Researches new algorithmic approaches for XR. Shapes algorithmic culture.
Roles · XR Unity Developer · Principal
What a Principal } should know
37 core skills, 54 in total. Expectations per skill, and what changes at the next level.
This page lists what a Principal } is expected to know and do, skill by skill. Core skills are the ones a manager and peers assess in a review cycle; the rest count only in self-assessment. Main areas: Programming Fundamentals, Testing & QA, Version Control & Collaboration.
Core skills for a Principal
Grouped by area. The label on the right is the expected depth: Awareness, Working, Advanced or Expert.
Programming Fundamentals · 8
Defines async strategy for XR ecosystem. Shapes best practices.
Shapes code quality culture for XR organization. Defines standards.
Researches data-oriented approaches for spatial computing. Shapes data organization standards for XR.
Defines architectural patterns for XR. Publishes research.
Defines memory strategy for XR ecosystem. Shapes best practices.
Defines parallel computing strategy for XR. Evaluates DOTS roadmap.
Shapes XR development architectural culture. Defines OOP/ECS balance in Unity XR.
Testing & QA · 2
Shapes integration testing strategy for XR ecosystem.
Defines testing strategy for XR ecosystem. Shapes standards.
Version Control & Collaboration · 2
Defines review standards for the organization. Conducts cross-team reviews.
Defines VCS strategy for XR organization. Evaluates alternatives (Perforce).
Game Development · 9
Shapes animation strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates AI-driven animation for VR. Defines animation standards.
Shapes audio strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates new spatial audio solutions. Defines immersive audio standards.
Shapes networking strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates cloud XR and edge computing. Defines multiplayer XR scalability.
Defines performance strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates new devices and their capabilities.
Defines physics model for XR products. Evaluates Unity Physics roadmap. Shapes physics standards for XR.
Shapes rendering strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates new GPU capabilities for XR. Defines visual quality standards.
Defines testing strategy for XR ecosystem. Shapes XR testing standards for the industry.
Shapes UX vision for XR ecosystem. Publishes XR UX research. Defines UX standards.
Shapes company's Unity XR strategy. Evaluates Unity roadmap for XR. Defines architectural decisions for large-scale XR projects.
XR: AR/VR/MR · 12
Shapes 3D pipeline strategy for the organization. Evaluates new formats (USD, MaterialX) and tools. Defines asset standards for XR.
Researches new mathematical approaches for XR (differentiable rendering, neural radiance fields). Shapes mathematical foundation for XR platform.
Shapes Apple Vision Pro strategy for the company. Defines cross-platform XR solution architecture. Evaluates visionOS roadmap and its impact on products.
Shapes AR content strategy for company's Unity ecosystem. Evaluates AI asset generation (Polycam, Luma AI) for AR. Defines AR content standards for the organization.
Shapes AR platform strategy for the company. Evaluates new AR APIs (ARKit 7, ARCore extensions) and their impact on Unity projects. Designs architecture for scalable AR solutions on Unity.
Shapes markerless tracking vision for AR platform. Evaluates emerging technologies (neural SLAM, Gaussian Splatting). Defines tracking requirements for new products.
Shapes Meta Quest strategy for the company. Evaluates new Quest devices and SDKs. Defines roadmap for Meta Quest feature integration.
Shapes OpenXR strategy for the company. Influences OpenXR evolution through Unity ecosystem. Defines architectural decisions for cross-platform XR.
Shapes spatial computing vision for the company. Evaluates visionOS spatial computing and its impact. Defines shared spatial experience architecture.
Defines VR input strategy for the product line. Evaluates new input devices (EMG, haptic gloves). Influences XR input standards development.
Defines VR interaction strategy for the product line on Unity. Researches new paradigms (EMG, eye tracking interactions). Influences XR Interaction Toolkit development.
Shapes locomotion strategy for VR ecosystem. Researches new approaches (vestibular feedback, omnidirectional treadmills). Publishes VR comfort research.
Performance Engineering · 4
Defines CPU strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates new processors for XR.
Defines latency strategy for XR ecosystem. Evaluates hardware impact on latency.
Defines memory profiling strategy for XR. Shapes standards.
Defines resource strategy for XR ecosystem. Shapes resource management standards.
Additional skills
Not assessed by the team, but part of the self-assessment and the development plan.
} in the open competency matrix: 54 skills across 5 levels. The matrix is free for individuals and stays free.