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, 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.

Position: Open World Student Staff - Instructor & Event Support, F25-S26

Join the Open World team to lead engaging workshops, afterschool programs, and special events for students K–12. 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.

Reports to: David Robson, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

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 four 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:

Schedule & Commitment

Afterschool Programs – Up to 5 hours/week during the school year.
Monthly Events – Up to 5 hours/month.
Other Events – Additional hours as needed for community, outreach, or industry events.

Locations & Hours

Locations: DigiPen Institute of Technology (Redmond, WA) and other nearby locations as scheduled
Hours: Afternoon/evening schedules for afterschool programs and events.
Hours vary based on program and event needs.

Essential Functions

Work with a co-teacher for K12 afterschool sessions, monthly events, and special activities.
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 set-up, breakdown, and preparation of activities.
Track and report time worked.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Skills:

Knowledge in one or more: computer science, art/animation, game design, robotics, music/sound design, or related fields.
Ability to work collaboratively with co-teachers and other team members.
Strong communication and organization 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.
Completed high school.

Bonus Skills/Attributes:

Experience with K–12 students.
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/hour starting rate.
Returning staff with prior K–12 program experience at DigiPen: up to $30/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 dates of employment: August 25, 2025 – May 29, 2026

Expected number of hours per week: 5 - 10

*** Once again, students are not permitted to work during any time when they are scheduled for a class. ***

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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Equal opportunity is a priority of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as the institution is committed to fostering a positive learning environment for all. 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.