Who is Aaqib Habib? - A Trailblazer in AR/VR Technologies

Overview
Full NameAaqib H.
OccupationSoftware Engineer Manager, Reality Lab Research at Meta
EducationMaster of Science (MS) in Software Management, Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science
LocationUnited States of America
LanguagesEnglish
Companies Worked AtMeta, Uber Advanced Technology Center, Techstars (Akibah Healthcare), Microsoft, Space Systems/Loral
Notable ProjectsPhotorealistic Codec Avatars, AR/VR experiences, LiDAR annotations for self-driving applications

Aaqib Habib embarked on his professional journey after completing his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science from Cornell University, an Ivy League institution known for its rigorous academic programs and notable alumni. He further honed his skills by pursuing a Master of Science (MS) in Software Management from Carnegie Mellon University, another prestigious institution renowned for its contributions to computer science and technology.

Professional Journey

Space Systems/Loral

Aaqib's career began as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer Intern at Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, CA, a leading provider of commercial satellites. This early experience in a high-tech environment laid the foundation for his future endeavors in technology and engineering.

Microsoft

In July 2012, Aaqib joined Microsoft in San Francisco, CA, as a Software Engineer in Enterprise Services. Working for one of the world's largest technology companies, he gained valuable experience in software development and services.

Techstars and Akibah Healthcare

In 2013, Aaqib co-founded Akibah Healthcare under the Techstars accelerator program, serving as the CTO. Akibah Healthcare, based in San Jose, CA, focused on a diabetes management platform, showcasing his ability to innovate and lead in the health tech space.

Uber Advanced Technology Center

Aaqib's journey continued at the Uber Advanced Technology Center, where he worked as a Software Engineer in TLM from 2016 to 2019. Here, he developed tools for annotating LiDAR, images, and radar sensors for self-driving applications, contributing to the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology.

Meta

In December 2019, Aaqib joined Meta (formerly Facebook) in the Greater Pittsburgh Area as a Software Engineer Manager within the Reality Lab Research group. At Meta, he leads a team focused on creating photorealistic Codec Avatars, driving innovations in AR/VR experiences that are indistinguishable from reality. His work includes developing ML models, annotation tools, and inference pipelines to enable technologies like photorealistic full-body avatars and hand tracking.

Conclusion

Aaqib Habib's professional journey is marked by his contributions to several cutting-edge technologies, from space systems engineering to AR/VR innovations. His leadership at Meta's Reality Lab Research exemplifies his commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in technology and virtual experiences.