Applicants MUST be a current student at DigiPen Institute of Technology to qualify for this position.
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, a class is canceled, or a class ends early.
Student workers must reside within the State of Washington. Remote work outside of Washington will not be permitted.
Job Title: Open World Student Staff - Event / Summer Instructor, Su26
Reports to: David Robson, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Position Summary
Open World is looking for full-time, temporary Event and Summer Instructors to lead our event and summer 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. Instructors work alongside co-teachers to create a safe, supportive, and fun learning environment across subjects such as computer science, game design, art and animation, robotics, music and sound, and more.
About Open World
Our 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 - Students discover and dive deep into new fields. • Problem Solving - Activities build skills that extend beyond our programs. • Industry Connection - Students meet and learn from real industry professionals. • Care - Every student feels seen and supported. • Fun - Focus on enjoyable, inspiring experiences over rigid academic outcomes.
Who's on the team?
In addition to student staff, there are five year-round Open World team members:
• Emily Kirby, VP of Open World • David Robson, Director of Curriculum and Instruction • Brittan Rosa, Assistant Director for Marketing • Emily Collins, Operations Manager
Before you apply, please review the following information:
Summer staff must be available from June 8 - August 21, 2026.
Staff Training: June 8 - 18, 2026
Hours may fluctuate between 30-40 hours a week during training, so financially plan accordingly.
Workshops: June 22 - August 21, 2026
Locations & Hours
Locations:
• DigiPen Institute of Technology (Redmond, WA) • Cascadia College (Bothell, WA) • Eastside Catholic School (Sammamish, WA) • Open Window School (Bellevue, WA) • Eton School (Bellevue, WA) • St. Thomas School (Medina, WA) • Museum of Pop Culture (Seattle, WA) • Evergreen School (Shoreline, WA) • Other locations as needed
Hours fall between 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., but schedules vary depending on specific responsibilities and location, up to a maximum of 40 hours.
Essential Functions
• Work with a co-teacher to lead one- to two-week workshops for K-12 students • Engage students through interactive, hands-on learning • Maintain a safe, productive, caring, and fun environment for all • Communicate professionally with parents, students, and team members • Help answer questions from students and parents • Adapt to changing student needs and support all learners • Assist in setup, breakdown, and preparation of activities • Track and report time worked • 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 co-teachers and with other team members • Strong communication and organizational skills • Ability to engage and connect with children and teens • Ability to provide a supportive experience to all students and adapt to changing student support needs • Have completed high school • Bonus Skills/Attributes: • Previous experience with K-12 students • Has current CPR/first aid certification • Leadership, teaching, or event-planning experience • Strong attention to detail • Additional Knowledge (Highly Recommended): • Art & Animation: fundamentals (perspective, shading, form, color theory), 2D/3D animation production • Game Design: principles, Unity, Unreal, core programming concepts and high-level languages (C#, block coding, JavaScript) • Music & Sound Design: theory, composition, sound design, digital audio workstations • Programming: fundamentals, game/software development, competence with programming languages (C#, C++, JavaScript, Python) • Robotics: Lego/VEX kits, motor/sensor programming, core engineering principles
Compensation
$20 per hour starting rate
Returning staff with prior K-12 program experience at DigiPen: up to $30 per hour
Not benefits-eligible
Working Conditions
May involve lifting, carrying, stooping, kneeling, pushing, and/or pulling
Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs
Must pass criminal background check and 5-panel (non-THC) drug screen
Expected number of hours per week: 30 - 40
Students are expected to work up to 40 hours a week. If they are taking summer classes at DigiPen, they are ineligible for this position.
Working Conditions
The usual and customary methods of performing the jobs 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
Exceptions possible via Academic Waiver
It is possible to still be selected for a position with DigiPen if you do not meet the requirements above, so dont let that dissuade you from applying!
Once you have applied for - and the supervisor decides to offer you - 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 will continue you through the hiring process.
Equal opportunity is a priority of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as the institution is committed to fostering a positive learning environment for all. The Institutes 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.