How We Interview

We want our interview process to be transparent, respectful of your time, and genuinely useful for both sides—whether or not you end up joining us. Here’s what to expect.

Our Interview Philosophy

We’re not looking to catch you out, we’re rooting for you to do well. We want to see how you think, how you collaborate, and whether there’s a mutual fit based on your prior experience as well as your future aspirations. Every stage is designed to get to know you better, to see where you excel, and to simulate real work at Orbital rather than abstract puzzles or trick questions. It’s also an opportunity for you to engage with people at Orbital whom you might work alongside in the near future.

The Process

Some more senior roles have a few more stages but here is the usual process that you’re likely to go through for entry, mid-level and senior roles across product management, design, legal engineering, software engineering and AI engineering.

1. Initial Conversation (30 mins, online)

A relaxed chat with someone from our Talent team. We’ll talk about your background, what you’re looking for, and give you a chance to ask questions about Orbital. No preparation needed, just come as you are.

2. Practical Task (2-3+ hours, async)

A take-home task that either roughly mirrors real work at Orbital or asks some questions around some of the best work you’ve done and your approach to various challenges. You’ll receive clear requirements and have flexibility on when to complete it. We’re looking for clarity of thought and a chance to see what you’re capable of, we’re not looking for perfection.

3. Panel & Cultural Interview (~3 hours, in-person)

During the panel interview you’ll meet more of the team you’d be working closely with day-to-day. We’ll review your practical task together, go deeper on various aspects of it, and explore how you’d collaborate with us. This is also your chance to interview us and we’ll leave lots of time for questions.

During the cultural interview you’ll meet other colleagues at Orbital outside of the direct team you’re being interviewed for. They’ll ask a variety of questions around things like why you want to work for us, how you’ve worked successfully at prior companies, your future ambitions, etc. It’s a two-way conversation and we want you to get a feel for our culture too.

4. Final Conversation (~1 hour, online/in-person)

A conversation with a lead on the product engineering team to align on expectations, your overall fit for the role and to answer any remaining questions you might have.

5. Offer

We’ll share specific feedback on your interviews and provide all the details you need about the role, compensation, and equity so you can make an informed decision. We’re always happy to answer your questions at this stage as this is an exciting step and we want you to feel confident about joining us.

What We Look For

• Have strong communication skills with structured thinking - we work in a complex domain so communicating your ideas clearly and compellingly, is critical for success.
• Be curious and have a willingness to learn - you’ll bring expertise to the table but you’ll still have lots to learn about real estate law or AI engineering or how to win in our competitive marketplace.
• Take ownership and initiative - we want people who don’t wait to be told what to do but spot problems or opportunities themselves and drive toward solving them.
• Have strong instincts for building in an AI-accelerating world - we need people who recognise we’re in a unique period for building software where AI models are getting dramatically more capable on short timelines and this changes how we build product and solve problems for our customers.

How to Prepare

• Read about us: Start with our Product Engineering Guide to understand how we work
• Know your work: Be ready to discuss projects in depth, including trade-offs and what you’d do differently
• Prepare questions: The best interviews are conversations—we want to hear what matters to you
• Be yourself: We’re not looking for rehearsed answers, we want to meet the real you

Inclusivity & Adjustments

We’re committed to making our interview process inclusive and accessible. If you need any accommodations or adjustments at any stage—whether related to accessibility, scheduling, format, or anything else—please let us know. We’re happy to adapt the process to help you perform at your best.

Timeline

We aim to complete the process within 2-3 weeks and we can move as quickly as you can. The main variables are your availability for scheduling and the time you need to complete the practical task. After each stage, you’ll typically hear back from us within 48 hours.