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Summer 2D Character Design Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM

Summer 2D Character Design information

See Rio Rancho, NM salary details

$13

$28

$44

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

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for summer 2d character design in Rio Rancho, NM is $28.18, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.60 and $31.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Summer 2D Character Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Summer 2D Character Designer, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character development, often supported by a degree or coursework in art or design. Familiarity with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and drawing tablets is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to take feedback make someone stand out in this position. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, visually consistent characters that align with project goals and captivate audiences.

What are some common challenges faced by Summer 2D Character Designers, and how can they be overcome?

Summer 2D Character Designers often face tight project deadlines and the need to quickly adapt to different artistic styles, especially when working on collaborative projects like summer animation workshops or game jams. Communication with other team members, such as animators and art directors, is essential to ensure character designs are both visually appealing and functional for animation. Staying organized, accepting constructive feedback, and maintaining a robust portfolio of work created during the summer can help overcome these challenges and set you up for future opportunities in character design.

What are Summer 2D Character Designers?

Summer 2D Character Designers are artists who create and develop character concepts and illustrations, typically for projects or internships that take place during the summer months. Their work is essential in fields such as animation, video games, comics, and advertising, where visually appealing and original characters are needed. These designers use traditional drawing techniques or digital tools to bring characters to life, often collaborating with other creatives like writers and animators. Summer positions may be geared toward students or emerging artists seeking hands-on experience and portfolio development during a limited timeframe.

What is the difference between Summer 2D Character Design vs 2D Character Animator?

AspectSummer 2D Character Design2D Character Animator
Required SkillsConcept art, character sketches, design softwareAnimation techniques, rigging, motion software
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, freelance projects, gaming and animation companiesAnimation studios, gaming companies, post-production houses
Common CertificationsDigital art, illustration, design coursesAnimation, motion graphics certifications

Summer 2D Character Design focuses on creating the visual concepts and character designs, while 2D Character Animator brings those designs to life through movement and animation. Both roles often collaborate but require different skill sets and tools, making them distinct yet complementary positions in the animation and gaming industries.

What job categories do people searching Summer 2D Character Design jobs in Rio Rancho, NM look for? The top searched job categories for Summer 2D Character Design jobs in Rio Rancho, NM are:
What cities near Rio Rancho, NM are hiring for Summer 2D Character Design jobs? Cities near Rio Rancho, NM with the most Summer 2D Character Design job openings:
Infographic showing various Summer 2D Character Design job openings in Rio Rancho, NM as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 15% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,620 per year, or $28.2 per hour.

Summer 2026 Internship - Mechanical Engineering

Pacific Fusion

Los Lunas, NM

$18.25 - $24.50/hr

Other

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Why This Role Matters

Pacific Fusion is seeking an exceptional Mechanical Engineering Intern  to join our dynamic team and create the path to commercial fusion energy. In your role as a mechanical engineering intern, you will get to own a project through the planning, design, assembly, and testing phases of development. Our intention is for our interns to get experience in cradle to grave design as well as hands-on experience building and testing these systems. All of our intern projects are high priority and value-added efforts that directly contribute to the successful development of our fusion system.

What You'll Do
  • Work on a variety of of meaningful projects
What You Bring
  • Junior or Senior standing in a 4-year Mechanical Engineering program
  • Strong foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals and first principles
  • Clear, confident written and verbal communication skills
  • Working knowledge of stress analysis (hand calcs and FEA), 2D drawings, and design for manufacturing and assembly
  • Experience using 2D and 3D CAD tools such as Creo or SolidWorks

Additional Requirements:

  • Able to work full time, onsite in Los Lunas, NM for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks beginning in June 2026
Bonus Points For
  • Hands-on mechanical design through coursework, clubs, research, or personal projects
  • Experience with conventional machining, shop tools, and rapid prototyping
  • Experience defining system architectures and making design tradeoffs against requirements
  • Experience writing build instructions, procedures, or test plans
  • Strong measurement, documentation, and data analysis skills
  • Curiosity, humility, and a desire to both teach and learn
  • Ability to design, build, and operate test stands and experimental hardware
  • Experience or strong interest in kinematics
  • Experience or strong interest in structures
  • Experience or strong interest in robotics
  • 6+ months of prior internship, co-op, or substantial project experience
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Experience with CAD, MATLAB, Python, or Excel
What We Offer
  • Meaningful, resume-building engineering work 
  • A chance to design, build, and test real systems
  • Mentorship from experienced engineers in a high-impact environment
  • Exposure to the full product lifecycle-from concept and design to build, test, and operation
  • A collaborative, hands-on, learning-driven culture
  • An unforgettable summer working on systems that truly matter!