Founding Engineer

Applications: candidates may apply from outside Japan. Visa sponsorship: available. Japanese: Not required. English: Business level. Japan Dev tags: Engineering, Manager.

About AORA

AORA is a mission-driven startup building the next generation of "AI-first" precision manufacturing. We are acquiring and partnering with high-end Japanese manufacturing SMEs to modernize them with advanced AI and robotics, creating a high-efficiency export engine for global industries, including the US defense, aerospace sectors and so on.

Our founding team combines world-class entrepreneurship and deep technical roots:

• Our CEO, Masato, brings a rare blend of legal, governmental, and startup expertise to the team. A practicing lawyer and Cabinet Office First Fellow, he previously served as the CHRO at freee following the successful acquisition of his own company. His deep-rooted ties to both Japanese industry and government drive our strategic vision.

• Our CTO, John, is a Yale CS alumnus and two-time Y Combinator founder. John brings a lifelong background in robotics and a proven track record of success, including the acquisition of his previous startup by Gap.

We are currently raising a pre-seed round to build the "Dark Factory" of the future.

The Role:

As our Founding Engineer, you will be the first technical hire alongside the CTO.

You won't just be writing code; you will be designing the software architecture for an entire fleet of automated factories. This is a rare opportunity to bridge the gap between bits and atoms, applying cutting-edge AI to the world of high-precision hardware.

What You Will Do

• Architect and build the core software platform that integrates AI-driven robotics with legacy manufacturing hardware.
• Develop computer vision and motion planning systems to automate precision machining tasks.
• Collaborate with the CTO to define the long-term technology roadmap for our "Roll-up + Tech" strategy.
• Work on-site at acquired factories in Japan to understand physical bottlenecks and implement real-world solutions.
• Help build and lead the initial engineering culture of AORA.

Who You Are

• The "YC Spirit": You are a builder who thrives in ambiguity and moves fast. You prefer shipping code over long meetings.
• Technical Excellence: Strong background in Software,Robotics, or Hardware.
• The Bridge: You are excited about the intersection of software and physical manufacturing. You aren't afraid to get your hands dirty on the factory floor.
• Global Mindset: Excellent English communication skills. A desire to live in Japan and help revitalize its legendary manufacturing sector.

Why Join Us?

• Founding Stock Option: Significant ownership in a high-growth startup backed by a track record of success.
• Relocation Support: Full support for your visa and move to Tokyo/Japan.
• Global Impact: Help solve the labor shortage in Japan while building a critical supply chain for the US and its allies.
• Elite Team: Work directly with a team that has scaled companies to thousands of employees and graduated from the world’s top accelerators.