ARIES Game Designer

The Applied Research in Immersive Experiences and Simulations (ARIES) program in the University Libraries at Virginia Tech seeks one part-time wage ARIES Game Designer.

Under the direction of the Manager, ARIES Operations, the ARIES Game Designer will be responsible for creating high-quality 3D assets and animations, developing in game engines, and contributing to AR/VR experiences within a collaborative research and production environment. In addition to technical art duties, the role includes mentoring students in the ARIES program and managing project timelines, documentation, and communication to support research and development initiatives successfully.

The ARIES program supports applied research that brings together industry partners, faculty, and students interested in the cognitive and affective aspects of learning in immersive environments, games, simulations for training and performance support, and more. It provides a destination for students to discover, create, and share their creations in the form of games, simulations, virtual reality, and augmented reality experiences for learning and entertainment while having informal interactions with interested peers, faculty, industry partners, and external researchers that are valuable for student development. The ARIES program’s studio prepares students for the workforce with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities through interdisciplinary work in immersive environments development, gaming for entertainment and learning, evaluation, visualization design, and development.

-Bachelor’s degree in Creative Technologies, Game Design, Computer Science, Interactive Media, or a related field
-Demonstrated experience in 3D technical art, including modeling, texturing, and animation
-Demonstrated proficiency with real-time game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine
-Experience with AR/VR development
-Experience mentoring undergraduate technical artists

-Experience working in a university or academic research setting
-Project management experience using tools such as Trello, Asana, or JIRA
-Experience writing or maintaining technical documentation and workflow guides
-Familiarity with the ARIES program or similar applied research/education initiatives

4

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Part-time wage

$20.63-$22.00 per hour dependent on qualifications and experience

Average of 20 hours per week (including summer and school break periods) to be worked between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.

May 1, 2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.