Metaverse Jobs Part 2: the architects, builders and creators of worlds

Enough of the theorising, from now on the Infinite Metaverse series goes hands-on. Where are the Metaverse jobs, what are they and what specific skills are required for each one? Let’s take a look.

By Jesse Karjalainen

You would be wrong to think that all things Metaverse-related are directly linked to technology and software development. The good news is that there are jobs in almost every area of the Metaverse Industry.

I have gone through and analysed hundreds of Metaverse-related jobs. The results are both eye-opening and encouraging. By taking an anthropologist’s approach I have first collected and then classified them into groups and categories.

Two broad categories of Metaverse roles

If we step back, there are two broad categories serving the Metaverse. They are the Metaverse?Architects?and Metaverse?Agents. The first category centres on roles that are behind the curtain – they are the builders, designers and storytellers of every aspect of these new virtual worlds, from hardware and software right through to experience planning, design and creation of virtual destinations. You could also say that these are the technical roles, but not always.

Within the?Architects?category of jobs are three distinct groups:?

• BUILD: these are all world-building roles, such as world planning, game design, hardware engineering, AR/XR/VR/MR, technology and software development, crypto- and blockchain specialists, etc.
• EXPERIENCE: these are all world-experiencing roles, such as those related to in-world experience and avatars, or creative roles around motion design, designers, artists and story and narrative, etc.???
• INHABIT: these are all related to visiting and hanging out, such as proprietors of virtual destinations, events, places for socialising, entertaining and learning, etc.?

The second category of roles, Metaverse?Agents, centres on serving people once they enter a world. These are the entrepreneurs, influencers, educators, guides, hosts and lawyers. These are the people wanting to sell you something, influence you, entertain you or keep you safe.?

Within the?Agents?category of jobs are another three groups:

• COMMUNITY: these are the networkers, hosts, socialisers and influencers, as well as guides, educators, community builders and service providers, etc.
• ECONOMY: these are the roles tasked with figuring out how to make money in the virtual world, experimenting with different business models as well act as advisors to those wishing to enter the virtual economy, including analysts and researchers, etc.
• HIERARCHY: at the end of the day, someone needs to look at the big picture, be it from a corporate view or a legal and security perspective. In addition, there will be plenty of scope for agents, talent scouts, managers, etc.

Because there is so much to cover, this article will split in two, and this piece will focus on the roles available in the Metaverse Architects category.

Architecture Roles: the world Builders

The Metaverse starts with the world builders, the ones who imagine, design and create the virtual spaces. They include the types of people with experience in areas such as videogames, animation, graphic design, interior design, fashion, the film and television industry, architecture and even urban planning. These need to be fused with those in strategy and planning at the top to functionality and code.?

Here is a snapshot of some of the BUILDER roles available right now:

• Senior owner: Map & XP Browsing: experience in Web3 and NFT, responsible for delivering the Metaverse map in close collaboration with the Tech Lead, enabling users to buy land and discover experiences to play.?Knowledge?of Google workspace, Clickup, Slack, Discord, blockchain, Web3 environments, NFT mechanics and UX. Background such as gaming, and being an active game player of Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, etc.
• Senior Innovation Developer: sole focus on emerging technologies, such as Web3, blockchain, IoT, XR AI, ML, AR and photogrammetry, reporting to the Tech Director.?Knowledge?of these technologies is required, as well as JavaScript, React, Angular, Cloud (GCP/AWS/Azure) and CI/CD.
• Motion Capture Technologist: in the field of motion capture and deep-learning, this role is responsible for the product stack, working on new features, bug fixes and testing of software and hardware, reporting to the Technical Account Manager.?Knowledge?of web applications, video and camera-based workflows, 3D software such as Blender, Maya, Unreal Engine, Unity, Cloud (AWS etc), SQA processes, Jira, Trello, Monday, Hubspot, etc.
• Gameplay Designer: designing and balancing features, systems, mechanics and game content, developing innovation to improve player interest, retention, engagement and monetization.?Experience: professional game industry, programming/scripting, game design, prototyping, scripting, Play2Earn games, in-game economy design, game-play mechanics, blockchain games, AAA RPG, MMO and strategy games.?Knowledge?of Unreal Engine, 3D gaming, must be a game player, UX, design, content creation, feature pacing and game-design tools.
• Level designer:?Knowledge?of game design, game mechanics, 3D map-based design, avatar-centric 3D levels, in-house editors (Unity or Unreal), an eye for aesthetics, UX processes, crypto games, computer animation, 3D modelling, illustration, lighting and game interfaces.?Technology: Unity, Blender, Maya, Unreal Engine. Interests: understanding of blockchain system infrastructure, NFTs and cryptocurrencies.??
• 3D game designer: You will be prototyping, designing, shipping VR- and AR-based games, adding gamification elements to non-game applications, implementing stages and ensuring gameplay functionality.?Knowledge?of Unreal, Unity. Interests: experience as a player of blockchain games, understanding of open economies, cryptocurrency, blockchain and play-to-earn gaming.
• Unity Developer: Core skills: C#, Bolt visual scripting, Unity UI, developing for Oculus Quest. Passionate about virtual reality.
• Gaming Media Manager: focus on coordinating and planning campaigns across gaming platforms, unlocking full gaming opportunities for brands, including in-game advertising, content-aligned activations and esports partnerships across mobile, console, AR, VR and the Metaverse. Core skills: media, marketing, digital measurement, analytics and attribution.?Knowledge?of in-depth understanding of the gaming world, use of DSPs/activating biddable media, display activation and programmatic trading skills. Interests: gaming, e-sports, tournaments and streaming space.
• Hardware engineers: focus on developing, testing, prototyping new sensors, cameras, headsets, wearables and peripherals for AR/VR/MR experiences.?Knowledge?of product development (electrical or computer), mechanical engineering, AR/VR engineering, CAD/CAE software, eye/head/motion tracking, optics, degree of freedom (DoF), haptics, tracking, Field of View, Machine Learning, AI, robotics, data collection.
• XR Creative technologist,?XR Designer,?XR UI/UX Artist Lead, XR senior engineer, XR Lead Game Designer, XR Architect: with a focus on multiparty systems (Blockchain, tokenisation, NFTs) and Extended Reality (AR, VR, MR) to design, create and implement strategic assets, offerings and technology solutions, as well as advising on technology approach, architecture and complex IT, risk, etc.?Knowledge?of building modern digital solutions and associated architectures, skills in Extended Reality, professional software development, understanding of XR elements, modelling, content pipelines, animation and real-time rendering.?Core skills: knowledge of Unity or Unreal Engine, hands-on architect background, knowledge of several programming languages, project experience, SDLC, Agile methods (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe), management experience and storytelling skills.
• Metaverse/VR/AR software engineers: focus on creating interactive experiences and applications across various platforms.?Knowledge?of SDKs and third-party libraries, interactive ￡D technologies, Wikitude, Vuforia, Solidity, experience in virtual worlds (Roblox, Fortnite), large-scale system design, UI, natural language processing (NLP), Java, FreeRTOS, Embedded Linux, Unreal Engine, Unity, Sumerian, Maya.?Core skills: programming languages for the Metaverse, including C, C#, C++, Python, Solidity, Rust.?
• Ecosystem frontend developer: focus on designing, testing and implementing code to develop designs and user interfaces, as well as optimising and maintaining existing systems.?Knowledge?of version control with Git, AWS, Digital Ocean, Docker, VueJs.?Core skills: programming languages such as JavaScript, CSS, JS-based frontend frameworks, SQL/No-SQL databases (MySQL, Redis).?
• Ecosystem backend developer: focused on ideation, product development, testing, deployment, creating APIs, optimising existing systems and building new features.?Core skills: SQL/NoSQL, MySQL, Redis, Git, AWS, Docker. Knowledge of web applications, security, session management.
• Senior NFT Avatar product owner: focus on leading the avatar team, defining and improving avatar attributes, behaviours, animations and interoperability, reporting to the Tech Lead.?Knowledge?of management, publication, minting, selling of avatars, understanding of ecosystems and Metaverse, road mapping, design, development, iteration, Web2/Web3 gaming experience, successful shipping of Web3/NFT project. Core skills: UX, user journeys, experience Web3 environments, NFT mechanics, Solidity, data analysis.

Each of the above roles focuses on specific areas of expertise and delivery. On a broad level, there are macro- and micro-levels when it comes to building virtual worlds. Just like in the real world, there are architects, planners, designers and builders. One major difference when it comes to Metaverse roles is there is heavy emphasis placed on knowledge of games and gaming, particularly having gameplay experience. That is because these are the domains that are leading the way.

The word ‘ecosystem’ comes up a lot, and here is where the planners come in. Each world will have its own needs, its own look and feel, avatars and assets, etc. Creating cohesion requires extensive planning, detailed strategies and project management.

Architecture Roles: the EXPERIENCE creators

On top of the infrastructure, destinations and once the many worlds have been built, including the associated hardware, the next layer of Metaverse roles comes in the form of creating the actual interaction and engagement. These are, arguably, the hardest segments to get right – attract and make people stay.??

Here is a snapshot of some of the EXPERIENCE roles available right now:

• UX/UI artist: Join the creative team to implement and optimise user-friendly graphics, optimising animations and game usability and testing, as well as strong visual design skills, user experience design, wireframes, visuals, flow diagrams, journey maps, heuristic evaluations and prototypes as part of the UI/UX design strategy, reporting to the Head of Design.?Background?in UI/UX design, Adobe tools, storyboards, atom design and site mapping, Agile development, Scrum, Kanban.?Knowledge?of Sketch, InVision, Visio, Jira, HTML, CSS, IOS, Android, Adobe CC.?Interests: gaming experience, crypto-games and passionate about technology and UI trends, and new devices.
• 3D artist: creating high-quality 3D models of interior and exterior environments, props, furniture.?Experience: texturing, authoring materials, authoring assets and scenes, lighting, realtime rendering.?Core skills: 3d modelling, texturing, Unity3D, asset workflow, PBR/HDRP material creation, low-poly model optimisation, high-poly mesh baking.?
• 3C gameplay programmer: 3C (Character, Controls, Camera) programmer to work closely with game designers to create player-centric gameplay systems, writing the code to make the game happen.?Core skills: C++, refactoring, optimization, debugging and testing, control of 3D mathematics, real-time animation techniques, avatar behaviours/components.?Knowledge?of gameplay systems, game mechanics, 2D/3D animation software, game-production pipeline processes. Interest: passion for video games and gaming experiences, technical and software advancements in the gaming industry, trends.
• Senior Metaverse Producer: focus on building worlds and bringing them to life, oversee processes, pipelines across the cross-functional development teams
• Spatial Experience Designer: focus on building and enriching the XR experience for emotional, physical and cognitive user appeal.?Knowledge?of contributing to design techniques and processes, creating wireframes, grayboxing for 3D UI, navigation, interaction, AR/VR components, understanding of designing spatial experiences.?Core skills: UI/UX design, industry experience, Adobe suite, Sketch, Unreal, Unity, XR prototyping, Tvori, Sketchbox 3D, Minsar.
• Junior Experience Developer: focus on crafting engaging experiences, prototyping game mechanics, user journey mapping and interface design, reporting to the Engineering Director.?Knowledge?of MMO RPG game design principles, engagement, economy, journey analysis.?Interests: blockchain, crypto gaming, Web3 technologies.
• Game & Experience Designer: focus on working with game producers, level designers, narrative designers and artists to lead game design.?Knowledge?of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, crypto gaming, understanding of the Metaverse landscape, avatars, Web3, UX, creating gaming experiences (core loops, retention, engagement, economy/monetisation).?Core skills: professional experience, proven shipped products, deep understanding of complex ecosystems, MMO economy design, Agile project management. Interests: game economics and the latest trends in the Metaverse experience, game design trends.
• Character Artist: focus on creating character-related 3D assets, working with the Art Director and Lead to create game-ready assets.?Knowledge?of visual styling, game development cycles, UV skills, translating concept/reference art into 3D assets.?Core skills: 3D modelling, Unreal Engine, Unity, 3dMax, Maya, Blender, CryEngine, Frostbite, Radiant. Interest: passionate about games
• Avatar product design prototyper: the focus is to investigate, design, build, test and iterate 3D interactive prototypes.?Knowledge?of real-time 3D development environments, Unity, Unreal Engine, Spark AR, AR or game development.?Core skills: programming languages (C#, JavaScript, HLSL/GLSL, Cg).??
• Avatar Design Programme Manager: focus on overseeing team designing, building and shipping assets, identifying and driving product initiatives, managing strategic initiatives and managing operations, reporting to Product Design Manager.?Core skills: managing product design teams, product development, road mapping, project management, content strategy, UX research.?Interests: a passion for emerging technologies and platforms.
• 3D motion designer: focus on motion design, reporting to the Art Director and marketing team.?Knowledge?of distributed development environments, CG rendering, motion design, voxel art, video-game industry, Web3.?Core skills: motion design, Adobe suite (After Effects), Cinema4D, Elements3D, Redshift, Corona.
• Storyboard artist: focus on translating scripts and story outlines into clear, compelling visual sequences, reporting to the cinematic director and animation departments, cinematic storytelling.?Core skills: storyboard creation, cinematography, storytelling, staging, composition, characters, Storyboard Pro, Photoshop, After Effects.
• Character and Metaverse Producer: focus on creating characters that span mixed-reality and immersive experiences and performances, reporting to the Head of Production.?Knowledge?of familiar with industry-standard processes around animation, avatars and 3D assets, within either the games or VFX industry, understanding of 3D pipelines (including mo-cap) and 3D formats.??
• Narrative Designer: focus on gameplay narratives and bringing story worlds to the Metaverse, working with the Game Director.?Knowledge?of professional writing environments (game, cinema, television, literature), understanding of the game industry, game design, gameplay mechanics.?Core skills: storytelling, content writing, narrative design, dialogue, characterisation. Interests: emerging technologies and video games, interactive entertainment, character design, UX/UI, FX.
• Head of Narrative Design: focus on spearheading, determining and delivering the storytelling needs of the organisation, managing the Narrative Design Team, reporting to the leadership team.?Knowledge?of game design, narrative design, storytelling, Metaverse platforms and cultures, gaming, blockchain, NFTs, UGC, Play2Earn
• UX writer: focus on writing content for product and virtual experiences.?Knowledge?of management tools, Agile methodologies.?Core skills: writing, editing, UX, storytelling game design, editorial content.?Interests: passion for video games.

It is clear from this sample of jobs that a combination of technical/coding skills and a working knowledge of leading, sector-specific software specific is required. On top of that, as it stands right now, experience in games (playing or building) or knowledge of Web3/Metaverse working parts and concepts is an advantage.

Architecture Roles: the INHABIT creators

This group of jobs straddles both halves of the build/experience arenas but rather than being macro-level world building the focus is on building specific destinations and use-spaces, such as stores, learning portals, venues and invite-only events. This would also include planning, building and designing campaigns and platform-specific portfolios for big brands (with the budgets) – as we have witnessed in the past few years. Examples include?Metaverse Fashion Week?and?virtual concerts.

Rather than creating ecosystems at scale, the INHABIT roles seek to optimise destination appeal and engagement, much like a wedding/party planner, restaurateur or gallery director does in the physical world today. Here you will find:

• Event planners
• Stage directors
• Conference coordinators
• Designers, stylists
• Teachers, lecturers
• Operations managers
• Technical directors
• Etc, etc

Part 3 of the Metaverse Jobs series will focus on the Metaverse Agents. These are the roles working in and serving the millions of people entering and moving across the Metaverse. Just like in the 2D world, there will be every imaginable form of seller, influencer, host, hustler, manager and adviser, as well as doctors, lawyers and security roles.?

This is where the non-technical people of the world, generally speaking, will be working. They will be looking to earn a living from the virtual economy – real as well as virtual – be it through entertainment, services, consulting or sales.

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This is Article 4 in a newsletter dedicated to musings, insights, observations and pondering about the putative Metaverse. Subscribe for future articles and interviews by the author.

Jesse Karjalainen is a communication and content specialist, as well as an award-winning journalist, author, writer, photographer, designer and illustrator. He lives in Sweden and is the author of ‘Sisu: Resilience Belonging Purpose - The Secrets of Finland's can-do mindset’.