HP Reverb G2
Project: HP Reverb G2 - the next-generation Windows Mixed Reality headset co-developed by Microsoft, HP, and Valve. The Reverb G2 introduced industry-leading visual clarity, redesigned optics, improved inside-out tracking, next-generation controllers, and a significantly upgraded audio experience powered by Valve’s off-ear speaker technology. The project required deep cross-company collaboration across hardware engineering, firmware development, platform integration, and SteamVR compatibility to deliver a premium VR device for both consumers and enterprise customers.
Final Role / Title: Program Manager II (full time) - served as a core cross-functional partner across Microsoft, HP, and Valve to support device bring-up, platform validation, and launch readiness for the HP Reverb G2. Coordinated alignment between hardware, firmware, and software teams, validated system-level performance and tracking improvements, and contributed to critical workflows ensuring the HP Reverb G2 met Microsoft’s quality, compatibility, and user-experience standards across a wide range of consumer and enterprise use cases.
What is the HP Reverb G2?
The HP Reverb G2 is a virtual reality headset that was built in partnership between HP, Valve, and Microsoft, and was released to market in the Fall of 2020. Acting as a follow-up to the original HP Reverb, the updated HP Reverb G2 was designed to deliver a more immersive, comfortable, and compatible experience than its predecessor. An upgraded enterprise-focused variant of the device was released under the “Omnicept Edition” name, while the base model of the device received a soft update in the Fall of 2021 to address issues customers found on the original version. The HP Reverb G2, specifically the “Omnicept Edition”, won several awards after hitting the market, including ‘VR Hardware of the Year‘ at the 2021 VR Awards, as well as being recognized as a “Lumiere Awards Honoree” by The Advanced Imaging Society in 2022.
Key Features of the HP Reverb G2:
2160 x 2160 Per Eye Resolution
90Hz Refresh Rate
114° Diagonal FOV
Quad On-Board Camera
Off-Ear Headphones
Updated HP Motion Controllers
Improved User Comfort & Device Fit
Data Sensors: Eye Tracking, Pupillometry, Heart Rate, Face Cam (*Omnicept Edition Only)
Role & Responsibilities
Led updates to Microsoft’s Mixed Reality QA infrastructure and validation processes to support the introduction of the HP Reverb G2, ensuring the device integrated cleanly into the broader Windows Mixed Reality hardware matrix and met platform-wide quality standards.
Provided direct cross-company support to HP and Valve, establishing a dependable feedback loop that enabled rapid iteration across hardware, firmware, and software teams. Facilitated clear communication channels that kept engineering groups aligned and accelerated issue resolution throughout device bring‑up.
Supported in-market customers and external development teams in adopting and optimizing for the HP Reverb G2, addressing a wide spectrum of needs across content creators, enterprise deployments, and retail consumers. Helped developers understand device capabilities, troubleshoot integration challenges, and deliver high‑quality VR experiences tailored to the HP Reverb G2’s advanced optics, tracking, and audio systems.
Challenges, Learnings, & Career Impact
Working on the HP Reverb G2 presented a uniquely demanding set of challenges, shaped not only by the technical ambition of the device itself but also by the unprecedented disruption of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Midway through development, teams across Microsoft, HP, and Valve were suddenly forced into fully distributed workflows - an especially difficult shift for hardware-driven programs that traditionally rely on in-person collaboration, rapid prototyping, and hands-on device iteration.
Despite these constraints, our cross-company teams adapted quickly. We established new communication rhythms, rethought validation workflows, and built remote testing pipelines that allowed us to continue iterating on optics, tracking, audio, and controller design. The resilience and alignment across all three organizations ultimately enabled us to ship an award-winning headset that became especially beloved by VR gamers, flight sim enthusiasts, and enterprise users who valued the HP Reverb G2’s industry-leading visual clarity.
This project also marked my first full end-to-end VR device development cycle - a rare opportunity to see every stage of a hardware program, from early prototyping through launch and in-market support. I gained hands-on experience navigating the complexities of multi-company hardware collaboration, balancing competing priorities across firmware, software, and platform teams, and supporting a device that pushed the boundaries of what Windows Mixed Reality could deliver.
The HP Reverb G2 fundamentally shaped my growth as a technical program manager. It taught me how to lead through ambiguity, maintain momentum across distributed teams, and support cutting-edge spatial computing technologies under intense constraints. Those lessons continue to influence how I approach cross-functional leadership and platform-level problem‑solving today.
Where to get HP Reverb G2
The HP Reverb G2 device line was released by HP in the Fall of 2020 (current availability may vary).
