User Research Intern (Tools)- Master's

Join Insomniac Games and gain hands-on experience conducting research that helps improve game development workflows and player experiences. As a User Research Intern, you'll collaborate with the User Research and Development Management teams to understand how individual contributors and leads use development tools such as Jira, Miro, and Confluence. You'll explore how these tools support daily workflows, identify challenges, and help uncover opportunities to improve how teams work together. You'll also support player research on game projects, gaining practical experience with surveys, interviews, usability testing, observation, and data analysis.

• 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 that communicate research findings to tool owners and development partners, helping 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 research methods and insights from games research to internal development tool workflows, with guidance from the User Research team.

• 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 equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience contributing to a game project or a demonstrated passion for games and player experience.
• Familiarity with research methods such as surveys, interviews, usability testing, or observation.
• Curiosity about how people work, with an empathetic listening style and the ability to ask clear, neutral follow-up questions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness to learn unfamiliar tools and collaborate with researchers, tool owners, and game development teams.
• Familiarity with Jira, Miro, Confluence, survey platforms, or similar tools is a plus.

• Students with expected graduation between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university.
• Advanced degree - Master's.
• Able to work during one of the following periods: May 17th - August 6th or June 14th - September 3rd.
• Must be available for the entire 12-week internship period.
• Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.
• At this time, SIE will only consider applicants who are authorized to work for any employer in the United States and who will not require work visa sponsorship from SIE now or in the future.

Intern Pay Range: $40.25—$40.25 USD (fixed hourly pay rate).