Design Engineering Intern 2026

Punchcut is looking for a Design Engineering Intern who bridges creative vision and technical reality to join us for a three-month internship. You should have a strong understanding of human-centered design and be comfortable working independently and in collaboration with other designers and engineers. You are passionate about building functional, high-fidelity prototypes that explore future technologies, including emerging interaction paradigms such as generative AI, spatial computing (VR/AR/MR), voice, and multimodal interfaces. You feel comfortable working within ambiguity and hacking in a fast-paced, collaborative studio environment. As a Punchcut intern, you'll play an active role on client projects and internal R&D, getting real-world, hands-on experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Assist in creating dynamic, logic-driven prototypes using real data, live APIs, and production-like architecture to solve design problems and validate novel interactions.
• Collaborate on prototyping with generative AI APIs, live LLMs, and spatial computing frameworks to evaluate latency, orchestration, and behavioral interactions.
• Leverage agentic engineering workflows to automate routine tasks, accelerate development velocity, and explore new coding paradigms.
• Write clean code using modern frameworks (e.g., React, Next.js, TypeScript) to help build component libraries, accessible experiences, or internal tools.
• Collaborate daily with a team of designers, technologists, and creative team members, acting as a bridge between design intent and technical execution.
  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Demonstrated ability to rapidly develop proof-of-concept demos and craft high-fidelity interactive prototypes following a project timeline.
• Familiarity with or eagerness to adopt agentic engineering tooling and AI-assisted development environments (e.g., Cursor, Codex, Claude Code).
• Familiarity with modern web and application frameworks (e.g., React, Next.js, TypeScript) and advanced transitions/animations.
• Experience or strong interest in integrating Generative AI APIs, LLMs, or real-time data streams into functional prototypes.
• Familiarity with logic-driven prototyping tools like ProtoPie, Unity, or custom code.
• Clear communication and a low-ego, high-agency collaboration mindset.
  

BONUS

• Experience building internal tools, CLIs, or Figma plugins.
• Familiarity with native development ecosystems (SwiftUI, visionOS, Jetpack Compose).
• Experience working with WebGL or Three.js.
• Experience designing, developing, and governing scalable design systems.
  

WHY PUNCHCUT?

Punchcut is a human interface design and innovation company. For over twenty years we've worked with the world's top companies to envision, design and launch connected products and services that engage customers and transform businesses. We believe strongly in approaching these design challenges from many different perspectives so we might find the most important, innovative, and universal solutions.

Our team is building a company that is diverse, equal, and inclusive – one where everyone feels valued and free to be their authentic selves. At Punchcut we embrace differences and all of the amazing, unique characteristics that make us human.

Punchcut designers are located across many time zones. We offer a virtual first, flexible work schedule and take pride in providing a balanced work environment. Full time employees receive medical, dental, life, and disability insurance as well as paid and sabbatical time off. Additional benefits include a 401k plan as well as allowances for technology, home office set up, professional development and wellness.

Cultivating a diverse, thriving, dispersed work environment is never done. We’re growing our network of people and programs to help us realize this vision. Join us in designing for the future we all want to see.

Punchcut is an Equal Opportunity Employer