SIMS Summer Associate Program 2025

About Sony Music Entertainment

At Sony Music Entertainment, we fuel the creative journey. We’ve played a pioneering role in music history, from the first-ever music label to the invention of the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time.

Today, we work in more than 70 countries, supporting a diverse roster of international superstars, developing and independent artists, and visionary creators. From our position at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to the newest products and platforms, embrace new business models, employ breakthrough tools, and provide powerful insights that help our artists push creative boundaries and reach new audiences. In everything we do, we’re committed to artistic integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurship.

Sony Music Entertainment is a member of the Sony family of global companies.

Overview

Sony Immersive Music Studios, based in Culver City, CA is focused on reimagining music through creativity and technology.  We create and distribute exciting new immersive experiences for music fans around the world using real-time 3D software.  We are looking for passionate creators who want to reimagine music and lead a new era of entertainment. 

This summer, we are sponsoring a 10-week innovation program and are seeking a select number of undergraduate and graduate students from both technical and creative fields of study. Over the course of ten weeks (beginning June 2, 2025 and ending August 8, 2025), participating Summer Associates will have the unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with music and entertainment executives to develop next generation immersive content experiences.  

If you are interested in developing immersive content experiences with a focus on the latest real-time 3D software, audiovisual interactivity, storytelling. generative AI and Location Based Entertainment (LBE), this role is for you.

The Summer Associate will have the opportunity to apply technical and creative expertise and contribute to emerging content projects that support Sony Immersive Music Studios’ global businesses. You will work within a small team of 2-3 people and be responsible for developing and showcasing at least one original project as outlined by an assigned managing executive. 

Responsibilities

• Gain hands-on experience working with a diverse set of emerging technologies associated with Unreal Engine and related to immersive music-based experiences.
• Explore generative AI tools and apply them to assist in the creation of compelling audiovisual music experiences.
• Prototype an original music focused LBE experience.
• Develop an original immersive music experience using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).
• Work extensively with digital human and performance capture pipelines.
• Have access to, and build with, released and unreleased tools and technologies.
• Receive guidance and mentorship from senior Sony Immersive Music Studios executives.
• Gain business knowledge about how the music business functions.
• Meet with Sony executives from various business units, as well as guest speakers from leading content/technology companies.
• Showcase final projects to a panel of Sony executives at the program’s end.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Unreal Engine and its key components such as Niagara, Lumen, Sequencer, Metahuman, Blueprints and next generation creator tools.
• Experience building gameplay systems and mechanics using Fortnite’s UEFN creator tools.
• Experience with Fortnite’s programming language Verse. 
• Technical art experience with a focus on implementing VFX systems and 3D assets in UEFN.
• Familiarity with DMX controllers and Unreal Engine 5.
• Experience designing high quality original characters using Metahuman, including hair and cloth simulation and facial capture using Metahuman Animator.
• Understanding and experience with generative AI tools and techniques.
• Familiarity with LBE concepts and development approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in 2D or 3D art, animation, texturing or UX/UI experience design using tools such as Maya, Blender, Substance, 3DS Max and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience creating high quality cinematics in UE5, including environments, props, characters, lighting, VFX and virtual cameras.  
• Demonstrated experience creating and implementing visual effects, custom shaders and materials.
• Familiarity with at least one of the following: real-time lighting, shading, composition, 3D asset creation or 2D painting.
• Strong artistic and aesthetic skills, principles, POV and art fundamentals.
• Ability to quickly prototype and iterate.
• Experience with Perforce a plus.
• Passion for building immersive environments with a focus on music.
• Self-motivated with drive for excellence.
• Excellent team player, collaborator and communicator.

Sony Music is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, veteran or military status, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.