Technical Assistant Intern - Summer 2026 (Open to Canadian Citizens & PR only)

Job Summary :

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) invites you to apply to our Technical Assistant internship in Vancouver and contribute to the exciting world of visual effects (VFX). ILM strives to be an inclusive environment, embracing promising individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Our interns embody the innovative spirit, creative talent, collaborative mindset, and passion for great filmmaking that defines ILM. If you love art, technology, and sharing knowledge while learning from others, this is the environment for you.

Position Summary

As an Technical Assistant Intern, you will work alongside our Technical Assistant (TA) team to provide front line rendering and data management support, for VFX Production teams as well as the facility. TAs also manage storage by wrangling data through archiving, removing data, and following resource management best practices. The TA team ensures full utilization of the render farm during their shift, and communicates as technical issues affecting the throughput of the farm arise to the Digital Resource Managers (DRMs) and shows affected as applicable.

Applications will close on January 12, 2026.

What You Need to Know

You must be a Canadian Citizen or hold Canadian Permanent Resident status

You must be attending an Undergraduate program from a public Canadian post-secondary education institution, and returning to your studies following the internship

This is a paid 4-month internship, beginning May 4, 2026

This role is considered Hybrid, which means you will work onsite at our Vancouver studio and occasionally from home

You will be required to work full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm

We do not provide assistance for relocation, housing, transportation, or work authorization for internships

What You’ll Do

Work with the TAs on prioritization of renders; coordinating processor allocations with Core Pipeline & Show Production teams; balancing processor demands within show, between shows, and as a share of facility pool

Report issues with frames post render to the digital artists and CG Supervisors, and work to find a solution

Work alongside morning / day shift TAs to determine the previous nights resource utilizations and continue to monitor any long running jobs. Report any machine problems or general issues that hinder the completion of renders to the appropriate department

Monitor disk usage for the facility, with a particular focus on individual shows, and on a shot-by-shot basis within those shows. Coordinate show storage needs on a long-term basis with Digital Resource Manager

Work with the Digital Resource Manager, CG Supervisors, and Core Pipeline team to ensure show follows proper data management procedures

Participate in development projects; assist in writing production and pipeline scripts as required to benefit ongoing technology efforts as well as maintain and update existing department tools. Work closely with Core Pipeline and TAs to ensure that code is clean and well maintained

What We’re Looking For

Knowledge of and experience with Linux, Mac, and Windows operating systems

Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interact with diverse personalities

Time management skills; ability to multi-task and prioritize

Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

The ability to work autonomously and in team settings

Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills

Ability to adapt to a high pressure, fast-paced, dynamic environment

Nice to have :

Familiarity or knowledge in programming skills, with proficiency in Python and / or other scripting languages commonly used in VFX production, or coding experience in another language

Aesthetic eye and / or artistic background a plus

Knowledge of 3D animation software (. Maya, Katana)

Knowledge of networking, tape backup systems, and hardware

VFX, feature animation or episodic production experience

JoinILM

The pay rate for this role in Vancouver is C$25.00 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and / or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.