Intern, 3D Technical

The Bernard Group•Chanhassen, MN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The 3D Technical Intern supports the execution of immersive retail and experiential environments by preparing accurate, optimized 3D assets for production. The role bridges design concepts and technical delivery through maintaining material libraries, following asset workflows, and troubleshooting model issues to support handoffs between creative, engineering, and production teams. The intern works under guidance and mentorship and collaborates across teams to help visualize, iterate, and deliver branded environments and physical design experiences. This is a paid 2027 summer internship with The Bernard Group, a 100% employee-owned visual merchandising company. The internship is in Chanhassen, Minnesota, begins either May 24 or June 7, and has a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Compensation is $21.00 per hour. The program begins with an interactive onboarding program covering the company’s technology, processes, and culture.

Requirements

Working toward a bachelor’s or associate degree in Industrial Design, Computer Graphics, Digital Design, Video Games, or a related field.
At least 1 year of hands-on experience using 3DS Max, including modeling, rendering, and file optimization.
At least 1 year of experience in 3D asset management, file organization, optimization, and troubleshooting in design or production environments.
Strong understanding of industry-standard file formats, including OBJ, FBX, STL, and STEP, and workflow compatibility across design, visualization, and fabrication pipelines.
Intermediate 3DS Max skills with Corona and/or V-Ray for modeling and rendering, and versatility with SketchUp, Cinema 4D, and other 3D platforms as needed.
Ability to convert and streamline 3D files for performance and compatibility, and diagnose and repair technical issues such as non-manifold geometry, inverted normals, and poor UV mapping.
Foundational understanding of creating and applying 3D materials to simulate surfaces for clear, realistic presentations.
Attention to detail in asset preparation, file naming, version control, digital asset management platforms, and shared material and texture databases.
Strong listening, communication, and collaboration skills, including the ability to present technical ideas clearly in writing and verbally and work across Design, Product Development, Engineering, IT, and Sales.
Adaptability to changing project requirements, software updates, and workflow changes, and interest in emerging 3D tools, rendering techniques, and file optimization strategies.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, listen well, and present ideas concisely and effectively.
Willingness to acknowledge mistakes; be trustworthy, reliable, loyal to customers and the team, easy to work with, enthusiastic about new challenges, and adaptable to taking on different tasks.
Portfolio or work samples demonstrating technical accuracy, clean geometry, 3D material application, and spatial visualization skills.

Nice To Haves

Interest in retail design, visual literacy, and willingness to learn its fundamentals, intricacies, materials, and trends.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with designers to prepare 3D models and visual components for concept development and design presentations.
Optimize 3D assets for visual clarity, efficient rendering, and downstream production workflows, including reducing polygon counts and refining geometry.
Maintain material libraries, texture databases, and shared 3D resources for current and future projects.
Follow file naming, version control, and archiving standards; use asset management tools to track file usage and support clean project handoffs.
Convert 3D assets into production-ready formats such as OBJ, STL, STEP, and FBX for internal stakeholders or vendor requirements.
Diagnose and repair model geometry errors to ensure model integrity and fabrication compatibility.
Partner with IT and technical teams to explore software tools, plug-ins, and systems that support 3D design operations.
Complete miscellaneous technical and asset support tasks as assigned by management.