Unlocking Careers in Gaming with EA SPORTS Academy

One of our greatest strengths as an organization is the diverse backgrounds and breadth of experiences our teams bring to the table. From software engineers, to animators, producers, designers, artists and development directors (DDs) – as well as partner teams from across the business – they all work together to deliver the most innovative and immersive sports gaming and entertainment experiences possible. 

While some of our candidates come from a background in sports and gaming, others have expertise from various industries, are interested in making the transition to gaming, and exhibit the skills needed to excel in these roles. That’s why we’re committed to investing in people from different disciplines and growing their careers with EA SPORTS™. That’s also where our EA SPORTS Academy program comes in.

WHAT IS EA SPORTS ACADEMY?

EA SPORTS Academy currently operates out of Vancouver, Canada and Orlando, USA.

EA SPORTS Academy, which began back in 2017, is currently offered in both our Vancouver, Canada and Orlando USA studios (home to several of our EA SPORTS franchise teams) to those interested in pursuing project management (DD roles). This area is crucial to our success – with DDs being responsible for making sure our games are ready to launch on time and at quality for hundreds of millions of players to enjoy worldwide.

Whether they’re recent grads or professionals who are still early in their careers and looking for a change, EA SPORTS Academy is an alternative talent pipeline that helps prepare participants for a career in gaming and gives them the opportunity to ‘get in the game’ with us – through its cohort-based model, custom knowledge-building workshops, mentorships, and hands-on experience. In fact, former sports television producer and current EA SPORTS College Football team member Joseph Barrett credited his completion of the program in 2022 for giving him “the time, support, and training I needed to get comfortable and acclimated to my new role and begin the next chapter of my new career.”

THE IMPACT OF EA SPORTS ACADEMY

Previous EA SPORTS Academy participants (and now official EA SPORTS team members), Joseph, Mariana, Rod, and Vinu.

Now entering its eighth year, EA SPORTS Academy has continued to see positive results from previous cohorts, with many of its participants officially joining our EA SPORTS team as employees following the conclusion of the program. In fact, our 2021 and 2022 cohorts saw the majority of participants join the team on a full-time basis. 

When asked about her experience with the program, Mariana Veras, Development Director, EA SPORTS UFC shared that “I’m originally from the consulting space, and EA SPORTS Academy offered me the chance to enter an industry and company I had always dreamed of, but seemed difficult to access otherwise. Our training was designed for individuals new to the industry, making it easy for us to ask questions and allowing us to contribute our unique perspectives to the discussion.”

The program also helped connect former information management professional, Rod Murray, Development Manager, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, with “amazing mentors and members of the company that were fully committed to helping me be successful from day one. Even today, as I continue to grow in this industry, I revert back to some of the training lessons and guides I went through during the program.” Similarly, Vinu Samarasekera, who comes from the technology consulting and banking space and now works as a Development Manager, EA SPORTS FC, noted that “tapping into the program alumni network was perhaps the highlight of the program for me. It really helped me build my network at EA SPORTS and gather lots of tips and tricks. I’ve continued those relationships and some of the alumni are now my mentors!”

JOIN THE ACADEMY

With the continued success of EA SPORTS Academy, John Shepherd, VP, EA SPORTS FC and one of the program’s executive sponsors, shared his excitement for the future of the program, as we explore opportunities for its expansion to new job fields and geographies: “EA SPORTS Academy is an excellent way for high-performing talent to get equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to feel confident entering the field and hitting the ground running. It’s been incredible to see how past participants have thrived in their roles at EA SPORTS, and we’re excited to continue supporting the development and success of even more careers in this industry moving forward.”

Ready to take the next step in your career and get in the game? Applications for Orlando’s 2024 EA SPORTS Academy: DD Cohort are now open! Learn more and apply by June 26, and keep an eye out on our EA SPORTS LinkedIn page for details and updates on Vancouver’s application dates coming soon!

Explore additional open roles with EA SPORTS and grow your career in tech and gaming today.