming companies, tech firms, and startupsWidely used in the same environments, often interchangeable in job searches
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared to Game Programmer Intern Summer due to overlapping roles

Both roles involve working on game projects during summer internships, with similar educational backgrounds and work environments. The main difference lies in focus: Game Developer Interns may have broader responsibilities including design and project management, while Game Programmer Interns concentrate on coding and technical implementation. Candidates should review specific job descriptions to understand the emphasis of each role.

What cities in California are hiring for Game Developer Intern Summer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Game Developer Intern Summer job openings:

Infographic showing various Game Developer Intern Summer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 41% Full Time, 50% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 5% Contract, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution.

Software Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

Freeform

Los Angeles, CA

$38/hr

Temporary, Internship

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INTERN (SUMMER 2027)

Freeform is deploying software-defined, autonomous metal 3D printing factories around the world, bringing the scalability of software to physical production. Our proprietary technology stack leverages advanced sensing, real-time controls, and data-driven learning to produce digitally verified, flawless parts at unprecedented speed and cost. Our mission is to make the transformative power of 3D printing available to all industries at scale and unlock the future of innovation.   

As a Software Engineering Intern at Freeform, you'll help build the core software systems that power our autonomous metal 3D printing factories. You'll work with a talented engineering team from some of the world's most innovative companies across a range of projects to develop and maintain mission-critical infrastructure - including controls, high speed data acquisition, and geometry processing pipelines - that enable high-speed, high-quality, and fully automated production. This is a hands-on role where you'll contribute to real-world solutions that bridge software and hardware, and gain exposure to a fast-paced, multidisciplinary engineering environment. You'll be encouraged to take a first-principles approach to problem solving, explore new technical domains, and collaborate across teams to help bring complex systems to life. 

3D printing experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving hard problems and creating amazing technology! 

Responsibilities:  

  • Support the design and development of software for advanced, production-scale metal 3D printing systems  
  • Collaborate with process, control, and mechanical engineers to help integrate control algorithms into production software  
  • Assist in improving and scaling high-rate data acquisition, storage, and retrieval systems  
  • Contribute to the development of the software pipeline that converts customer part geometries into machine-ready print instructions  

Basic Qualifications:  

  • Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering from an ABET accredited university or college 
  • Internship or engineering club experience such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket club, robotics club, or similar programming with C/C++ or Rust

Nice to Have:  

  • Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering
  • Experience interfacing with microcontrollers, FPGA, or GPU computing hardware 
  • Experience developing embedded or real-time software systems 
  • Experience writing software for industrial automation systems, robotics, or related hardware 
  • Experience working in a Linux environment 
  • Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and iterating quickly (comfortable building the plane as we fly it) 
  • Strong communicator who collaborates across disciplines and proactively seeks support when needed 
  • Willing to take ownership of tasks big and small, with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset 
  • Strong work ethic with a refuse-to-fail mindset 
  • Demonstrated indicators of excellence and/or achieving success against adversity (i.e. top academic performance, leadership in engineering clubs, first-generation college student, or other examples of resilience and achievement) 

Location:  

  • We are located in Hawthorne, CA in a 35,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high growth startups and enterprises. 

What We Offer:  

  • We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions 
  • We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology 
  • Compensation and Benefits 
    • The compensation for this role:
      • Engineering Intern/Undergraduate: $34/hour
      • Engineering Intern/Masters: $36/hour
      • Engineering Intern/PhD: $38/hour
    • Relocation assistance 
    • Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette 
    • Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events 
  • Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. 

What To Expect: 

  • Thank you for your interest in our internship opportunity! We truly appreciate your application and enthusiasm to join our team. Please note that our interview process will begin after we attend university career fairs in early fall. The process will include 2-3 rounds of virtual interviews. We anticipate wrapping up the interview process by late Fall.