Virtual Reality Simulation Play Tester

Overview

The Department of Psychology at Utah State University is seeking an hourly Virtual Reality Simulation Play Tester to support the development and evaluation of an immersive virtual reality simulation designed for behavioral and educational training. The Play Tester will systematically interact with simulation environments, evaluate usability and functionality, identify technical and design issues, and provide structured feedback to inform iterative development.

The position is anticipated to average approximately 5 hours per week during the academic year and up to 10 hours per week during the summer, with approximately 400 total hours anticipated.

Responsibilities

• Conducting repeated play-testing sessions across VR simulation scenarios and builds.
• Identifying bugs, usability issues, inconsistencies, and opportunities to improve the user experience.
• Evaluating the realism and educational relevance of simulated classroom and behavioral interactions.
• Providing detailed verbal and written feedback to the research and development team.
• Testing revisions and documenting whether identified issues have been resolved.
• Contributing practitioner-informed feedback regarding behavioral principles, classroom implementation, and training utility.
• Participating in periodic meetings with the project team to review findings and prioritize improvements.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in K–12 education, preferably special education.
• Training or experience in applied behavior analysis and behavioral intervention.
• Strong familiarity with video games and interactive or immersive technologies.
• Experience with VR hardware and simulation-based environments.
• Prior experience conducting structured play testing or providing iterative feedback on educational technology.
• Ability to identify, document, and clearly communicate technical, usability, and content-related issues.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
• Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary $30/hour ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is committed to academic excellence in research, teaching, and service activities across a wide array of education and human service fields. The college is home to eight academic departments with approximately 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research and high-level graduate and undergraduate education. The college’s programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. Faculty, students, and staff within the college also engage with a broad range of community partners to both provide opportunities for community-engaged research projects and learning, which enhances the overall quality of education and human service programs throughout the state of Utah.

University Highlights

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.

*updated 10/26

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

titleix@usu.edu

(435) 797-1266

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 | OCR@ed.gov

*updated 08/2026