- Student Employment at DigiPen is open to all currently matriculated students if they meet the qualifications for the job.
- Students may not work during any time when they have a class scheduled, even if a class is canceled or ends early.
- Student workers must reside within the state of Washington. Remote work outside of Washington will not be permitted.
Open World Student Staff – Summer Instructor, Su24
Our new Open World program is reimagining summer camps for youth in grades K-12. For more than a decade, ProjectFUN and Academy camps provided concentrated math, science, and art courses to Seattle-area youth.
Come meet our new staff and our new approach as we evolve and change our model to provide fun, hands-on, high-quality experiences in STEAM* fields of the future through our Open World by DigiPen workshops!
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math
We are looking for Summer Instructors to lead our summer 2024 workshops, working with a co-teacher to introduce students to STEAM fields and create an engaging, supportive, and fun learning environment. We are looking for enthusiastic, kind, and professional candidates who enjoy working with kids.
This position reports to Danny Samuels, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Open World Philosophy
Every child who attends our workshops should come away feeling engaged by our instructors and industry guests, excited to share what they learned and created, empowered with the skills to continue creating, and cared for by every member of our team.
Open World Core Values
- Exploration: Our program allows students to explore new fields and dive deep into subjects they are passionate about.
- Fun: Our program experience is focused on fun and exposure, rather than academic outcomes that must be achieved.
- Industry connection: Our students will experience a direct connection to the interactive media industry, via our instructors and industry guests.
- Problem solving: Through our workshops’ fun and engaging activities, our students will learn problem solving skills that can be applied outside of our program.
- Care: Every student who attends our workshops will feel seen and cared for.
Who’s on the team?
In addition to summer staff, there are five year-round Open World team members:
- Emily Kirby, VP of Open World
- Danny Samuels, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
- David Robson, Curriculum Developer
- Myke Okuhara, Assistant Director of Marketing
- Emily Collins, Operations Manager
Before you apply, please review the following information:
You may be asked to staff an Open World outreach event between January 1 and May 31, 2024 (which you can decline, if unavailable). You must be available for these summer dates:
- Staff training: June 10-21
- Workshops: June 24-August 16
- Hours fall between 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., but schedules may vary depending on specific responsibilities (40 hours max)
- Must a pass a criminal background check and 5-panel (non-THC) drug screen
- Student hours for this summer, temporary, full-time position range from 30 to 40 hours per week. For scheduling reasons, students enrolled in summer classes are ineligible for this position.
You may also be asked to teach on campuses other than DigiPen Redmond.
To maintain this job, you must be eligible to work 40 hours per week and thus cannot attend summer courses.
Essential Functions
- Work with a co-teacher to lead one-week and two-week workshops of K-12 students
- Engage all students in active learning
- Maintain a safe, productive, caring, fun environment for all
- Communicate with parents, students, and teammates clearly and professionally
- Help answer questions from students and parents
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Required Skills:
- Knowledge in any of the fields of computer science, art and animation, game design, robotics, music and sound design, or other relevant experience
- Ability to work collaboratively with a co-teacher and with other team members
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Ability to engage students; enjoys working with children and teens
- Ability to provide a supportive experience to all students and adapt to changing student support needs
- Must have completed high school
Bonus Skills/Attributes:
- Previous experience with K-12 students
- Has current CPR/first aid certification
- Leadership or presentation experience
- Previous teaching experience
- Experience planning and leading events, clubs, or group activities
- Strong attention to detail
Additional Knowledge
The following knowledge and skills are highly recommended but not required:
Art and Animation
- Art fundamentals (perspective, shading, form, and color theory)
- 2D and/or 3D animation production experience
Game Design
- Understanding of basic game design principles and concepts
- Unity Development
- Unreal Engine Development
- Basic programming concepts including -variables, iteration, conditionals, and functions in any high-level language such as C++, C#, Java, and Javascript
- Frequent and enthusiastic player of tabletop and video games
Music & Sound Design
- Basic understanding of music theory
- Intermediate knowledge and skill with composing music and sound design
- Experience working with digital audio workstation software
Programming
- Foundational knowledge and experience programming with high-level programming, including such as C++, C#, Java, and Javascript
- Experience applying fundamental software engineering processes and practices to write a variety of software, including simple games.
Robotics
- Experience working with robotic kits made by Lego or Vexx.
- Experience programming basic robotic elements, including motors and sensors
Compensation
- $20 per hour
- Returning staff who have previously worked in K12 summer programs at DigiPen may qualify for up to $26 per hour.
Not benefits eligible.
Working Conditions
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands:
- Some lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling
- Some stooping, kneeling, or crouching
- Able to lift up to 25 lbs.
DigiPen Student Employee Academic Requirements:
- Are currently a Matriculated student at DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Good Academic Standing – not on Academic Warning as defined in DigiPen Course Catalog
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
Notes:
It is possible to still be selected for a position with DigiPen if you do not meet the requirements above, so don't let that dissuade you from applying!
Once you have applied for and have been offered a position, we will contact the necessary managers (Supervisor, Department Chair, and/or the Dean of Faculty) to complete and sign off on an Academic Waiver form, depending on which requirements need to be waived. Once the Waiver is returned to us, we'll continue you through the hiring process.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and academic freedom are priorities of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as DigiPen endorses the goals of affirmative action and equal opportunity employment. The Institute's intent is to hire the most qualified individuals for faculty and staff, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds of race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, veteran status, nationality, culture, religion, and physical abilities. We are committed to broadening our candidate pool to include more diverse individuals and ensuring fairness in hiring by avoiding bias and determining criteria to judge all candidates prior to posting each new position.
