[2026] AI/ML Engineer Intern

Who We Are

Second Dinner is an award-winning independent game development studio that is here to make the most fun games in the world. Not super fun games. Not SUPER DUPER fun games. We mean the MOST fun games. In fact, our game MARVEL SNAP has earned multiple Mobile Game of the Year Awards (Game Awards, DICE), Best Strategy Game (IGN), and the Apple Design Award for Innovation!

Second Dinner is a remote-first studio, so while we are headquartered in Irvine, California, most of our team is fully remote across the United States. We want the most talented teammates wherever they call home. A diverse team with varied perspectives makes us a better company and will help us make better games. If you can bring something new to the table and expand our point of view, that's a huge upside.

About The Internship

We're still finalizing the specific dates, but we are aiming for the internship duration to be approximately 12 to 13 weeks in Summer 2026. This role will be fully remote, but if you are local to our Irvine HQ, there will be opportunities for you to work from the office.

Our AI Team

At Second Dinner, we believe that with great people and a great environment, we can create great games and player experiences. On the AI team, we’re focused on researching, developing, and deploying cutting-edge AI technology to transform not only the way that we make games, but what’s even imaginable. This space is constantly changing, so we’re always keeping a lookout on what’s new and working with other teams to find the best applications across the company. We rapidly prototype and iterate on new ideas with the ultimate goal of redefining what’s possible in game development.

Your Role

As an AI/ML Engineer Intern, you’ll have the opportunity to work with the AI team for Second Dinner! You’ll report to the VP of Data & AI. Your work will be focused on identifying and building applications for emerging technologies from the AI field and will go through the process from ideation and research to prototyping and development.

What You’ll Do

• Ideate on novel applications of AI research to the game development space
• Conduct research on relevant techniques and technologies
• Work with the AI team to build and iterate on prototypes of your project
• Present and share your work both to the AI team and other members of the company
• Collaborate with various teams across Second Dinner
  
  

What You’ll Need

• Experience programming
• Strong understanding of AI models such as Large Language Models, Diffusion Networks, or Deep Reinforcement Learning methods
• Growth mindset, passion for learning new technologies and skills
• Awesome technical and personal communication skills
• Excitement to build out new applications for emerging technology to create the best games
  
  

Nice To Have, But Not Necessary

• Strong experience in Python
• Research experience in AI
• Experience modifying, fine tuning, and adapting deep learning models
• Currently pursuing an advanced degree in a related field (machine learning, computer science, data science, etc.)
• Experience in game development
• Experience with Git or other version control systems
  
  

Requirements

• Currently enrolled at a university or college in a Master's or PhD program
• Eligible to work in the United States
  
  

Compensation: $50/HR - $55/HR

We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.

You must be legally authorized to work and reside in the United States. We do not sponsor visas or support employment outside the U.S. for this role.