Summer Paid Intern - Character Model/Rigging Technical Director

This is a Full Time Paid Internship

Pixar is offering an exciting opportunity geared towards students interested in pursuing a career on animated feature films as Characters Model/Rigging Technical Director. In this role, you will work closely with our Technical Directors (TDs) to construct and shape the character's 3D geometry, and the delivery of a well-designed set of animation controls for manipulating that geometry.

Responsibilities:
• Construct organic looking models and environments, using both manual and procedural techniques.
• Work with technical leads, reviewing and revising work as necessary to gain Production Designer and Director approval.
• Implement modeling and shading variations to provide objects the look that is required for the particular character being built.
• Create clean and efficient assets and support downstream departments.

Qualifications:
• Studying computer science, computer graphics, digital art or a related field
• Programming experience in C/C++ and/or a scripting language such as Python
• Familiar with 3D software packages (Houdini, Maya, Katana, RenderMan, etc.)
• Can visualize a three-dimensional character derived from two-dimensional drawings
• A deep understanding of physical motion, weight, balance, texture and form
• Possess an ability to follow art direction but also demonstrate initiative
• Familiarity with Unix/Linux systems
• Can demonstrate your sense of aesthetics by submitting an online demo reel
• This is a six-month internship. You will need to be available to work full-time Mon - Fri for 24-weeks between June – December 2025
• You must already possess the legal right to work in the United States

Eligibility:

Traditional Academic Paths:
• Currently enrolled as a junior or greater in a collegiate program.
• Recent grads who are in their first year after graduation are still eligible to apply.

Less Traditional Professional Paths:
• Career Transition: Those with a minimum of 5 years post-college graduation and whose professional experiences in a work/academic environment differ vastly from animation, VFX, gaming, and other computer graphics-focused industries
• Armed Forces: Those who have served in the armed forces and are in a retraining program
• Home Schooled: Those who are self-taught via an alternative educational path

Visa Sponsorship:
• Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor student / intern visas at this time

Submission process and application materials:
• Attach a single PDF file containing your cover letter and resume.
• Provide a link to your online demo reel in the "Demo Reel'' section of the application; without this, you will not be considered for the internship.
• If your demo reel is password protected, please include the correct password.
• Due to the high volume of submissions, we cannot provide feedback or requests for updates on the process. However, you will receive an email acknowledging the successful receipt of your online application.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 2, 2025

The pay rate for this internship in Emeryville is $28.00 per hour.