Opportunity at
FigmaPhD Intern, Software Engineer - Graphics (2027)
Figma's Rendering and Animation team is seeking a PhD intern to work on the graphics engine that draws the canvas for all Figma products. The 12-…
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About This Role
Figma's Rendering and Animation team is seeking a PhD intern to work on the graphics engine that draws the canvas for all Figma products. The 12- or 16-week internship, starting in May or June 2027, is based at Figma's San Francisco or New York hub office. The intern takes ownership of a project in areas such as GPU rendering, vector graphics, animation or media processing. It suits a senior PhD…
Job Description
Figma's Rendering and Animation team is seeking a PhD intern to work on the graphics engine that draws the canvas for all Figma products. The 12- or 16-week internship, starting in May or June 2027, is based at Figma's San Francisco or New York hub office. The intern takes ownership of a project in areas such as GPU rendering, vector graphics, animation or media processing. It suits a senior PhD student in computer graphics or a related field.
Responsibilities
- Own a high-impact project in areas such as GPU rendering, vector graphics, animation or shaders
- Work with graphics engineers, product managers and designers to scope and deliver results
- Turn prototypes into production-ready systems and document the solutions
- Collaborate with one or two partner teams during the internship
Requirements
- Current enrollment as a fourth- or fifth-year senior PhD student in computer graphics, media processing or a related field
- Experience with OpenGL, WebGL, WebGPU, Vulkan or Metal and their shader languages
- Proficiency in C++ or Rust
- Track record of rigorous academic or applied research and problem-solving
Qualifications
- Publications at venues such as SIGGRAPH, Eurographics or High Performance Graphics
- Experience with WebAssembly, 2D graphics, animation or media processing
- Experience using AI tools to write, debug and optimize code
Core Skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Where is the internship based?
At Figma's San Francisco or New York hub office.
When and how long is it?
The internship lasts 12 or 16 weeks and starts in May or June 2027.
Who is it for?
Current fourth- or fifth-year senior PhD students in computer graphics, media processing or a related field.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.