Senior Robotics Software Engineer - Ornata

Black Nova Venture Capital; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company options

Real‑world impact

Architectural influence

Live hardware access in Richmond

Career growth

Melbourne team

Senior compensation package

Job summary

Ornata is seeking a Senior Robotics Software Engineer to design and own the embedded and edge software that keeps autonomous tractors operating safely in the field. You will work closely with operators and the engineering team to translate field observations into robust technical solutions.

Reporting to the CTO, you will develop perception, localisation, planning and control, build HIL tests, logging and diagnostics, and ensure reliable, safe operation of heavy machinery in outdoor environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in embedded systems, robotics or autonomous platforms.
• Strong C/C++ skills, including microcontrollers, with Python proficiency.
• Deep understanding of localisation, path planning and control theory.
• Experience building safety‑critical or fault‑tolerant systems with fault detection and recovery.
• Experience with HIL testing and automated validation frameworks.
• Comfort with Linux‑based edge devices and distributed system communication.
• Experience developing perception systems using LiDAR/cameras, including sensor fusion.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement tractor safety systems including failsafes, watchdogs and redundancy strategies.
• Develop and maintain high‑reliability software on edge devices and microcontrollers.
• Contribute to localisation, path planning, and control systems across variable terrain.
• Design perception pipelines using LiDAR and cameras with sensor fusion for robust localisation and obstacle detection.
• Build robust data pipelines between field hardware and cloud services (telemetry and commands).
• Lead hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing to validate behavior across real sensors and actuators.
• Implement logging, telemetry, and on‑device diagnostics for safe deployment and debugging.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Embedded systems

Robotics

Linux

Sensor fusion

HIL testing

Navigation/localisation

Education

Degree in Robotics/Computer/Electrical/Mechatronic Engineering

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Gazebo

NVIDIA Jetson

OTA update systems

CAN bus

Buildroot/Yocto

Job description

About Ornata

Ornata is building the remote operations platform for agriculture.

We help farms operate machinery without a human in the cab, using the equipment they already own. Our service combines retrofit autonomy hardware, remote operators, AI, and operational systems to unlock the benefits of autonomy for every farm.

We are working with some of Australia's leading broadacre farming businesses and are now building the operational foundations required to scale safely, reliably, and repeatably.

About The Role

We are looking for a Senior Robotics Software Engineer to design and own the embedded and edge software that keeps autonomous tractors operating safely and reliably in the field.

You will work closely with operators and the engineering team to understand how our machines behave in real conditions, then independently drive robust technical solutions. This is a hands‑on senior role centred on safety‑critical systems, fault tolerance, and resilient autonomy in demanding outdoor environments.

You will report directly to the CTO and help shape the future of Ornata's autonomy stack. Your software will directly control heavy machinery working in the paddock, so engineering excellence, safety, and reliability sit at the heart of everything you do.

What You'll Do

• Design and implement tractor safety systems — failsafes, watchdogs, redundancy strategies, and recovery behaviours.
• Develop and maintain high‑reliability software running on edge devices and microcontrollers, with a focus on uptime and deterministic behaviour.
• Contribute to localisation, path planning, and control systems that operate reliably across variable terrain and environmental conditions.
• Design and implement perception pipelines using LiDAR, cameras, and other onboard sensors, and build robust sensor fusion for localisation, obstacle detection, and environmental understanding in dynamic field conditions.
• Design and maintain robust communication pipelines between field hardware and cloud services, including telemetry and command pathways.
• Build automated unit, integration, and simulation‑based test frameworks, and lead hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing to validate behaviour across real sensors and actuators.
• Implement logging, telemetry, and on‑device diagnostics to support safe deployment and rapid field debugging.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 90 days, you will understand Ornata's autonomy stack, how our machines behave in the field, and where the reliability and safety risks sit — and you will be shipping improvements to the edge software with confidence.

Over the first 12 months, success means the on‑machine software is more reliable, safer, and easier to debug in the field: safety mechanisms you can trust, perception and control that hold up across variable terrain, and test and observability frameworks that let the team deploy changes to heavy machinery with confidence.

Requirements

This is a senior, hands‑on engineering role. You will own safety‑critical software that controls heavy machinery in the field, so we are looking for someone with the depth to build fault‑tolerant systems and the judgement to know where the edge cases hide.

You’ll Likely Be a Good Fit If You

• Have 5+ years of experience in embedded systems, robotics, or autonomous platforms.
• Have strong C/C++ skills, including on microcontrollers, with proficiency in Python.
• Have a deep understanding of navigation systems (localisation, path planning) and control theory.
• Have built safety‑critical or fault‑tolerant systems, and think naturally about failure modes, redundancy, and recovery.
• Have practical experience with HIL testing and automated validation frameworks.
• Are comfortable with Linux‑based edge devices and distributed system communication.
• Have strong experience developing perception systems using LiDAR and/or camera data, including point cloud processing and sensor fusion.
• Hold a degree in Robotics, Computer, Electrical, or Mechatronic Engineering.

Useful experience

— any of the following would help, but none are strict requirements:

• ROS / ROS2, ArduPilot, or Gazebo simulation.
• NVIDIA Jetson platforms and/or OTA update systems.
• CAN bus systems and standards (e.g. J1939).
• Buildroot or Yocto.
• Working on real‑world autonomous vehicles or heavy machinery.

Benefits

• Be part of a committed team and see the rewards of your work — all early team members, including this role, hold company options, so each of us is rewarded for the company's success.
• Real‑world impact: your software directly controls heavy machinery operating in the paddock.
• Architectural influence: report directly to the CTO and help shape the future of Ornata's autonomy stack.
• A hands‑on engineering environment in Richmond, with access to live hardware, testing rigs, and field deployments.
• Quick‑paced career growth for tenacious go‑getters.
• Be part of an inner‑city Melbourne team building technology for one of Australia's most important industries.
• A base package of $130,000–$160,000, plus superannuation and employee share options (ESOP). We expect to offer a competitive senior package for the right person.