ILM Technical Artist Intern, Summer 2025

About the Role & Program:
ILM Immersive produces premium, story-based immersive entertainment experiences for the following real-time rendered platforms: Immersive Cinema, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Theme Parks, and New Media. The ILM Immersive FX/Technical Art Intern will utilize fine art and technical art skills to contribute to the production of experiences by integrating with the development team to assist in the creation of shaders, visual effects, tools, and other more complex technical aspects of crafting art assets.
We're on a mission: building the future. We're working in this crazy-fun, hybridized fusion of entertainment where exceptionally high-end (previously pre-rendered) VFX meets interactive, immersive stories. That spectacular mash-up results in unparalleled real-time worlds where we endeavor to raise the bar for experiences and visuals as high as we possibly can. As if making compelling movies and games wasn't hard enough in isolation! Don't get us wrong, we're not complaining about the challenges. That's literally why we come to work: It is our great fortune to be standing at the crossroads - unconstrained by a specific title or universe - in a collaborative, highly creative, and highly technical work environment. If that sounds interesting, jump in. We still believe in picking up hitchhikers.
What You Will Do:

• Help process/optimize art assets for efficient use in the game engine.
• Under the supervision of technical and VFX artists: create models, textures, material setups/UV layouts, and some look development for environment/prop assets, including LODs.
• Under the supervision of VFX artists, create high-quality, optimized visual effects using animation, procedural simulation, dynamic simulation, and particle and fluid systems.
• Learn real-time art workflow in the immersive experience production context.
• Learn features/functions in Unreal Engine 5 and third-party tools. Create art examples using these tools and create effective presentations showing findings and results.
• Setting up and organizing project files, including cleaning up references and folders to align with established protocols.

Under supervision of technical/VFX artists, perform scripting tasks and gain experience in:

• Game design scripting
• Small tools scripting
• Unreal 5 plug-ins
• Blueprints
• Python
• Shaders
• Niagara
• Houdini

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Traditional art (composition, drawing, sketching, and color theory) and technical art (CG modeling, texturing, surfacing, animation, lighting, VFX) training.
• Technical capability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interact with diverse personalities.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and in team settings with a positive, proactive attitude.
• Strong time management skills; Ability to multitask and prioritize.
• Experience working in a game engine, Unreal Engine 5 preferred.
• Basic knowledge of version control systems, Perforce preferred.
• Ability to translate 2D concept art into 3D objects with accuracy.
• Competence with one or more 3D graphics applications (Maya, 3Ds Max)

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

• CG generalist-type education, with a general understanding of all game development fields.
• Programming/Scripting skills are a huge plus (Python, C++, C#, Java, VEX, or MEL)
• SCRUM/Agile understanding useful
• Passion for playing and making games; experience or interest in VR and AR VFX production/pipeline experience

Solid understanding of the following applications:

• Unreal Engine 5
• Perforce
• Substance Designer/Painter
• JIRA
• Confluence
• Niagara
• Houdini

Education:

• Currently working toward a Bachelor's with a major in Digital Art, Game Design & Development, Animation, or a related field.

Program Details:

• Location: San Francisco, CA.
• Program Length: May/June - August/September 2025 (12 weeks).
• Full-time, 40 hours per week.

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information:
At the time of application:

• Must be enrolled in an accredited college/university , taking at least one class in the semester/quarter (spring/fall) prior to participation in the internship program AND returning to school the semester/quarter following the internship OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship.
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must possess unrestricted work authorization and provide full availability for the entire program duration.
• Must provide your own housing and transportation during the internship.
• Have not completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or Disney College Program.

Additional Information:
At Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), we celebrate diversity and inclusion, fostering a culture where all voices are valued. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including individuals with disabilities and veterans, to apply.
The pay rate for this role in San Fransisco, CA, is $35.00 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.