VR Startup Founding Team (Equity) – Unity / Research / HCI
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Job Description
Company Overview:
Vortex VR Corp. is an innovative VR gaming startup uniquely positioned to redefine virtual reality experiences. Led by founders with backgrounds from prestigious institutions, and supported by strong network connections to personnel in Yale’s XR Pediatrics VR lab and other leading research institutions, our core strength lies in transforming cutting-edge Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and VR Psychology research into groundbreaking games that uniquely leverage the VR medium and push its boundaries.
Based in Pass Christian, MS, we combine this deep academic collaboration and insight with a robust 200+ talent network sourced through strategic outsourcing connections. This extensive network meticulously refines our prototypes into marketable consumer games. This distinctive blend of academic foresight, vast talent resources, and a proven external production ecosystem enables us to build the future of immersive play, tackling the market’s current innovation gap with a business model that is both highly effective and inherently difficult to replicate.
About the Role:
We are seeking highly motivated, passionate, and entrepreneurial individuals to join our founding team. This is a pivotal, equity-based role for versatile contributors eager to make a significant impact across various facets of our early-stage company. This opportunity is open to both remote talent and those local to our Pass Christian, MS base. You will be instrumental in collaborating on our product vision, developing our prototyping pipeline, shaping our company culture, and supporting our long-term strategy, all within the founder’s overarching vision. This is an opportunity to directly apply your skills and passion to solve the core challenges of VR innovation.
Key Responsibilities (Collaborative & Evolving):
• Work hand-in-hand with the founder(s) on initial concept validation and the development of high-fidelity prototypes.
• Pioneer the conception, design, and experimentation of unique VR game mechanics, deriving inspiration from research insights or pursuing entirely novel creative directions.
• Contribute to game design and implement prototype mechanics within Unity, ensuring our research-driven principles are integrated into core concepts and user experiences.
• Assist in translating complex HCI and VR Psychology insights into tangible, playable features.
• Help define and optimize workflows for preparing prototypes for our outsourced production pipeline.
• Provide input and assist in strategic planning for game development, intellectual property, and market positioning.
• Engage actively in problem-solving and decision-making across technical, design, and operational areas.
Qualifications:
• Proficient or above in Unity development for VR. While a portfolio is a plus, relevant project experience or a strong grasp of Unity fundamentals will be considered.
• An understanding or background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and/or VR Psychology is highly desirable.
• Genuine passion for virtual reality and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of immersive gaming experiences.
• Self-starter with a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset and exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment, comfortable with ambiguity and evolving needs.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal abilities.
• An eagerness to learn, adapt, and wear multiple hats as needed.
What We Offer:
• Significant equity in an early-stage, research-driven VR gaming startup.
• The unparalleled opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the core product, technology, and company culture from the ground up, collaborating directly with the founder.
• Direct involvement in leveraging cutting-edge research to create truly innovative and impactful VR experiences.
• A collaborative, passionate, and intellectually stimulating environment focused on redefining the future of immersive gaming.
• The chance to leave a lasting mark on the burgeoning VR industry.
