3D Modeler/Animator Intern Position Overview The 3D Modeler/Animator Intern will assist in the creation, rigging, and animation of real-time assets for BOA XR's mixed reality games. You'll work on producing low-poly, performance-optimized 3D content using Blender and Maya, with assets shipped directly into Unity for Meta Quest 3 and emerging smartglasses platforms. This role is for those who want to engage in building production-ready XR art pipelines. Duration: 3 Months (Unpaid). Performance Clause: Candidates performing extraordinarily will be offered a 3-month extension as a paid internship, with the potential for a subsequent full-time employment offer. Key Responsibilities Real-Time Asset Creation: Model game-ready, low-poly meshes for characters, props, and environments, with strict adherence to tri-count budgets for standalone XR hardware. UV Unwrapping & Texturing: Produce clean UV layouts and author hand-painted or PBR textures using Substance Painter, Photoshop, or Blender's texture paint workflow. Rigging & Skinning: Build production-grade rigs with proper weight painting, IK/FK setups, and control structures suitable for both gameplay and cinematic animation. Animation: Create keyframe animations for character locomotion, combat, idle states, and creature behaviors — with attention to looping, blending, and root motion considerations for Unity's Animator/Mecanim system. Pipeline Integration: Export FBX assets with correct scale, pivot, and naming conventions; troubleshoot import issues in Unity and validate in-engine performance. Optimization: Bake normal/AO maps from high-poly sculpts, retopologize where needed, and ensure all assets meet draw call and material count targets for Quest 3. Requirements Blender or Maya Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of at least one industry-standard DCC tool, with demonstrable modeling and animation work. Topology Fundamentals: Solid grasp of clean edge flow, quad-based topology, and deformation-friendly geometry for animated assets. Rigging Knowledge: Familiarity with armatures, skinning, weight painting, and constraint systems. Texturing Skills: Working knowledge of UV unwrapping, baking workflows, and at least one texturing tool (Substance Painter preferred). Real-Time Awareness: Understanding of the constraints of mobile XR rendering — tri budgets, texture atlasing, material instancing, and LODs. Communication: Ability to work effectively in a highly intensive, creative environment with rapid feedback cycles. Preferred Skills Experience exporting and validating assets in Unity (Animator Controller, Avatar setup, humanoid rigs). Familiarity with stylized/hand-painted texture workflows. Sculpting experience in ZBrush or Blender's sculpt mode. Knowledge of shader-driven effects (vertex animation, dissolve, toon shading). Previous work shipped on Meta Quest, mobile, or other low-power platforms. A portfolio with original creature or character work is a strong plus. What We Offer Impact: The opportunity to have your assets integrated into BOA XR's first-party gaming titles. Path to Career: A clear, performance-based pipeline to paid roles and full-time positions. Location: Remote Please Note: This 3-month unpaid internship is designed for those looking to bypass the corporate ladder by taking on immediate ownership within a high-stakes deep tech environment during our critical zero-to-one growth phase. We're looking for future partners; stand-out interns will be accelerated into full-time roles.