AR/VR Frontend Programmer

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Job Summary

The Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) is seeking a highly motivated AR/VR Frontend Programmer to advance research in human-machine interaction, immersive visualization, and simulation. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with faculty, researchers, and graduate students to design, develop, and maintain cutting-edge AR/VR applications that facilitate novel methodologies for interacting with complex robotic systems and data.

Essential Job Duties

• Front-end Software Development
  • Design, develop, and maintain AR/VR frontend applications tailored for academic research projects.
  • Build user-friendly, immersive interfaces that support experimentation, robust data visualization, and the teleoperation of robotic platforms.
  • Collaborate with robotics engineers to seamlessly integrate 3D models, simulation data, and real-time sensor streams into interactive spatial environments.
  • Write modular, testable code; address software defects; and continuously optimize rendering pipelines and interactions to ensure performance, usability, and scalability.
• Experimentation & Prototyping
  • Rapidly prototype and adapt to evolving research needs by creating robust proof-of-concepts.
  • Evaluate and adapt emerging AR/VR frameworks, development tools, and hardware SDKs for academic research applications.
  • Design and execute user studies to assess human-machine interactions and interface efficacy.
  • Establish architectural patterns for reuse, including comprehensive design systems and utility libraries, to streamline future development.
• Reporting & Documentation
  • Maintain thorough documentation of software architecture, system components, and release notes.
  • Produce regular progress updates and prepare high-quality demonstration materials for stakeholders.
  • Actively contribute to research publications by documenting technical developments and generating accurate visualizations.
  • Provide technical mentorship and support to students working on the AR/VR components of broader robotics projects.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field.
• Strong programming proficiency inC#, C++, or Python.
• Hands-on experience with foundational AR/VR development platforms, such asUnity3D or Unreal Engine.
• Familiarity with standard AR/VR hardware ecosystems (e.g., Meta Quest, Microsoft HoloLens) and their respective SDKs.
• A solid foundational understanding of 3D graphics, rendering pipelines, and spatial interaction design.
• Experience utilizing version control systems (e.g., Git) in a collaborative development environment.
• Exceptional problem-solving capabilities, accompanied by strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of 3D modeling workflows and asset optimization techniques.
• A formal background or strong academic interest in human-machine interaction.
• A proven ability to rapidly prototype solutions and adapt flexibly to the dynamic needs of an academic research environment.

Required Documents

• Resume