Google Inc has begun hiring a team of developers to build its “Augmented Reality OS” for an upcoming “innovative AR device,” 9to5 Mac reported this week.
According to Mark Lucovsky, Senior Director of Engineering, Operation Systems, and AR for Google, he was searching for fresh talent after becoming a ‘Noogler’ for the second time.
‘Noogle’ is a portmandeau of the word ‘new’ and ‘Google’, which refers to new hires for the Mountain View-based firm.
Lucovsky formerly worked for four years at Oculus as a General Manager for Operating Systems at Oculus VR, Meta’s former virtual reality (VR) divison before its recent rebranding in late October.
He previously worked at Google from 2004 to 2009 as an Engineering Director, and is also a veteran employee of Microsoft, where he worked for 16 years as a Distinguished Engineer.
According to the job post, software engineers were required to “develop the next-generation technologies that change how billions of users connect, explore, and interact with information and one another.”
Engineers were also expected to “bring fresh ideas from all areas,” including distributed computing, data retrieval, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, natural language processing (NLP), and others.
Google’s AR team were required to build immersive computing solutions while prototyping “helpful, delightful user experiences,” the advert said.
The job description concluded, stating software engineers must design and build software for embedded processors for future immersive computing products, write stable and efficient “low-level” software to operate sensors, wireless chipsets, and other components, among other job responsibilities.
Building the Workforces for Next-Gen XR
Google’s job posting echoes similar moves from big tech firms in the United States such as Apple and Meta, formerly Facebook, both who aim to recruit innovative workforces to build the Metaverse.
The company aims to improve its ARCore software developer kit (SDK) for content creation and interfacing with its newly-launched Tensor system-on-a-chip (SoC) processor for Pixel smartphones.
Cupertino’s Apple Inc announced last week it was searching for new talent to build its AR/VR framework in a massive push to increase its footprint in the global XR market.
The company posted on Twitter it was seeking a software engineer “with a focus on multi-user systems” to “make a big impact on the next generation computing platforms.”
Meta Platform, Inc also revealed it would hire 10,000 employees across the European Union (EU) to develop the Metaverse, just days ahead of its massive Facebook Connect event, where the Menlo Park-based firm rebranded itself and unveiled a suite of Metaverse-based apps for users and enterprises.
