User Research Intern (Tools)- Master's

Insomniac Games•Burbank, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Insomniac Games to gain hands-on experience conducting research that helps improve 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, how these tools support daily workflows, and where challenges and opportunities for improvement exist. The role also supports player research on game projects, offering practical experience with surveys, interviews, usability testing, observation, and data analysis. The internship applies research methods to both internal development processes and player experiences, with guidance from experienced researchers and cross-functional partners. This is a 12-week internship. Candidates must be available for the entire internship period and able to work during one of the listed periods: May 17–August 6 or June 14–September 3. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States and must not require work visa sponsorship from SIE now or in the future. The position offers a fixed hourly pay rate of $40.25. Background checks are conducted at the offer stage for new employees.

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 gained 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 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.
Expected graduation between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university.
Able to work for the entire 12-week internship during one of the listed periods: May 17–August 6 or June 14–September 3.
Authorized to work for any employer in the United States without requiring 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 about 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 recording practices.
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 findings to tool owners and development partners to inform practical improvements and future research.
Support the 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 methods and insights from games research to internal development tool workflows, with guidance from the User Research team.