Software Engineer III - OpenXR Developer

We are seeking a Software Engineer III to join an onsite team in Redmond, focusing on building and maintaining OpenXR-based XR applications. In this role, you will collaborate closely with engineers and cross-functional partners to prototype, implement, and iterate on immersive experiences that operate across OpenXR-capable runtimes and devices.

Responsibilities

• Develop XR applications using OpenXR, covering architecture, implementation, testing, and iteration.
• Build interactive features including:
• Input handling (controllers, hands, action sets, haptics)
• Scene and interaction systems (grabbing, ray interactions, UI in 3D)
• Rendering and performance optimizations (frame pacing, latency-sensitive updates)
• Integrate platform/runtime features where applicable (tracking spaces, anchor-like constructs, passthrough/scene understanding via extensions).
• Create clean, testable code and contribute to basic CI/build scripts as needed.
• Debug runtime/device issues related to graphics, tracking, and input, providing clear reproduction steps and fixes.
• Collaborate with product, UX, and engineering stakeholders; document designs and tradeoffs.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
• 3+ years of professional software development experience (or equivalent).
• Hands-on experience shipping 3D real-time applications such as XR, games, simulation, or visualization.
• Practical experience with OpenXR core concepts including instance/session, swapchains, spaces, and actions.
• Strong skills in C/C++ and/or C# depending on the technology stack, along with solid debugging abilities.
• Experience with a real-time engine or framework such as:
  • Unity (C#) and OpenXR plugin ecosystem, or
  • Unreal (C++) XR pipeline, or
  • Custom/native OpenXR rendering with Vulkan/OpenGL/DirectX.

• Understanding of rendering and performance constraints for XR, including frame rate targets (72/90/120 FPS), GPU/CPU bottlenecks, and latency considerations.

• Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience shipping at least one OpenXR-based app or feature to production.
• Familiarity with OpenXR extensions such as hand tracking, eye gaze, foveated rendering, and scene/space-related extensions.
• Graphics experience with Vulkan/OpenGL/DirectX, shaders, and profiling tools like RenderDoc or engine profilers.
• Android XR experience including Gradle, NDK, JNI, or low-level platform integration.
• Experience building reusable components or frameworks for XR interaction or app scaffolding.

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be located in the United States. Cincinnatus does not sponsor visas and will not provide visa sponsorship for this role.

About Cincinnatus

Cincinnatus is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology companies to source and employ highly skilled professionals for full-time and long-term contingent roles. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record for these engagements, providing W-2 employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance, while placing employees directly within client teams to work on high-impact initiatives.

Roles hired through Cincinnatus are not project-based or freelance engagements. They are structured, role-based positions that typically involve full-time or fixed-term commitments, close collaboration with a client's internal teams, and integration into standard enterprise workflows.

Cincinnatus is a legal entity separate from Mercor. While opportunities may be discovered through Mercor's platform, employment, onboarding, payroll, and benefits for these roles are administered by Cincinnatus.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cincinnatus is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Cincinnatus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans throughout the job application process.