Virtual Reality Engineer (Ar/Vr/Xr)

The Communications, Information and Navigation Office (CINO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is seeking mid-career virtual reality engineers interested in deploying 3D visualization, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) solutions to join our Visualization Technology Department. Position to be filled in State College, PA or Reston, VA.

The position will entail program leadership, XR system architecture design and deployment, integration of disparate content sources, and XR application development to support novel XR use-cases. Leveraging project management, Virtual Reality content development, game design, and/or related experience, the candidate will integrate solutions with an internally-developed, Unity3D-based synthetic environment framework that is being applied to multiple sponsored projects across domains. These solutions are being deployed to a number of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) platforms including:

• Magic Leap
• HTC Vive
• Valve Index
• HoloLens/HoloLens2
• Oculus Rift
• CAVE immersive displays.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

Responsibilities include:

• Designs and develops architectures of industry-related engineering systems, applying knowledge of complex principles, theories, concepts, tools and techniques to the design challenges
• Design experiences, interactions, and applications that support effective collaboration within Immersive environments
• Stay current with immersive technology trends
• Interface with research sponsors
• Design 3D experiences built for either VR, AR, Mobile, or web that improve business workflows or communicate content
• Develop and maintain sponsor relationships and expand business areas
• Briefing technical solutions to research sponsors
• Provide programmatic leadership to deliver XR solutions
• Develop engineering and technical documentation
• Lead the development and prototyping of hardware and software-based solutions for sponsor challenges
• Perform systems engineering activities to improve data flows and processes
• Create tool workflows or visual communication methods that illustrate and document immersive concepts
• Demonstrate and define immersive interaction standards, develop new processes for visualizing content using immersive technology
• Develop new sponsor relationships
• Development of methodologies for effective integration, visualization, and dissemination of novel 3D data sources

This job will be filled at a level 3 or 4, depending upon the successful candidate’s education and experience. Minimum education and experience requires a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in an engineering or science related discipline plus five year’s related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience for a level 3. Additional experience and/or education and competencies are required for higher level jobs.

Additional responsibilities of a level 4 induced:

• Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them; nurtures and maintain relationships with major SPECIALITY customers/grantors of external research and development grant funding.
• Mentor and train assigned employees in the development of technical, project, and business development skills, as applicable. May supervise lower level employees and students in the group.
• Independently manage multiple and/or large SPECIALITY projects; plan, schedule, conduct, or coordinate detailed phases of the work of a major project or in a total project of moderate steps.

Experience in the following is required:

• XR application development
• Experience with development for and deployment of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) platforms
• A background in software engineering, systems engineering, human computer interfaces or visualization technologies
• Project Management/Team Lead

Experience in the following is preferred:

• Photogrammetry and 3D model processing
• Computer-aided Design (CAD) modeling
• 3D modeling concepts with Autodesk 3DSMax, or Maya/Blender
• Unreal application development
• Cloud deployment (AWS/Azure)
• Geospatial and GIS tool suite
• Multi-player Unity3D application development
• Active TS/SCI

ARL at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a University center of excellence in defense science, systems, and technologies with a focus in naval missions and related areas.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applications without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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