Technical Direction Internship – Feature Animation

Job Description

Technical Direction Intern, DreamWorks Animation, Fall 2026 | DreamWorks Animation

The Tone:
This is a hybrid part-time internship at DreamWorks Animation, located in Glendale, CA, requiring in-person work three days a week. DreamWorks Animation is a leading producer of high-quality, award-winning animated films and series, creating immersive new worlds and compelling stories with unique characters. This role is crucial for supporting the animation pipeline by developing and refining software tools, enabling artists to create high-quality animated films and series efficiently. The intern will contribute to a collaborative community of artists, technologists, innovators, and creators who are passionate about animation.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Part-Time (24 hours per week)
• Location: Hybrid, Glendale, CA
• Pay: $18.47 hourly
• Mission: Develop and support production tools for feature animation to enhance the creative pipeline and assist artists in large-scale productions.
• Tech Stack: Python, C++, JavaScript, Jira, Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Git

What You’ll Actually Do
• Tool Development: Craft and develop new software tools and applications to assist artists in large-scale feature animation productions.
• Pipeline Support: Observe and assist Technical Directors with writing tools for the production pipeline.
• System Maintenance: Test, debug, and extend existing tools and systems for efficiency and stability.
• Artist Assistance: Provide technical support directly to production artists to resolve issues and facilitate workflows.
• Data Management: Support additional administrative and data-wrangling tasks as needed for production operations.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing an Associate, Bachelor, or Graduate degree at a College/University (or equivalent), or a recent graduate (within six months).
• Experience: Demonstrated programming experience.
• Skills: Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently.
• Bonus: Major in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Visualization, or Digital Media; experience in programming languages such as Python, C++, or JavaScript; knowledge of computer graphics; experience with project-tracking software like Jira; understanding of digital content creation applications such as Maya, Houdini, and/or Nuke; interest in Feature Animation; solid grasp of revision control systems such as Git; familiarity with User Experience (UX) concepts and/or User Interface (UI) design and development.