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Apple has taken aim at many tech markets - from phones to music players and its upcoming smartwatch - and it now appears to be gunning for the world of virtual reality.

A job listing has revealed the tech giant is advertising for an engineer to create 'apps that integrate virtual reality systems.'

It is not known whether the firm is looking to develop hardware, as well as software, but an Apple headset would rival the likes of Oculus Rift and Samsung's Gear VR.

A job listing shows Apple is advertising for an engineer to create 'apps that integrate virtual reality systems.' An Apple headset would rival the likes of Oculus Rift and Samsung's Gear VR (pictured)

The job listing was first spotted by fan site 9to5Mac. 

It says: 'We are looking for a software engineer to develop UI and applications to create next generation software experiences.

'This engineer will create high performance apps that integrate with virtual reality systems for prototyping and user testing.'

The candidate will work with the team in the firm's Santa Clara Valley office.

A patent published in December suggests the firm does have ambitions for a head-mounted display.

The patent, which was first filed in May 2007, details a 'goggle system for providing a personal media viewing experience to a user.'

Apple explained that the goggle system may resemble ski or motorcycle goggles, and to 'enhance the user's comfort, the goggle system may include breathable components', including breathable foam that rests against the user's face.

Apple was recently criticised for playing catch up with its rivals when it released its larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets.

The job posts says: 'We are looking for a software engineer to develop UI and applications to create next generation software experiences. This engineer will create high performance apps that integrate with virtual reality systems.' The candidate will work with the team in the firm's Santa Clara Valley office

It is not known whether Apple is looking to develop VR hardware, or just software, but a patent published in December suggests the firm does have ambitions for a head-mounted display. The patent, which was first filed in 2007, details a 'goggle system for providing a personal media viewing experience to a user' (pictured)

If Apple is looking to expand into the virtual reality market, it would be following rivals Google, Samsung and Facebook-owned Oculus Rift - despite filing its patent before these firms released their headsets.

Last week, VR firm Jaunt released its first cinematic virtual reality release of Paul McCartney's gig in San Francisco filmed during the summer.

The Jaunt camera system simultaneously records 3D stereoscopic video in all directions, which is coupled with 3D sound-field microphones.

If Apple is looking to expand into the virtual reality market, it would follow rivals Google, Samsung and Oculus Rift - despite filing its patent before these firms released their headsets. Google Cardboard (pictured) is made from cardboard folded to form an enclosure, in which a phone is then slotted in to act as a display

Last week, VR firm Jaunt released its first cinematic virtual reality release of Paul McCartney's gig in San Francisco (pictured). If Apple chooses to enter the cinematic VR market, as opposed the gaming VR industry, it could use its experience with iTunes

The team then use so-called computational photography algorithms to process the recorded video, adjust the angles and colours, and make it appear more immersive.

The footage is available as a free app from Google Play and works with Google's Cardboard, and the gig will be available for Samsung's Gear VR and the Oculus Rift 'soon'. 

If Apple chooses to enter the cinematic VR market, as opposed the gaming VR industry, it could use its experience with iTunes.