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Internship 2D Character Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Character Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D. * Document clearly and can explain the reasoning behind a design choice, not just the choice itself. * Are ...

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Create clear and expressive character turnarounds, pose sheets, and supplementary drawings in 2D and/or CG visual development formats * Conduct visual and thematic research to inform design choices ...

Create clear and expressive character turnarounds, pose sheets, and supplementary drawings in 2D and/or CG visual development formats * Conduct visual and thematic research to inform design choices ...

Discover how an internship with MSI could challenge you to explore new possibilities. Company ... Second year students will have the opportunity to begin training on 2D machines. Detailing work ...

Discover how an internship with MSI could challenge you to explore new possibilities.Company ... Second year students will have the opportunity to begin training on 2D machines. Detailing work ...

Experience: 1 2 years of relevant engineering, drafting, or strong internship experience is required. Technical Skills: Proficiency in both 2D and 3D CAD drafting is mandatory. Strong experience with ...

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Internship 2D Character Design information

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$19

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How much do internship 2d character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship 2d character design in the United States is $19.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $21.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Internship 2D Character Design vs Junior 2D Character Artist?

AspectInternship 2D Character DesignJunior 2D Character Artist
CredentialsTypically students or entry-level with basic skillsPortfolio and some professional experience
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, learning-focusedFull-time or part-time professional roles
Industry UsageUsed for training and skill developmentUsed for production and project work
Search & ComparisonOften compared for entry-level opportunitiesCompared for professional growth

Internship 2D Character Design is an entry-level position focused on learning and developing skills, often held by students or beginners. In contrast, a Junior 2D Character Artist is a professional role requiring some experience and a portfolio, involved in actual project work. The internship serves as a stepping stone toward becoming a full-time artist, while the junior role signifies a more advanced, production-ready position.

More about Internship 2D Character Design jobs

What cities are hiring for Internship 2D Character Design jobs?

Cities with the most Internship 2D Character Design job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of 2D Character Design jobs?

The most popular types of 2D Character Design jobs are:

What states have the most Internship 2D Character Design jobs?

States with the most job openings for Internship 2D Character Design jobs include:

Infographic showing various Internship 2D Character Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 25% Internship, 25% Full Time, 42% Part Time, and 8% Temporary. Highlights an 66% In-person, 17% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,304 per year, or $19.4 per hour.

Character Artist

Human Computer Lab

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.
Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.
What to expect
We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and feels - the visual and expressive language that makes a robot read as alive rather than mechanical. You'll work on everything from early concept sketches and mood boards to the motion, gesture, and lighting cues that give the robot its personality, translating character intent into something the hardware and software teams can actually build and ship. This role requires tight, fast-cycling collaboration with electrical, mechanical, and software teams - character decisions here don't stay on paper, they become motor curves, timing, and light behavior. You'll work closely with the CEO and founding team to shape the character identity of LeLamp and the robots that follow.
In this role, you will:
  • Create concept art, mood boards, and character studies that define LeLamp's personality and visual identity.
  • Collaborate with the hardware team on form factor, silhouette, materials, and color to keep the physical design aligned with the character.
  • Design expressive motion - gestures, "emotional" states, and behaviors expressed through movement, light, and sound.
  • Prototype and iterate quickly, moving between sketches, renders, and physical mockups.
  • Partner with robotics and software engineers to translate character intent into concrete behavior parameters (motion curves, timing, lighting cues).
  • Build and maintain style guides and a character bible to keep the robot's expression consistent as the team grows.
  • Review hardware and software prototypes against the character vision and give clear, actionable feedback.
  • Support brand and marketing assets to keep the character consistent across every touchpoint.

You may be a good fit if you:
  • Are pursuing a degree in screen-writing, animation, character design, industrial design, or a related field - or have equivalent hands-on portfolio experience.
  • Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D.
  • Document clearly and can explain the reasoning behind a design choice, not just the choice itself.
  • Are comfortable iterating quickly, moving from rough sketch to testable prototype without waiting for a perfect brief.
  • Are genuinely interested in physical products, not just screen-based or purely digital characters.

You will be a strong fit, if you:
  • Have designed characters or mascots that had to work within real hardware or physical constraints, not just on a screen.
  • Understand core animation principles (timing, weight, squash and stretch, anticipation) and know how to translate them into motors, servos, and lighting.
  • Are comfortable collaborating directly with engineers, turning an abstract sense of "feel" into concrete specs they can build against.
  • Move quickly through iteration cycles and don't wait for perfect information to make progress.
  • Take ownership over your work end to end, from first sketch to a behavior that's live in the robot.
  • Work well in small, collaborative teams where character, electrical, and mechanical are in constant conversation.
  • Care about what the character enables: warmth, expressiveness, and the feeling that the robot is alive.

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.