📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Director
🔹 Company: Orb Aerospace
🔹 Location: Lowell, Michigan
🔹 Job Type: Full Time
🔹 Category: Aviation and Aerospace
🔹 Date Posted: April 15, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and leading the multimedia Christian-industrial retro-futuristic brand of Orb's 'humanitarian air force'.
- Overseeing creative direction, storytelling, video production, and branding efforts to support Orb's mission.
- Collaborating with hardware engineers and other teams to ensure visuals align with Orb's unique aesthetic and values.
- Managing and mentoring a team of creatives to deliver high-quality work consistently.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong creative visionary who can balance artistic direction with practical constraints and team management.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Build and lead the creative direction and storytelling efforts for Orb's brand.
✅ Oversee video production, graphics, and branding efforts to ensure consistency and quality.
✅ Collaborate with hardware engineers and other teams to create visually appealing content that aligns with Orb's unique aesthetic and values.
✅ Manage and mentor a team of creatives, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
✅ Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices in creative direction and multimedia production.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, strong leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience: Proven experience (2-5 years) in a creative leadership role, preferably in the aviation or aerospace industry.
Required Skills:
- Expertise in Adobe Illustrator or similar software.
- Proficiency in Davinci or similar video editing software.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with engineers and other teams.
- Strong attention to detail and quality assurance skills.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in brand strategy and development.
- Familiarity with 3D modeling or animation software.
- Experience in project management or agile methodologies.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio demonstrating their creative vision and leadership skills will be highly competitive for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $80,000 - $100,000 per year, plus options and incentives. The salary range is based on the role's responsibility, required skills, and industry standards for creative directors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Short/Long Term Disability and Group/Voluntary Life Insurance.
- 401K Options with a 3% employer match.
Working Hours: Full-time position with standard office hours, Monday through Friday. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required to meet project deadlines.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and the role's responsibilities. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Orb Aerospace operates in the aviation and aerospace component manufacturing industry, focusing on turning autonomous aircraft into decentralized infrastructure to connect continents, protect soldiers, provide for families, and run economies.
Company Size: Orb Aerospace is a small company with 11-50 employees, providing a unique opportunity for candidates to have a significant impact on the organization's growth and success.
Founded: Orb Aerospace was founded in 2019, making it a relatively young and innovative company in the aerospace industry.
Company Description:
- Orb Aerospace is dedicated to bringing aviation to the 80% of the world that has never had it, turning autonomous aircraft into tools to decentralize infrastructure, connect continents, protect soldiers, provide for families, and run economies.
- The company 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.
- Orb Aerospace is committed to creating accessible aviation for all mankind, guided by the biblical principle of "fill the earth and subdue it."
Company Specialties:
- Autonomous aircraft design and manufacturing.
- Decentralized infrastructure development.
- Humanitarian and military applications of autonomous aircraft.
Company Website: http://orb.aero
ASSUMPTION: Orb Aerospace's unique mission and focus on humanitarian and military applications set it apart from traditional aerospace companies, offering candidates a chance to make a significant impact on global challenges.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a high degree of creativity, leadership, and strategic thinking.
Reporting Structure: The Creative Director will report directly to the CEO and work closely with other department heads, including Engineering and Operations.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site, full-time position. Occasional remote work may be considered for the right candidate, but the role requires regular on-site presence to collaborate effectively with the team.
Growth Opportunities:
- As a small and growing company, Orb Aerospace offers ample opportunities for career growth and advancement as the organization expands.
- The Creative Director will have the chance to shape the company's brand and visual identity, leaving a lasting impact on Orb Aerospace's success.
- Candidates with strong leadership and management skills may have the opportunity to grow into a more senior role, such as Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Operating Officer, as the company continues to expand.
ASSUMPTION: The Creative Director's role is crucial to Orb Aerospace's success, and the right candidate will have ample opportunities to grow and make a significant impact on the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Orb Aerospace's headquarters is a live-work-fly R&D facility, providing a unique and collaborative work environment for employees.
Office Location(s): Lowell, Michigan
Geographic Context:
- Lowell, Michigan, is a small city with a population of approximately 3,800 people, offering a tight-knit community and a lower cost of living compared to larger metropolitan areas.
- The city is located in the heart of Michigan's automotive industry, providing ample opportunities for networking and collaboration with other aerospace and automotive companies.
- Lowell is situated near several major highways, making it easily accessible for commuting employees and visitors.
Work Schedule: The Creative Director will work standard office hours, Monday through Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends required to meet project deadlines.
ASSUMPTION: The unique live-work-fly R&D facility offers employees a collaborative and innovative work environment, fostering creativity and cross-pollination of ideas.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
- In-depth interview with the CEO and other department heads to discuss the role's responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities.
- Portfolio review and creative challenge to evaluate the candidate's skills and vision.
- Final interview with the CEO to discuss the candidate's fit with Orb Aerospace's mission and values.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creativity and artistic vision.
- Leadership and team management skills.
- Communication and presentation skills.
- Collaboration and problem-solving skills.
- Alignment with Orb Aerospace's mission and values.
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your creative vision, leadership skills, and relevant experience in the aviation or aerospace industry.
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best work, demonstrating your ability to develop and execute creative concepts from start to finish.
- Be prepared to discuss your creative process, how you approach challenges, and how you collaborate with others to achieve success.
- Research Orb Aerospace's mission and values, and be ready to explain how your personal and professional goals align with the company's objectives.
ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Storytelling, Video Production, Graphics, Branding, Adobe Illustrator, Davinci, Leadership, Team Management, Collaboration, Problem-Solving, Aviation, Aerospace
ASSUMPTION: Orb Aerospace's interview process is designed to assess the candidate's creativity, leadership skills, and alignment with the company's mission and values. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong portfolio, excellent communication skills, and a passion for Orb Aerospace's unique mission.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects)
- Davinci Resolve
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
- 3D modeling or animation software (e.g., Blender, Maya, 3DS Max)
ASSUMPTION: The Creative Director should be proficient in industry-standard creative software and willing to learn and adapt to new tools as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- High Agency and Biased Towards Action
- History of Self-Starting, Pacing, and Finishing Projects
- Thrive with Autonomy to Design New Solutions to Partially Defined Problems
- Curious and Continue Learning
- Can Represent the Company to Stakeholders and Customers Forward Deployed
- Have Integrity and a Desire to Serve Others
Work Style:
- Collaborative and innovative, with a focus on cross-pollination of ideas.
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a strong emphasis on execution and results.
- Mission-driven, with a commitment to using creativity to address global challenges.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where you are given autonomy to design new solutions to partially defined problems?
- Are you comfortable representing the company to stakeholders and customers, and can you effectively communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner?
- Do you have a strong desire to serve others and make a positive impact on global challenges through your creative work?
ASSUMPTION: Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong alignment with Orb Aerospace's company values and work style, and will be able to answer the self-assessment questions with confidence and enthusiasm.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The Creative Director will need to balance artistic vision with practical constraints, such as budget, timeline, and technical feasibility.
- The role may require occasional travel to attend industry events, trade shows, or customer demos.
- Candidates may face competition from other highly qualified creatives in the aviation and aerospace industry.
- The unique mission and focus of Orb Aerospace may require candidates to adapt their creative approach to address humanitarian and military applications of autonomous aircraft.
ASSUMPTION: The Creative Director's role is not without its challenges, but the right candidate will be able to overcome these obstacles and make a significant impact on Orb Aerospace's success.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional creative director roles, this position requires a strong focus on humanitarian and military applications of autonomous aircraft, rather than commercial or consumer-focused campaigns.
- The aviation and aerospace industry is highly competitive, with a limited number of opportunities for creative directors with specialized expertise in this field.
- Career progression in this role may lead to more senior positions, such as Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Operating Officer, as the company continues to grow and expand.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be aware of the unique aspects of this role and how it differs from more traditional creative director positions in other industries.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive brand style guide for Orb Aerospace, including logo design, color palette, typography, and imagery guidelines.
- Creating a series of promotional videos showcasing Orb Aerospace's unique aircraft and their applications in humanitarian and military contexts.
- Designing and implementing a marketing campaign to raise awareness of Orb Aerospace's mission and values, targeting potential investors, customers, and partners.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to give candidates an idea of the types of creative challenges they may face in this role, but the actual projects and responsibilities may vary based on the company's needs and priorities.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does Orb Aerospace plan to expand its reach and impact in the coming years, and how can the Creative Director contribute to this growth?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the company in the next 12-24 months, and how can the Creative Director help address these issues through their work?
- How does Orb Aerospace support the professional development and growth of its employees, and what opportunities exist for the Creative Director to grow and advance in their career?
- What is the company's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how can the Creative Director contribute to fostering a more inclusive and equitable work environment?
- How does Orb Aerospace measure the success of its creative efforts, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) will the Creative Director be responsible for tracking and optimizing?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role's responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities, as well as Orb Aerospace's mission, values, and culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your creative vision, leadership skills, and relevant experience in the aviation or aerospace industry.
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best work, demonstrating your ability to develop and execute creative concepts from start to finish.
- Be prepared to discuss your creative process, how you approach challenges, and how you collaborate with others to achieve success.
- Research Orb Aerospace's mission and values, and be ready to explain how your personal and professional goals align with the company's objectives. Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
