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Game Programming Internships Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Xsolla

AI-First Engineering Intern

Los Angeles, CA

$18 - $23.50/hr

This isn't a shadow-and-observe internship. You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns ...

New

Xsolla

AI-First Engineering Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$18 - $23.50/hr

This isn't a shadow-and-observe internship. You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns ...

New

Tencent

Game Operations Intern

Los Angeles, CA

$24.81 - $42.70/hr

Level Infinite also provides a wide range of services and resources to our network of developers ... Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, full-time interns are ...

Tencent

Game Operations Intern

Irvine, CA · On-site

$24.81 - $42.70/hr

Level Infinite also provides a wide range of services and resources to our network of developers ... Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, full-time interns are ...

PlayStation Global

Software Engineer I

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

Software Engineer I - Trust & Safety Platform PlayStation isn't just the Best Place to Play - it ... Internship, academic, or project experience working on scalable applications, gaming platforms, or ...

PlayStation Global

Software Engineer I

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

Software Engineer I - Trust & Safety Platform PlayStation isn't just the Best Place to Play - it ... Internship, academic, or project experience working on scalable applications, gaming platforms, or ...

Tencent

Data Science Intern

Palo Alto, CA · On-site +1

$28.27 - $60/hr

... engineers to design and implement end-to-end data solutions for issues in game development ... Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, full-time interns are ...

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Game Programming Internships information

What is the difference between Game Programming Internships vs Game Development Internships?

AspectGame Programming InternshipsGame Development Internships
FocusWriting code, developing game mechanics, optimizing performanceDesigning game features, creating assets, overall game design
Skills RequiredProgramming languages (C++, C#), software developmentDesign tools, creativity, understanding of game design principles
Work EnvironmentTypically in software or game studios, coding teamsDesign teams, collaborative environments, cross-disciplinary roles

Game Programming Internships focus on coding and technical development, while Game Development Internships encompass broader design and creative tasks. Both roles often overlap but target different skill sets within the game industry.

What are game programming internships?

Game programming internships are temporary positions within video game development companies that allow students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in programming for games. Interns typically work alongside experienced developers, contributing to coding, debugging, and developing gameplay features or tools. These internships provide valuable exposure to industry-standard software, workflows, and collaborative environments, helping interns build their portfolios and professional networks. They are an excellent way for aspiring game programmers to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Game Programming Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Programming Intern, you generally need a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, programming languages like C++ or C#, and coursework or experience in game development. Familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine, source control systems like Git, and a portfolio of game projects are typically expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, adaptability, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for contributing effectively to development teams, learning quickly, and making a meaningful impact on game projects.

What kinds of projects and tasks can I expect to work on during a game programming internship?

As a game programming intern, you'll typically assist with tasks such as debugging code, creating or refining gameplay features, and collaborating with designers and artists to implement new mechanics. You may also be involved in optimizing game performance, writing scripts for game events, or supporting the QA team in identifying and fixing bugs. Interns often work closely with experienced programmers, gaining insight into the full development cycle and contributing to both small and large-scale projects. This hands-on experience is valuable for building your portfolio and understanding real-world workflows in a game studio.
What are popular job titles related to Game Programming Internships jobs in California? For Game Programming Internships jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Programming Internships jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Game Programming Internships jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Game Programming Internships jobs? Cities in California with the most Game Programming Internships job openings:
Game Programming Internships jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Programming Internships job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 25% Internship, 50% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
AI-First Engineering Intern

AI-First Engineering Intern

Xsolla

Los Angeles, CA

$18 - $23.50/hr

Other

Posted 4 days ago

New

Job description

ABOUT US
Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.
For more information, visit xsolla.com.

Why This Role Exists

Xsolla is going all-in on becoming an AI-first company, and we're not waiting for a slow rollout to get there. We're offering AI Engineer Internships in regions across the globe to help drive that shift directly, not by sitting in the back office, but by building.

You'll work on two things:

  1. Internal AI initiatives - helping unlock AI tooling and integrations across Xsolla faster than our existing teams can alone.

  2. Proof-of-concept builds on our own APIs - showing our product and engineering teams what's possible when you build with AI as a core part of your workflow, not an afterthought.

This isn't a shadow-and-observe internship. You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns across our global regions.

Who You'll Work With

You won't be isolated on an intern-only project island. You'll work closely with senior engineers who are actively rebuilding how we write software, and you'll be part of a global cohort of interns building in parallel across our regions. That combination is the point: senior engineers give you a bar for what production-grade, customer-facing code looks like, and your fellow interns give you a peer group to trade ideas, code, and AI workflows every week.

What You'll Do

  • Partner and collaborate with senior engineers to identify where AI tooling and integrations can remove friction, and build the fix.

  • Build applications and integrations on top of Xsolla's APIs and SDKs that show internal teams how to move faster using AI-assisted development.

  • Ship work that matters. What you build is expected to reach real users - whether that's an internal tool an engineering team adopts or a customer-facing integration - not a throwaway exercise that gets shelved after your internship ends.

  • Use agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or similar) as your default way of working - not a novelty you reach for occasionally.

  • Share what you build. We run weekly 30-second lightning-talk demos where everyone shows how they used AI to solve something that week - you'll be expected to bring something real.

  • Work with minimal process. You'll get context, a problem, and a mentor - the rest is on you to figure out and build.

  • Learn from and collaborate with both directions: senior engineers who'll mentor you on production-grade practices, and fellow interns across markets you'll trade ideas and code with at the weekly demos.

What We're Looking For

You build things because you want to, and that you already use AI to do it faster.

  • Genuine passion for building. You have side projects, hackathon entries, open-source contributions, or something you shipped just because you were curious. You didn't need an assignment to make it happen.

  • Real AI fluency. You've actually used tools like Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, or similar agentic coding tools to build something - not just asked ChatGPT to explain a concept. You should be able to explain how you used AI to get there and how you confirmed it actually worked - not someone who fires off a prompt and hopes for the best.

  • Bias toward action. Given an ambiguous problem, you start building before you ask for a spec.

  • Comfort with developing modern full-stack solutions - we care more about how fast you learn than what you already know cold.

  • Open to current undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates of a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related program. If you're pursuing a graduate degree and don't mind taking on an internship-level role to get hands-on with AI, we want to hear from you.

How to Apply

No take-home assignments, no formal problem sets. We're evaluating proof of work, not your ability to complete an assigned exercise. Please include:

  1. A link to a GitHub profile, deployed project, or anything else you've built - the more recent and self-directed, the better.

  2. A short answer (2-3 sentences, or a 2-minute video/Loom if you'd rather show than tell) to: "What's something hard you built recently, and why did you build it?"

We're not grading for correctness or polish. We're looking for whether you have a real answer, and whether it's clear you actually did the work yourself (with AI as your tool, not your ghostwriter).

$20 - $25 an hour
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Xsolla is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the Fair Chance Act.
 
Criminal History Consideration:
For the AI-First Engineering Intern, we will conduct a background check that may include the following:
Criminal history check
Employment verification
Education verification
 
Relevance to Job Responsibilities:
The background check is relevant to this position because of the following role responsibilities:
Accessing confidential company data
Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
 
 
Rights Under the Fair Chance Act:
Applicants are encouraged to inquire about their rights under the Fair Chance Act. If you have questions regarding our hiring practices, please contact [email protected].
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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