Unreal Cinematics Internship

Job Description

About the Company

Deca Defense exclusively serves Defense OEMs and the DoD, specializing in Edge AI and autonomous systems engineering. Their core mission is to eliminate warfighter pain points by developing custom autonomous solutions that directly resolve critical field challenges, integrating advanced autonomy with embedded AI for precise, mission-critical solutions at the tactical edge. A key distinguishing factor is their team, comprised of veterans who bring irreplaceable real-world insights from various deployments directly to their solutions, ensuring that their autonomy-driven solutions are tailored to the harsh realities of the tactical edge.

Job Description

• Job Title: Unreal Cinematics Internship
• Company: Deca Defense
• Location: Remote
• Employment Type: Unpaid Internship (25 hours per week)
• ITAR Restriction: Due to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.

Position Overview:
Deca Defense is seeking an enthusiastic and capable intern with a focus on Unreal Engine cinematic workflows. This role involves supporting the creation of demo and trade show content that showcases the company’s mission-driven autonomous systems. The internship offers hands-on experience with real-time rendering, camera animation, and cinematic scene construction specifically tailored to defense applications. The intern will help build immersive, technically grounded cinematic sequences that bring autonomous platforms to life in visually engaging and mission-relevant ways.

Key Learning Opportunities and Responsibilities:
The intern will gain practical experience and contribute to:
• Cinematic Scene Construction: Building and lighting real-time environments in Unreal Engine 5 using Nanite and Lumen for realism and performance.
• Camera Work & Storytelling: Animating virtual cameras to frame, track, and showcase key features of autonomous systems within mission-specific scenarios.
• VFX & Environment Detailing: Utilizing Unreal’s Niagara system, Quixel Megascans, and marketplace assets to enhance realism in terrain, atmosphere, and FX layers.
• Lighting & Mood: Designing lighting setups with Lumen to support different time-of-day or environmental conditions, emphasizing tactical realism.
• Blueprint & Sequencer Workflow: Creating modular, reusable sequences using UE5’s cinematic tools and blueprint logic for rapid content iteration.
• Real-Time Optimization: Working with Nanite meshes and level streaming to ensure high visual fidelity on constrained hardware for trade show demos.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborating closely with AI engineers, robotics developers, and marketing leads to translate complex technologies into visually intuitive narratives.

Preferred Qualifications and Learning Objectives:
Candidates should preferably have:
• Educational Background: Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Game Design, Animation, Technical Art, or a related field.
• Unreal Engine Proficiency: Comfort with UE5 workflows including Sequencer, Lumen, Nanite, and blueprint scripting.
• Cinematic Animation: Experience animating cameras and characters for real-time storytelling.
• Real-Time Lighting: Understanding of dynamic lighting, post-process effects, and mood setting in real-time environments.
• Visual Composition: A strong eye for shot composition, timing, and motion for technical storytelling.
• VFX Integration: Familiarity with Niagara or third-party FX assets for real-time simulations.
• Performance Awareness: Ability to balance fidelity and performance for real-time playback on displays.
• Cross-Tool Experience (Bonus): Exposure to Blender, Houdini, After Effects, or Adobe tools for previsualization or asset preparation.

Why Join Deca Defense?
Joining Deca Defense means becoming part of a team of engineers focused on fielding real solutions, not just academic models. Interns will develop visual content for autonomous systems operating in complex environments where reliability is critical. This internship offers exposure to cutting-edge tools and real defense applications, with mentorship from professionals experienced in building systems for mission success. The company provides flexibility and guidance to foster skill growth and transform theoretical knowledge into practical results. This experience aims to provide a practical edge and a distinctive project portfolio, especially for those passionate about real-time storytelling, cinematic visualization, or interactive environments.

How to Apply:
Interested U.S. citizens who are excited about developing visual content for real-world autonomous systems and contributing to meaningful defense technologies should submit the following:
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing interest and relevant experience
• Portfolio or sample projects (if available)