Entry-Level Augmented Reality Software Engineer

Do you want to create technology that makes a difference in the world? At Applied Research Associates (ARA), we create software that improves our nation's safety and security. ARA has been the recognized defense industry leader in augmented reality (AR) software applications for over a decade. ARA is 100% employee-owned, which means that everyone benefits from the company's success. As a part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to make a unique real-world impact!

At ARA we are driven by a passion for developing innovative solutions to challenging problems of national importance. Our culture rewards autonomy and initiative and we foster a stable environment where personal and professional growth are prioritized.

For this position, we are looking for highly skilled software engineers to join our augmented reality (AR) team. ARA's ARC4 augmented reality technology is used by the US Army and others to improve the situational awareness of our soldiers on the battlefield. ARC4 provides accurate, timely information so that teams can make the right decisions and operate with enhanced safety and speed. It is not an overstatement to say that this capability will save lives, by improving coordination, decisiveness, and communication.

Specifically, we need engineers and scientists who have the ability or interest to design and implement defense-grade augmented reality software. The software you develop will be fielded on a wide range of Army systems, including night vision goggles, ground vehicles, and far target locators.

See what we do, and read about us in the news:

• ARC4 Homepage
  • https://www.ara.com/arc4/
• Read at ARA.com, "US Army Awards ARA Contract for Its Cutting-Edge Augmented Reality Software"
  • https://www.ara.com/news/us-army-awards-ara-contract-its-cutting-edge-augmented-reality-software/
• Read at Ars Technica, "Head up: Augmented reality prepares for the battlefield"
  • https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/05/heads-up-augmented-reality-prepares-for-the-battlefield/
• WATCH on YouTube, "ARC4 Fieldcraft Series: Marking Points"
  • https://youtu.be/ZCDpdFq_bic

Our technology:

• AR application software built for Windows, Linux, and Android (heavy use of Android NDK) in C++17 & Kotlin using Qt/QML, OpenGL, Eigen, libUSB, and ZMQ
• Kotlin application software built for Windows using JavaFX
• Microcontroller software built in Rust and C
• Embedded web server software built with Node.js and React
• CI build and package management system built with Jenkins, CMake, Gradle, and Conan

Our team's interests:

• Low-latency inter-device communication and high-performance inter-process data sharing. We write software that moves inertial sensor data and video data between embedded systems as fast as possible
• Extensible software. We write applications for customers who want to build their own add-ons and plug-ins, so we think about APIs, data protocols, and how to hot-load 3rd-party code
• Safe concurrency. Knowing patterns for working with concurrent code safely is critically important for our applications
• Cross-platform code. Our customers use many different platforms, so we need to know the difference between compiling with GCC vs Clang vs MSVC and when to utilize the JVM or web technology
• Purpose-built devices. Our code runs on devices that people work with and wear in heterogeneous processing hardware under unique resource constraints. This also means we employ multiple strategies to test our code from automated unit testing to device emulation and field testing
• Working with 3-D Data. Many of our products deal with 3-D data. We frequently work with multiple representations of rigid body motions and Earth-based coordinates

Candidates must have:

• Due to the work we perform and our interactions with the defense community you will need to be eligible to apply for and hold a US security clearance (however, it is unlikely applicants will undergo a security investigation at the time of employment
• A Bachelor's degree in a STEM field,
• A strong understanding of either C++17, Kotlin, or Rust,
• Some familiarity with at least one of our technologies/interests, and
• A strong desire to learn another of our other technologies or interests

Note that these Software Engineer positions have been advertised under multiple postings in an effort to accommodate candidates at a wide range of experience levels. Please consider your experience level when applying and submit to the posting(s) that most closely matches your qualifications.

Who is ARA?

Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 1,700 employee-owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

ARA also prides itself, on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norm. The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. Employee ownership ensures you have a voice with what happens in the company. We are also very proud of our Women's Initiative Network (WIN), whose purpose is to motivate, support, and encourage professional career development for women to maximize career and professional accomplishments.

To find out more about what the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Division has to offer, visit our website at: https://www.ara.com/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)