User Research Intern (Tools)- Masters

Insomniac Games•Burbank, CA

About The Position

Join Insomniac Games to gain hands-on experience conducting research that improves game development workflows and player experiences. The User Research Intern collaborates with User Research and Development Management teams to understand how individual contributors and leads use development tools such as Jira, Miro, and Confluence. The intern explores how these tools support daily workflows, identifies challenges, and helps uncover opportunities to improve collaboration. The intern also supports player research on game projects, gaining practical experience with surveys, interviews, usability testing, observation, and data analysis. The internship provides an opportunity to apply research methods to internal development processes and player experiences while learning from experienced researchers and cross-functional partners.

Requirements

Currently pursuing or have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Cognitive Science, or a related field, or have equivalent relevant experience through work, research projects, community work, or independent study.
Experience contributing to a game project or demonstrated passion for games and player experience.
Familiarity with research methods such as surveys, interviews, usability testing, or observation through coursework, projects, or practical experience.
Curiosity about how people work, an empathetic listening style, and the ability to ask clear, neutral follow-up questions.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to organize research findings and share insights clearly.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when working with research participants, study materials, and data.
Willingness to learn unfamiliar tools and collaborate with researchers, tool owners, and game development teams.
Students must have an expected graduation date between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university; this posting specifies an advanced degree—Master's.
Must be able to work for the entire 12-week internship period during one of the listed periods: May 17–August 6 or June 14–September 3.
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States and not require work visa sponsorship from SIE now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Jira, Miro, Confluence, survey platforms, or similar tools; prior experience with specific studio tools is not required.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with User Research and Development Management partners to develop research questions about tool use, workflow challenges, user needs, and workarounds across the studio.
Design and conduct surveys with individual contributors and leads to understand their experiences using Jira, Miro, Confluence, and related systems.
Assist with recruiting research participants and conducting interviews or observed workflow sessions, including remote sessions, while following participant consent and studio practices for recording.
Organize and analyze survey responses, interview notes, and observations to identify recurring themes, differences across roles, and opportunities for improvement.
Prepare reports and presentations communicating research findings to tool owners and development partners to inform practical improvements and future research.
Support planning and execution of usability studies and playtests for game projects, including participant logistics, session preparation, observation, and note-taking.
Analyze player feedback and contribute to research reports and presentations that help game development teams understand player experiences.
Apply research methods and insights from games research to internal development tool workflows, with guidance from the User Research team.