Overview
AR and VR developers build immersive experiences for headsets (Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, Pico), mobile AR (ARKit, ARCore), and emerging mixed-reality platforms. The Indian market is still emerging but growing fast with applications in industrial training (Tata Steel, Mahindra), retail try-on, real estate visualisation, education, and gaming. Major employers include EXFO, Imaginate, Smartivity, and global studios establishing India centres.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Develop AR / VR applications in Unity (C#) or Unreal Engine (C++); design 3D interactions using XR Interaction Toolkit or Unreal's XR framework; integrate hand tracking, eye tracking, and spatial anchors; optimise for 60-90 FPS on standalone headsets; build AR features using ARKit, ARCore, or WebXR; collaborate with 3D artists on asset pipelines; profile for thermal and battery performance on mobile devices; deploy to Meta Quest Store, App Lab, or Apple Vision Pro App Store.
Skills required
- Unity 3D and C#
- Unreal Engine and C++
- XR Interaction Toolkit, OpenXR
- ARKit, ARCore, WebXR
- 3D math (vectors, quaternions, transforms)
- Shader programming (HLSL, GLSL)
- Mobile and standalone XR optimisation
- Spatial design and 3D UI principles
Education path
B.Tech CSE / IT, BCA, B.Sc Animation, or B.Des Game Design. M.Sc / M.Des in Interaction Design, XR Design, or Game Design at IDC IIT Bombay, NID, Srishti Manipal. Strong portfolio of XR projects (sideloaded apps, demos on YouTube) is the most-weighted signal. Self-taught entry from Unity or Unreal game development is common.
Career progression
- 1XR Developer (0-2 yrs)
- 2Senior XR Developer (2-5 yrs)
- 3Lead XR Developer (5-8 yrs)
- 4XR Tech Lead (8-12 yrs)
- 5XR Architect / Director (12+ yrs)
Top employers in India
Useful certifications
- Unity Certified XR Developer
- Meta Spark AR Creator
- Coursera XR Development with Unity
- OpenXR Working Group resources
- Niantic Lightship ARDK