Sonny Cirasuolo
the@sonnycirasuolo.com | sonnycirasuolo.com | LinkedIn | Upstate New York
XR Engineer & Creative Technologist crafting immersive experiences, real-time web apps, and interactive 3D stories. Proficient in photogrammetry, real-time communication tools, and intuitive storytelling systems.
Professional Experience
Augmented Reality and Video Producer
Spring 2021 – Summer 2022
- Produced interactive AR/3D projects across editorial verticals (sports, news, finance), reaching millions of Yahoo readers
- Embedded 3D/AR content in long-form features across Yahoo brands
- Created an interactive curling explainer for the 2022 Beijing Olympics
- Delivered rapid-turnaround 3D design, animation, and video production for breaking news coverage
Creative Technologist and XR Engineer
Summer 2022 – Late 2024
- Designed and built immersive 3D web environments using Babylon.js for a real-time social platform
- Maintained custom Blender export plugin and optimized 3D assets for web deployment
- Engineered live syncing of player state across users using WebSockets, driving real-time interactivity and presence
- Collaborated cross-functionally to evolve platform's spatial UX and visual language, shipping major features
Syracuse University
VR Experience Lead & Project Manager
2022 – Present
- Developed a VR experience for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funded study investigating misinformation spread in the metaverse
- Led the project team, overseeing game design and project management throughout the development lifecycle
- Architected and implemented core VR simulation features in Unity, enabling realistic misinformation scenarios
Immersive Story Developer – "Cleared by Fire"
Late 2024
- Optimized all 3D scenes for the web, cleaning up meshes and textures to run efficiently in-browser
- Engineered front-end components for immersive story experience, shipping on-time for high-profile investigative series
- Optimized mobile performance and responsiveness during critical final weeks of production, ensuring smooth experience across devices
Founder and Sole Developer
2024 – Present
- Built no-code visual editor enabling creators to produce cinematic 3D stories with Gaussian splats
- Implemented fly-throughs, spatial audio, annotations, and interactive hotspots, enabling rich narrative experiences
- Developed Firebase backend with full auth, account management, media hosting, Firestore
- Integrated Stripe and user account subscriptions
- Enabled one-click sharing and embed functionality for seamless content distribution
XR Engineer
2025 – Present
- Built cutting-edge augmented reality web experiences using Babylon.js, React, and TypeScript
- Designed and optimized 3D models, materials, and real-time animations deployed to thousands of concurrent users per event
- Shipped live AR activations at MLB Oakland Athletics and MLS Minnesota United stadiums
- Engineered real-time networking infrastructure syncing fan interactions across thousands of concurrent devices per event
- Implemented vision-based localization to anchor effects to the real field, allowing for effects to be shared between the stadium audience and the jumbotron
Education
Syracuse University — B.A. Advertising (Newhouse) & Policy Studies (Maxwell)
Graduated 2021 | Dean’s List
- Led award-winning project Visualizing 81 using photogrammetry and WebXR
Skills
- Web Development: Babylon.js, React, TypeScript, Three.js, Firebase, node.js
- Photogrammetry: RealityCapture, 3D reconstruction, Gaussian Splatting, 3D Scanning
- 3D Model Optimization: Web-optimized asset creation via Blender
- Game Engines: Unity, Unreal Engine – AR/VR prototyping
- Immersive Storytelling: Narrative design, interactive & spatial UX
- Game Design & World Building: Creation of immersive 3D worlds and engaging games
- Media Production: Adobe Suite, 360° video, audio editing
Additional Experience
- Mobile Game Developer, Boys & Girls Club – built and published Pandemic Pandemonium
- VR/AR Research Assistant, Syracuse – WebXR development and 3D capture projects
- Unity Web Controller Developer – Fracture Installation (Light Work)
- Lead Developer, Syracuse/South Africa Video Portal
