Software Engineer III - OpenXR Developer

Job Description

We are seeking a Software Engineer III to join an onsite team in Redmond, focused 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 run 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 and 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 (XR, games, simulation, or visualization).
• Practical experience with OpenXR core concepts such as instance/session, swapchains, spaces, and actions.
• Strong skills in C/C++ and/or C#, 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 (72/90/120 FPS targets, GPU/CPU bottlenecks, latency).

• Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience shipping at least one OpenXR-based app or feature to production.
• Familiarity with OpenXR extensions (e.g., hand tracking, eye gaze, foveated rendering, scene/space-related extensions).
• Graphics experience including Vulkan/OpenGL/DirectX, shaders, and profiling tools (RenderDoc, engine profilers).
• Android XR experience (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.

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.