Software Engineer (AR/VR/XR)

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Job Description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

We are searching for a software engineer to join our Visualization Technology Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. ARL/Penn State’s purpose is to develop innovative solutions to challenging national problems in support of the Navy, DoD, and Intel communities engineering and technology needs. Help us to expand extended reality (XR) use-cases beyond traditional prototypes, demos, and training in a fast-paced agile environment.

The position will entail design, development, and deployment of XR system architectures, integration of disparate content sources, and XR application development to support novel XR use-cases. Leveraging project management, computer networking, game design, and/or related experience, the ideal 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 Oculus Rift and Quest2, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Magic Leap, Microsoft HoloLens2, and CAVEs.

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

You will:

  • Design experiences, interactions, and applications that support effective collaboration within Immersive environments
  • Design and implement application programming interfaces (APIs) to pass data between disparate software applications
  • Create tool workflows or visual communication methods using internally and externally developed toolkits to illustrate and document immersive concepts
  • Develop methodologies for effective integration, visualization, and dissemination of novel 3D data sources
  • Perform systems engineering activities to improve data flows and processes
  • Brief technical solutions to research sponsors
  • Stay current with immersive technology and software development trends
  • Develop engineering and technical documentation

This job will be filled at the intermediate or advanced professional level, depending upon the successful candidate’s education and experience. Minimally requires a Bachelors' Degree in an engineering or science related discipline plus two years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience for the intermediate professional level. Additional experience and/or education are required for higher-level positions.

Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:

  • Lead the development and prototyping of hardware and software-based solutions for sponsor challenges
  • Demonstrate and define immersive interaction standards, develop new processes for visualizing content using immersive technology
  • Develop and manage new sponsor relationships
  • Design and develop architectures of industry-related engineering systems, applying knowledge of complex principles, theories, concepts, tools and techniques to the design challenges
  • Independently manage multiple and/or large IT projects; plan, schedule, conduct, or coordinate detailed phases of the work of a major project or in a total project of moderate steps.
  • Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them; nurtures and maintain relationships with major XR research sponsors

Required skills/experience areas include:

  • Object oriented programming (C#, C++, or Java)
  • Team-based software development, troubleshooting, and deployment
  • A background in software engineering, systems engineering, human computer interfaces or visualization technologies

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

  • Active government security clearance, TS/SCI-preferred
  • Software Development in C#, C++, or Java focusing on modular programming and performance
  • Cloud deployment (AWS/Azure)
  • Software Containerization
  • DevSecOps
  • Performance Optimization
  • Graphics programming – rendering, graphical shaders, etc.
  • Process Automation
  • Experience with network programming such as TCP/UDP and client-server
  • Experience with Messaging interfaces (ActiveMQ, DDS, Kafka, etc)
  • Extended Reality (XR) application development (Unity/Unreal/O3DE)
  • CompTIA Security +

Your working location will begin fully on-site, but may transition to hybrid onsite/work-from-home depending on projects supported. Position to be located in State College, PA or Reston, VA. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.

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.

You will be subject to a government security investigation, and you must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

ARL is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; we believe this is central to our success as a Department of Defense designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). We are at our best when we draw on the talents of all parts of society, and our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives are part of our workforce.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.

The pay range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$86,300.00 - $164,000.00

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

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 applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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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