Orb Aerospace
Senior Software Engineer – Autonomous Air Systems (Avionics)
TLDR
Lead design and integration of rugged autonomous air platforms, delivering world-class microelectronics, sensors, and edge compute with Rust firmware.
US Citizen or Permanent Resident
In-Person
Fall 2026 Start
Join us in building aircraft at scale, reindustrializing the Midwest, and turning autonomous aircraft into decentralized infrastructure. Orb is a small mission-driven team where your initiative, creativity, and dedication will be used to reach every village on the planet with power, logistics, and communications.
Your Role at Orb:
Orb is building software-hardware-integrated air platforms. This position will lead the design and of world class microelectronics, sensors, and edge compute devices. This position will develop firmware and interface with software primarily in Rust.
Key Responsibilities
Design and integrate autonomy into edge computing systems
Develop and test software solutions within Software-in-The-Loop and Hardware-in-The-Loop environments
Leverage existing mesh network hardware to support real-time communication
Collaborate with interdisciplinary project teams
Lead and mentor a small software team while balancing multiple projects
Implement modern DevOps practices
Required Qualifications
Minimum 7+ years working in a strongly typed language (Rust preferred)
Proficiency in a Linux development environment
Understanding of data structures, algorithms and code optimization
Experience in most or all of the following areas:
o SLAM
o Robotics / ROS
o Vision Systems (OpenCV)
o Localization
o Control systems
Preferred Qualifications
BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
Embedded software development and hardware debugging experience
Experience developing autonomous systems
Experience with bandwidth-limited networking
About Orb Aerospace[AT1] [CC2] [AT3] : Orb was started with the mission to bring aviation to the 80% of the world that’s never had it; turning autonomous aircraft into tools to decentralize infrastructure, connect continents, protect soldiers, provide for families, and run economies. “Less like the flying taxis, more like the flying cowboys,” Orb is at the intersection of manned and unmanned aviation, reindustrializing the Midwest, and building the future we know is possible and want to live in.
About Node One: Node One is a small team of engineers and operators who have dedicated their lives to solving some of the world’s hardest problems through a new kind of aviation. Orb’s live-work-fly R&D HQ. Node One is all about reducing the cycle time to design, build, and fly aircraft from years to months and building the systems and platforms we’ll use to reach every village on the planet. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Their great work allows us to accomplish ours. If you’ve been a rocket/airplane nerd and have a passion for designing, building, and flying airframes, autopilots, power systems, and embedded systems, or you love to push a new product through new manufacturing methods to a new market, come join the team at Node One and make history.
Orb Employees Are:
· High Agency and Biased Towards Action
· Have a History of Self-Starting, Pacing, and Finishing Projects
· Thrive with Autonomy to Design New Solutions to Partially Defined Problems
· Are Curious and Continue Learning
· Can Represent the Company to Stakeholders and Customers Forward Deployed
· Have Integrity and a Desire to Serve Others
Standard Benefits Package:
· Orb provides a monthly flat rate towards medical, dental, and vision
o $500 flat rate for individuals; $850 flat rate for married/family
· Medical, Vision, Dental, Short/Long Term Disability, and Group/Voluntary Life Insurance
· Opt-In 401K Options (Pre-Tax or Roth) with a 3% Employer Match
Perks:
· Support in Getting your Pilots License and Ratings
· Support for Continuing Education
· Annual Customer Demos all over the World
Benefits
Education Stipend
Support for Continuing Education
Health Insurance
Monthly flat-rate medical, dental, and vision coverage; $500 for individuals; $850 for married/family
Learning Budget
Support in Getting your Pilots License and Ratings
401K options with employer match
Opt-In 401K Options (Pre-Tax or Roth) with a 3% Employer Match
Orb Aerospace is on a mission to bring aviation to the 80% of the world that currently lacks access, using autonomous aircraft to decentralize infrastructure and improve connectivity. With its innovative R&D hub, Node One, the company is focused on drastically reducing aircraft design and production timelines while positioning itself at the forefront of both manned and unmanned aviation, effectively reindustrializing the Midwest.
Senior Software Engineer