XR Software Developer – Immersive Training & Simulation

ARCS Aviation; Cookeville (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

ARCS Aviation is seeking an XR Software Developer to support immersive training, simulation, and mission-rehearsal applications for DoD and government customers.

You will build VR/AR/MR experiences using Unity and/or Unreal Engine, design modular architectures, integrate with APIs and data sources, and collaborate with 3D artists, AI/ML developers, instructors, and government users to translate real-world requirements into effective training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and demonstrated professional experience.
• Experience developing interactive real-time 3D, simulation, game, or XR applications.
• Experience with Unity and/or Unreal Engine.
• Understanding of OO programming, state management, event-driven systems, debugging, and reusable/modular design.
• Experience implementing interactive 3D functionality such as object manipulation, UI, physics, or spatial interactions.
• Familiarity with Git or another version-control system.
• Ability to translate real-world procedures into interactive software and work with diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly prototype XR concepts, interactions, interfaces, and training scenarios for demonstrations and iterative development.
• Design modular, reusable architectures for XR applications to enable easy modification and expansion.
• Develop VR/AR/MR training using Unity/C# and/or Unreal Engine/C++/Blueprints.
• Develop XR applications using OpenXR and other XR frameworks and APIs.
• Implement interactive 3D environments, equipment controls, and spatial interfaces.
• Capture trainee actions and performance data for analysis and feedback.
• Support instructor-control functionality and integration with external systems.

Skills

Unity & C#

Unreal Engine & C++/Blueprints

Interactive real-time 3D

Version control (Git)

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

OpenXR

APIs & integration

Job description

Security:U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance may be required

Full Job Description

ARCS Aviation is seeking anXR Software Developerto support the design and development of immersive training, simulation, and mission-rehearsal applications for U.S. Department of Defense and other Government customers.

The developer will create virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality applications usingUnity and/or UnrealEngine, incorporating interactive 3D environments, equipment and procedural interactions, trainee-performance measurement, instructor-controlled scenarios, and advanced training capabilities.

The successful candidate should be capable of developing interactive real-time applications—not simply creating 3D scenes or visualizations. Depending on experience level, the developer may contribute to or lead therapid prototypingand development of modular, reusable XR software architectures, scenario frameworks, performance-measurement capabilities, instructor interfaces, and integrations with external systems

The developer will work with software engineers, 3D artists, AI/ML developers, instructional designers, engineers, subject-matter experts, and Government users to translate real-world operational, maintenance, and training requirements into effective immersive experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Rapidly prototypeXR concepts, interactions, user interfaces, and training scenarios to support customer demonstrations, experimentation, and iterative development.
• Design XR applications usingmodular, reusable software architecturesthat allow scenarios, equipment, training content, interfaces, and system integrations to be modified or expanded without redesigning the complete application.
• Design and develop VR, AR, and MR training and simulation applications usingUnity/C# and/or Unreal Engine/C++/Blueprints.
• Develop XR applications usingOpenXRand other appropriate XR frameworks and APIs.
• Implement interactive 3D environments, equipment, controls, tools, procedures, and mission scenarios.
• Develop modular and reusable software components for immersive training and simulation.
• Implement task sequencing, state management, branching logic, equipment states, scenario events, faults, and malfunctions.
• Develop realistic XR interactions using controllers, hand interaction, object manipulation, physics, equipment controls, and spatial user interfaces.
• Capture trainee actions and performance data such as task sequence, accuracy, timing, equipment interactions, errors, assistance required, and task completion.
• Support development of performance-assessment and proficiency-measurement capabilities.
• Support adaptive‑training functionality in which guidance, repetition, task complexity, or scenario difficulty can be adjusted based on trainee performance.
• Develop instructor‑control functionality for monitoring training, modifying scenario conditions, injecting events or malfunctions, changing equipment states, and adjusting scenario difficulty during execution.
• Develop trainee interfaces, instructional overlays, instructor interfaces, feedback mechanisms, and after‑action‑review capabilities.
• Integrate XR applications with APIs, databases, analytics systems, AI/ML components, sensors, simulation systems, and other external data sources as required.
• Optimize XR applications for frame rate, latency, memory, rendering performance, and reliable operation on target hardware.
• Work with 3D artists to integrate and optimize models, animations, environments, CAD‑derived assets, and other technical content.
• Participate in demonstrations, Government‑user evaluations, experimentation, testing, troubleshooting, and iterative development.
• Support software documentation, configuration management, version control, cybersecurity, and deployment activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Game Development, Simulation, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline,or equivalent relevant education and demonstrated professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience developinginteractive real‑time 3D, simulation, game, or XR applications.
• Experience with at least one of the following:
• Unity and C#, and/or
• Unreal Engine and C++/Blueprints
• Understanding of software‑development fundamentals, including object‑oriented programming, state management, event‑driven systems, debugging, and reusable/modular software design.
• Experience implementing interactive 3D functionality such as object manipulation, equipment controls, user interfaces, physics, animation, or spatial interactions.
• Familiarity with Git or another software version‑control system.
• Ability to work with technical requirements and translate real‑world procedures, equipment behavior, or training objectives into interactive software.
• Ability to work collaboratively with developers, artists, engineers, subject‑matter experts, and customers.

Experience Levels

ARCS will consider candidates across multiple experience levels. Position level and responsibilities will be based on relevant experience and demonstrated technical capability.

Entry Level — 1–3 years:

Candidates should demonstrate a strong foundation in Unity and/or Unreal Engine and the ability to develop interactive real‑time 3D applications. Relevant academic, internship, research, independent, or professional XR development experience may be considered.

Mid-Level — 3–7 years:

Candidates should demonstrate professional experience developing interactive XR, simulation, serious‑game, or real‑time 3D applications and the ability to independently implement significant application functionality.

Senior Level — 7+ years:

Candidates should demonstrate substantial relevant software‑development experience and the ability to architect, develop, integrate, troubleshoot, and potentially lead complex XR or simulation capabilities.

Relevant experience may includeVR/AR/MR development, simulation, serious games, interactive training systems, real‑time 3D software, Unity, Unreal Engine, or closely related application development.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable butnot required:

• OpenXR and cross‑platform XR development.
• Military, aviation, maintenance, industrial, or technical training applications.
• Instructor/operator stations or scenario‑control interfaces.
• Scenario‑authoring or configurable simulation frameworks.
• Performance measurement, training analytics, or after‑action review.
• Adaptive or proficiency‑based training.
• Integration with APIs, databases, sensors, networking, or external simulation systems.
• AI/ML integration into real‑time applications.
• Multi‑user or networked XR/simulation.
• Offline or disconnected applications.
• Meta Quest, HTC VIVE, Varjo, or other XR hardware.
• 3D content pipelines involving Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, CAD, or similar tools.
• Optimization of real‑time 3D applications for XR hardware.
• DoD software development, cybersecurity, CUI environments, configuration management, or Government testing.
• Active or previous U.S. Government security clearance.

Travel

This position may require occasional travel to our customers or conferences.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines strong software‑development skills with an understanding of how immersive technology can be used formeasurable training rather than visualization alone.

A successful developer should be interested in building systems that can support a training lifecycle such as:

Depending on experience level, the developer may help design systems capable of determining what action was expected, what the trainee performed, whether the action was correct, how performance should be measured, and how subsequent training or scenario conditions should change.

About ARCS Aviation

ARCS Aviation is a HUBZone‑certified small business headquartered in Cookeville, Tennessee. ARCS develops advanced training, simulation, software, XR, AI/ML, 3D visualization, and systems‑integration capabilities for U.S. Government customers. ARCS's work includes immersive training, interactive technical applications, modeling and simulation, sensor/XR integration, and advanced maintenance and workforce‑support technologies.