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What does an augmented reality developer do?

Augmented reality (AR) developers make fun, informative and valuable apps for consumers and businesses using a combination of 3D art, game design, and coding skills. While a web developer uses text, images, sound, and video files in order to make a modern webpage, an AR developer uses those, as well as 3D models, motion controls, and sensors to deliver a digital world motion tracked and superimposed through a user's smartphone or AR device camera.

What skills do I need to become an augmented reality developer?

Many people working in augmented reality development come from game development, mobile app development, visual effects (VFX), and 3D art backgrounds. Ultimately, a portfolio of work, and in time an AR specialty, is what allows an AR dev to build a career.

Skills an augmented reality developer should possess include:

• Proficiency with an AR publishing platform such as 8thwall, SparkAR, Snap Lens Studio, Zappar, EchoAR, or Vuforia.
• Proficiency with a game engine and AR SDKs such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Apple iOS ARKit, Google Android ARCore, and Microsoft Mesh.
• Experience with 3D art software such as Autodesk Maya or Blender.
• Software engineering proficiency with a programming language such as C#, C++, Javascript or three-js.
• Manipulating 3D models, animations, motion controls, raycasting, and interactions.
• Designing clear, accessible UI/UX for users new to 3D and AR.
• Understanding how computer vision tracks floor planes, wall planes, image targets, and facial features.
• Maintaining applications deployed across a wide array of evolving devices and operating systems.
• Design skills with a focused understanding of how to attract and engage a user in a virtual world.

What are the core augmented reality developer job responsibilities?

AR developers' work involves taking a 3D object file provided by a 3D artist and placing it within a program so a user can look at it seemingly within their real-world environment. This might involve an application that needs to precisely calibrate the position of the augmented world onto the physical world by identifying and tracking a particular image, a set of facial features, a specific object, or a GPS coordinate down to sub-millimeter accuracy. An AR developer uses their platforms and development skills, along with an understanding of computer vision, to produce this mixed reality.

AR developers may be tasked with the software development of standalone ar apps, or might work with other web or app developers to integrate their augmented reality experience into an existing app or website. This means an AR developer should understand and identify which methods and platforms of AR development will work best with their client's distribution strategy.

While much of that may seem daunting, many AR developers today work using well-documented code languages, game engines or AR platforms which have templated and simplified AR development such that many projects do not require re-inventing the wheel. An AR dev doing their best work will still find plenty of challenges, but the tools that exist today make it far more accessible for newcomers or those transitioning into the field with prior experience from the x,x,x, and x industries.

Most AR developers are producing applications for the web and smartphones, while some specialize in applications for advanced AR devices. These include headset displays like the Microsoft Hololens or sleek AR glasses such as the Nreal Light.

Augmented reality developers work on creative, immersive, collaborative and futuristic job opportunities supporting e-commerce, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, media, gaming, training and education.

Should I get an augmented reality developer degree or certification?

The extended reality industry (XR), which includes virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), is still fairly new. As such, you generally won't find degrees yet specifically in the field of augmented reality development nor virtual reality development. Common bachelor's degree programs or certifications with skills that clients find to be related include:

• Video Game Development
• Computer Vision
• Software or Hardware engineering
• Computer Science
• Unity VR/AR Developer certification