Senior Simulator Developer

PRR Recruitment Services; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

PRR Recruitment Services seeks a Senior Simulator Developer (Project Contract) to join our team and advance the hardware-software integration for immersive VR/XR simulators. You will work at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and Unity-based virtual environments to program controls, develop firmware, and ensure reliable operation from development through deployment.

You will collaborate with XR Developers and project teams to troubleshoot, configure PLCs and embedded systems, and integrate

Qualifications

• Practical experience or training involving electrical wiring, electronics, industrial controls or related hardware systems.
• A relevant TVET qualification, certificate, diploma or equivalent practical technical experience. Completion of a formal Electrical Engineering qualification is not required.
• Working knowledge or practical experience with PLC controllers and industrial control systems.
• Experience with firmware and/or embedded systems programming.
• Programming capability in C++ and/or Python.
• Practical understanding of Arduino, Raspberry Pi, microcontrollers or similar embedded platforms.
• Understanding of electrical wiring, low-voltage systems, sensors, actuators, switches and control hardware.
• Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams and technical documentation.
• Strong practical troubleshooting, testing and fault-finding ability.
• A willingness to work hands‑on with physical simulator hardware as well as software and firmware.

Responsibilities

• Programming and integrating industrial hardware controls for use with Unity-based simulation applications.
• Developing and maintaining firmware for simulator controls and embedded hardware.
• Programming and configuring PLCs, microcontrollers and embedded systems used within simulator environments.
• Working with Arduino, Raspberry Pi and similar micro-electronic platforms.
• Integrating sensors, switches, control panels, actuators and other physical controls into simulator systems.
• Developing and supporting communication between simulator hardware and software using appropriate protocols and interfaces.
• Assisting with the installation, configuration and integration of newly designed simulator parts and hardware.
• Supporting motion platform and associated simulator hardware integration.
• Working with electrical wiring, low-voltage systems, control hardware and related simulator components.
• Testing complete simulator functionality and identifying hardware, firmware and integration issues before deployment.
• Diagnosing and resolving hardware/software communication and control-system faults.
• Working closely with XR Developers to troubleshoot simulator programming and integration challenges.
• Supporting simulator commissioning, deployment, upgrades, maintenance and onsite troubleshooting where required.
• Maintaining appropriate technical, configuration, firmware and hardware documentation.
• Contributing ideas that improve the reliability, functionality and future development of TBR's simulator technology.

Skills

C++

Python

PLC programming

Firmware/embedded

Hardware-software fusion

Education

TVET qualification/certificate/diploma

Tools

Arduino

Raspberry Pi

Microcontrollers

Job description

We're Hiring: Senior Simulator Developer (Project Contract)

Looking for a hands‑on, technically minded Simulator Developer to join our team and help build, integrate and support the physical hardware systems behind our immersive VR/XR training simulators.

This is not a traditional electrical engineering role, nor is it purely a software development position. We are looking for someone who enjoys working where hardware, firmware, industrial controls and software meet --- someone who can make physical simulator controls communicate seamlessly with our Unity-based virtual environments.

You'll work closely with our XR Developers and project teams to program industrial hardware controls, develop firmware, integrate new simulator components, troubleshoot hardware/software issues and ensure our simulator systems function reliably from development through to deployment.

What you'll be responsible for

• Programming and integrating industrial hardware controls for use with Unity-based simulation applications.
• Developing and maintaining firmware for simulator controls and embedded hardware.
• Programming and configuring PLCs, microcontrollers and embedded systems used within simulator environments.
• Working with Arduino, Raspberry Pi and similar micro-electronic platforms.
• Integrating sensors, switches, control panels, actuators and other physical controls into simulator systems.
• Developing and supporting communication between simulator hardware and software using appropriate protocols and interfaces.
• Assisting with the installation, configuration and integration of newly designed simulator parts and hardware.
• Supporting motion platform and associated simulator hardware integration.
• Working with electrical wiring, low-voltage systems, control hardware and related simulator components.
• Testing complete simulator functionality and identifying hardware, firmware and integration issues before deployment.
• Diagnosing and resolving hardware/software communication and control-system faults.
• Working closely with XR Developers to troubleshoot simulator programming and integration challenges.
• Supporting simulator commissioning, deployment, upgrades, maintenance and onsite troubleshooting where required.
• Maintaining appropriate technical, configuration, firmware and hardware documentation.
• Contributing ideas that improve the reliability, functionality and future development of TBR's simulator technology.

What we're looking for

Must have:

• Practical experience or training involving electrical wiring, electronics, industrial controls or related hardware systems.
• A relevant TVET qualification, certificate, diploma or equivalent practical technical experience. Completion of a formal Electrical Engineering qualification is not required.
• Working knowledge or practical experience with PLC controllers and industrial control systems.
• Experience with firmware and/or embedded systems programming.
• Programming capability in C++ and/or Python.
• Practical understanding of Arduino, Raspberry Pi, microcontrollers or similar embedded platforms.
• Understanding of electrical wiring, low-voltage systems, sensors, actuators, switches and control hardware.
• Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams and technical documentation.
• Strong practical troubleshooting, testing and fault-finding ability.
• A willingness to work hands‑on with physical simulator hardware as well as software and firmware.

Advantageous / Bonus Skills

• Previous experience integrating physical hardware with Unity or another game engine.
• Experience with VR/XR simulators, training simulators or motion platforms.
• Experience with hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems.
• Knowledge of communication protocols such as CAN Bus, Modbus, Serial, USB or TCP/IP.
• Experience designing, prototyping or testing PCBs.
• PCB assembly, soldering and component‑level electronic troubleshooting skills.
• Experience developing custom control boards or electronics.
• Embedded Linux knowledge.
• Industrial automation, robotics or mechatronics experience.
• Experience with 3D printing, rapid prototyping or custom simulator component development.
• Git or similar version‑control experience.

The person we're looking for

The person we're looking for

We're looking for someone who enjoys figuring out how things work --- and then making them work better.

You should be equally comfortable sitting at a computer writing code and getting hands‑on with a simulator to work out why a control, sensor, motion system or piece of hardware isn't behaving as expected.

We want someone who can help us answer:

How do we make this physical control communicate with Unity?

What firmware does this hardware need to function correctly?

Why isn't the simulator responding as expected?

How do we integrate this new component into the existing system?

How do we make the hardware and virtual simulation behave as one seamless experience?

You don't need to be a qualified Electrical Engineer. What matters is that you have the practical electrical/electronic understanding, programming ability and technical curiosity to work confidently across hardware and software.

If you enjoy building, programming, testing, troubleshooting and bringing physical technology to life, and want to work at the intersection of immersive technology, industrial hardware and simulation, we'd love to hear from you.