The HKUST VisLab is recruiting two Research Engineers/Assistant Research Engineers to join an ongoing VR + AI education project funded by the Quality Education Fund. The project develops an AI-assisted virtual reality English speaking training system for secondary school students, integrating immersive VR environments with AI-based speech feedback and analytics to support self-directed language learning.

Depending on individual expertise, appointees will focus on either of two streams: VR/Unity Development, or AI/Speech and NLP Systems.

Job Duties

VR / Unity Development:

• Immersive environment and asset creation – designing and developing 3D assets, character models, and interactive classroom or laboratory environments within the Unity engine
• UI/UX and interaction design – designing and implementing intuitive user interfaces and spatial interaction mechanisms for the VR English learning system
• VR application development – developing and optimizing VR applications using Unity and Meta XR SDK, including features such as hand tracking, passthrough interaction, avatar control and Quest performance optimization
• Cross-system integration – integrating Unity interaction systems with backend services and AI feedback modules

AI / Speech and NLP Systems

• Speech processing and AI integration – developing and integrating speech processing pipelines, including ASR, TTS and speech feature extraction for pronunciation and delivery analysis
• LLM and NLP Integration – integrating large language models and NLP systems for conversational feedback and language coaching functions
• AI system deployment – implementing and deploying AI models that support real-time or near-real-time analysis of speech performance
• System integration with VR platform – collaborating with the VR development team to connect AI-driven speech analysis and feedback modules with the VR learning environment

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  Requirements
  
  (for Research Engineer) PhD degree in Computer Science, AI, Software Engineering, HCI, Game Development or related fields with at least 2 years’ post-qualification experience in R&D or equivalent, or a MPhil/MSc degree in the above fields with at least 5 years’ post-qualification experience in R&D or equivalent
• (for Assistant Research Engineer) MPhil/MSc degree in the above fields, or bachelor’s degree with at least 1 year’s post-qualification experience in R&D or equivalent
• Strong engineering and implementation skills
• Experience in software development, research prototyping, or product development
• Industry experience in VR, AI, or interactive systems is a strong advantage
• Holder of a valid visa to undertake employment in Hong Kong is preferred

For VR Stream:

• Experience in Unity development
• Familiarity with Meta XR SDK or VR interaction systems
• Experience in 3D interaction design, VR UI/UX or game development

For AI Stream:

• Experience in Speech Processing, ASR, TTS, NLP or LLM integration
• Experience in Python-based ML frameworks or AI deployment pipelines

(Duration: 6-9 months until November 2026)

Starting salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Fringe benefits including annual leave, medical and dental benefits will be provided.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should send their CV (and portfolio or GitHub if available) with current and expected salary to vislab@ust.hk. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

(Information provided by applicants will be used for recruitment and other employment-related purposes. Applicants should read the Personal Information Collection Statement before submission of application.)

HKUST is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to our core values of
inclusiveness, diversity, and respect.