Junior 3D Unity Developer, Texas Immersive Institute, Moody College of Communication

University of Texas at Austin

2d • $25 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Unity Student Assistant to support the Immersive Tech Lead in developing the core logic, behavioral systems, and data integration for the aquarium. This role is technical and execution-focused. You will be responsible for translating creative concepts into functional C# scripts within Unity, focusing on how fish enter the world, how they move, and how they behave as a collective ecosystem. Additionally, you will help in connected the external web app server to take in 3D fish design inputs that will be spawned in the aquarium level. This is a premier opportunity for a student programmer or technical artist to work on a high-traffic, real-time system designed for massive LED outputs.

Requirements

• Strong proficiency in C# programming within the Unity engine.
• Experience with Unity Prefabs, Scriptable Objects, and basic UI/Data integration.
• Understanding of vector math and transform logic for NPC agent movement (e.g., boids or simple AI steering).
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., GitHub or PlasticSCM).
• Ability to troubleshoot and debug complex real-time systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with JSON/Web APIs or persistent databases (Firebase, SQL, etc.).
• Basic understanding of the Universal Render Pipeline (URP) or VFX Graph.

Responsibilities

• Input & Spawning Logic: Develop and maintain the logic for fish spawning based on incoming WebXR data, ensuring creatures appear in the digital ocean in real-time.
• Customization Scripting: Implement the scripting logic that translates user questions/answers to colors, patterns, creature type, into the final 3D fish variants within the Unity environment.
• Behavioral Programming: Script autonomous fish behaviors, including swimming behavior, boid/schooling logic, and environmental interactions.
• Data Persistence: Help manage the storage and retrieval of fish data to ensure the ecosystem remains persistent and continuous throughout the 8-day activation.
• System Optimization: Assist in profiling and optimizing scripts and assets to maintain acceptable frame rates on a 22m x 6m LED display.
• Output Handling: Support the configuration of Unity’s camera and display settings to ensure seamless output for large-scale LED hardware.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed