8 Cutting Edge Virtual Reality Job Opportunities

It’s now a well-known fact that Virtual Reality is the technology of the future. With bright prospects, and estimated industry finance revenue growths projected to touch the right side of $120 billion in the next 4 years, it’s safe to say that VR is a good bet. Not just from an investment point of view, though, that certainly will pay off.

Two years ago, the interest in VR, thanks to Oculus Rift, caused a sudden boom in the job market. With new interests came new companies which meant new jobs. Virtual Reality has seen an upward surge since then and today, there are plenty of opportunities around. So noticeable was change that it’s regularly noted in the job-search trends by recruiting companies such as SmartRecruiters and Indeed.com.

As noted in a recent article by Forbes.com, it was found that the number of VR jobs available in 2016 first quarter exceeded those from the entirety of 2015. Indeed.com reported an increase of a staggering 800% in job listings from the year 2014. That’s enough perspective into the virtual reality job market, don’t you think?

Today we’re highlighting the top 8 job opportunities in VR to give you a current scope of the Virtual Reality job market.

VR Market Opportunities

1. Unity Developers

People specializing in Unity3D are perhaps the most in-demand of the lot in the VR industry. And with good reason. They are responsible for creating the very foundation of both an AR and a VR game and application. After all, it is an incredibly powerful development engine which efficiently supports multi platform deployment and development of both two and three-dimensional videos, games, and other interactive content. Experts with advanced knowledge operational knowledge of Unity are a rare breed and highly sought after in the world of virtual reality.

The essential skills for a Unity developer to have, include:

• Experience of customizing core game engine system
• Knowledge about 3D graphics, SDK, DirectX and OpenGL added
• Knowledge of programming languages
• Experience optimizing 3D game performances.

2. UX/UI Designer

The complete usability of an application rides on the user interface of said app. As such it’s only natural that there exists a dire need for highly qualified UX/UI designers with sufficient background knowledge and experience with the latest trends, techniques, and technologies in a User interface. Proficiency in storyboard creation, process, and user flow prototypes, along with excellent Unity 3D, Maya, Zbrush, Photoshop skills are all a must-have prerequisite for any UX/UI designer.

While visual design skills are imperative, knowledge of Agile/Scrum development process is an added plus. As a user experience and user interface designer looking to make your mark in the virtual reality business, you should know your stuff like the back of your hand. After all, the look, flow, and feel of the app ensures easy consumer usability. This and this alone can make or break a VR application before it even launches in the open market.

3. VR Game Engineer

Game Engineering, virtual reality or otherwise, if the process of painstakingly building a game or interactive content by using complex visualization techniques as well as advanced three-dimensional modeling tools.

A VR Game Engineer designs, projects, and views their creation in 3D to assess their designs’ prototype before its release in the market. They partake in almost every step of VR game development, including but not limited to designing, developing, coding, and then ultimately testing the end product.

Some of the fundamentals of VR Game Engineering include:

• Appropriate background education
• Considerable virtuosity in software design
• Intimate knowledge of all programming languages
• Grasp of fundamentals such as optimization, object-oriented patterns, and debugging principals
• Mastery of Unity 3D and/or Unreal Engine
• Strong three-dimensional mathematical skills.

4. Creature TD/Rigger

An entirely immersive opportunity for VR enthusiasts, the position of Creature TD/Rigger is a highly particular virtual reality job. A rigger enables a virtual replication of a real-life environment by creating the appropriate setups for real-time virtual and augmented reality games and virtual movie productions.

By performing prop and creature rigging, automating animation tasks, setting up replicating rigs for facial and body motion capture, and scripting procedural rigs for virtual reality game engines, a Rigger assists directly in the improvement of the efficiency of the overall VR app interface.

5. VR Sound Effects Specialist

As the name suggests, a VR Sound Effects Specialist is one who designs and creates original audio appropriate for particular virtual reality apps and games.

Not only is this a highly coveted job opportunity, but there is also a rising demand for authentically talented, experienced sound designers for VR. The reason for that is simple.

Virtual Reality is the creation of an immersive environment by imitating a real-time surroundings. However, VR does not solely depend on the visuals. A complete sensory immersion is accomplished by invoking responses from all the human senses, including, movement, touch, visuals as well as audio. Hence the need for a specialized individual dedicated to replicating the real-life sounds in a virtual circumstance to make it actually believable.

A VR Sound Effects Specialist correlates all audio tracks to their visuals, along with integrating and mixing the audio content into the app/game itself. They maintain documentation, direct audio tools, and test dialogue delivery and reception.

Usually, critical skills required of a VR Sound Effects Specialist include:

• Proficiency in externally created music processing
• Adequate experience in Unity/Unreal development engines
• Impeccable knowledge of sound design, recording tools, equipment, and techniques along with working familiarity with microphones
• Proper understanding of video game and application development processes
• Management skills for audio production
• A healthy and vigorous creative auditory sense.

6. Mixed Reality Artist

A highly creative and transformative position, a Mixed Reality Artist is a creator and designer that employs a staggering amount of digital technology to reinvent and reshape the human to computer interaction. An especially coveted job opportunity, a Mixed Reality Artist is right in the midst of the mixed reality realm where they work to include and implement two and three-dimensional objects, scenes and imagery in distinctive yet interactive ways.

These artists are responsible for nearly all aspects of 3D design in Virtual Reality. From shot sequencing and compositing, shading, lighting and rendering real life images into virtual space, they do it all. Moreover, they specialize in optimizing hardware and software usage by developing and applying workflows for a seamless visual language for virtual content. In a nutshell, Mixed Reality Artists improve the day to day interface of a VR game or app.

Some of the prerequisites for a position such as this one include:

• Excellent knowledge of color palettes and composition
• A strong grasp of Unity and Unreal game engines
• Know-how of C-Sharp and C++, Python, and Mel scripting
• Educational background in computer graphics
• Relative work experience in the field and a work portfolio.

7. Film and Television Content Lead (Oculus)

Of all the work possibilities in the area of virtual reality, there are none that is as sought-after as the ones for Facebook’s Oculus Rift. Considered the holy grail of VR, a job opportunity at Oculus puts you directly on the map, smack in the middle of the industry.

One such job is that of a Film and Television Content Lead for Oculus. This requires a highly dedicated and well-experienced individual to develop premium film and television portfolio for the general Oculus platform as well as its devices, including the Oculus Rift and the Gear VR. A Film and Television Content Lead defines appropriate strategies for all types of entertainment media. Moreover, this individual helps execute the cross functionality of said strategies to align the development platform of VR software as well as hardware.

The essential skills required for such a position generally include a significant work experience in the relative field of content sourcing and managing for the entertainment sector along with a thorough knowledge of media production for VR inclusive of video, app delivery, and interface interactions. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of the workings of the Oculus Virtual Reality system is a must.

This particular job is especially well suited to the individuals inclined towards the non-development and programming aspect of virtual reality.

8. Technical 3D Artist (Oculus)

Last and by no means least, the top job opportunity for individuals working in the field of virtual reality is, as a Technical 3D Artist for Facebook’s Oculus.

A do-all sort of a position, a technical 3D artist is one who is directly or indirectly involved in every single aspect of a VR product and its development process. Not only does a Technical 3D Artist help conceptualize the design of the VR app or game for Oculus, but also work intimately to define the intricate features and details.

The job of a technical artist is to sell the 3D environment to the audience by making it as authentic in replicating a real-world scenario as possible. Or in cases where imaginative, artistically enhanced environments are concerned, to develop future iterations so believable that the user is completely involved in the ultimate immersive experience.

Individuals vying for such a position should not only have relative experience and educational background to support their portfolio but should also be armed with a thorough knowledge of high-end development platforms and mobile systems. A keen eye for visual fidelity, two-dimensional artistic skills along with excellent knowledge of 3D Art Package, Maya, Unity or Unreal are also considered a huge plus.

How can AppReal-VR Help?

With a very strong foothold in the ever-strengthening markets of virtual reality, AppReal-VR has the advantage of employing some of the best industry experts. We have, on our team, the most highly qualified Unity Developers, UX/UI Designers, Animators, Multimedia Artists and Software Engineers.

AppReal-VR specializes in VR software development, augmented reality apps, mobile app development as well as VR design, development, and implementations. Furthermore, AppReal-VR provides mobile marketing strategies, business consulting for your latest ventures as well as monetization options for financial optimization of your startup.

Our team is not just limited to VR/AR development. We are dedicated to curating a complete environment by transforming your vague VR app ideas into clear reality. So allow us to bring to life your mixed reality dreams. Contact one of our experts today.