About Omokai
Omokai (German Based) is building an AI-powered intelligence and orchestration layer for autonomous systems, including robots, drones, UAVs, UGVs, USVs, and distributed sensor networks.
Our mission is to make complex autonomous systems accessible through natural language, enabling humans to communicate with and coordinate fleets of intelligent machines as naturally as they communicate with other people.
Founded by the former Head of AI at Amazon, Omokai is a Germany-based AI startup building at the intersection of Applied AI, Generative AI, Robotics, Autonomous Systems, and Physical AI.
We are developing technology that connects advanced AI with real-world autonomous machines, with a strong emphasis on security, reliability, and human oversight.
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a highly technical person who can take ownership of our robotics and autonomous systems engineering.
This is not a traditional engineering management position but comes with opportunity to become a Head/Director of engineering in future.
We want someone who loves writing code, building hardware, debugging systems, and making real robots and drones work.
You will work directly with the founder to develop Omokai's core technology, build functional prototypes, and turn ambitious technical ideas into real-world systems.
You should be equally comfortable developing software architectures, writing Python/C++ code, integrating sensors, configuring flight controllers, working with embedded computers, and testing physical robots or drones.
Furthermore, you will have significant technical ownership and a meaningful equity stake in the company.
This is an early-stage, high-ownership opportunity for someone who wants to build a company from the ground up, not simply join one.
Compensation & Equity
Please read this section carefully before applying.
Omokai is an early-stage startup, and this is a primarily equity-based opportunity.
- Equity: Can be upto cofounder level equity. To be discussed based on experience, responsibilities, commitment, and long-term contribution
- Cash compensation: Not available. Basic stipend given. This is not a conventional market-salary position.
- Long-term opportunity: Play a foundational role in building Omokai, with significant technical ownership and potential upside if the company succeeds.
- Equity structure: Ownership, vesting, and other founder terms will be mutually agreed and documented.
- Location: Based in India for short term, will be relocated to Germany based on funding in coming months.
We are looking for someone who understands the risks and rewards of early-stage entrepreneurship and is motivated by building meaningful technology and creating long-term value.
What You Will Build
Your primary responsibility will be to design, develop, integrate, and test the technology powering Omokai's autonomous systems.
Software & Autonomy Engineering
- Write production-quality Python and C++ code for robotics, drones, and autonomous systems.
- Develop and integrate software using ROS 2, MAVLink, PX4, ArduPilot, and related frameworks.
- Build interfaces connecting Omokai's AI orchestration platform with physical robots, drones, sensors, and onboard computers.
- Develop autonomous mission execution, telemetry, navigation, and control capabilities.
- Integrate AI models, LLMs, computer vision, and natural language interfaces with robotic systems.
- Build simulation and testing environments using Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or similar tools.
- Design reliable software architectures for edge computing, robotics communication, and AI-assisted autonomy.
Hardware & Embedded Engineering
- Assemble, configure, modify, and test real drones and robotic systems.
- Work directly with flight controllers, embedded computers, sensors, cameras, GPS, IMUs, and communication modules.
- Develop and debug integrations involving NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi, STM32, ESP32, or similar platforms.
- Troubleshoot hardware-software integration problems, connectivity, control signals, sensor data, and embedded systems.
- Perform bench testing, hardware debugging, and field testing.
- Build end-to-end working prototypes, from electronics and firmware to software and AI integration.
Primary Responsibilities
- Take ownership of major technical architecture and engineering decisions.
- Build the initial technical foundation of Omokai's products.
- Make pragmatic engineering decisions balancing speed, reliability, performance, and cost.
- Help define technical priorities, product capabilities, and development milestones.
- Work closely with the founder on product direction, demonstrations, and technical strategy.
- Help shape the future engineering team as the company grows.
Most importantly: you will spend the majority of your time actually building, coding, integrating, and testing systems rather than managing people or preparing presentations.
Who We Are Looking For
We care far more about what you have actually built than your job titles, academic credentials, or years of experience.
Must-Have: Strong Software Engineering
- Excellent programming skills in Python and/or C++.
- Strong computer science fundamentals and the ability to design robust software systems.
- Practical experience with ROS/ROS 2 or comparable robotics software frameworks.
- Experience with UAV/drone technologies such as PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink, or related control systems.
- Ability to build, debug,
and deploy software on real robotic or embedded systems.
- Strong problem-solving capabilities across software architecture, communication protocols, and system integration.
Must-Have: Strong Hardware Engineering
- Hands-on experience building or modifying drones, robots, or other autonomous machines.
- Experience integrating sensors, controllers, embedded computers, and electronics.
- Understanding of embedded systems and hardware communication protocols such as UART, CAN, I2C, SPI, and Ethernet.
- Ability to troubleshoot real-world hardware issues independently.
- Comfort with physical prototyping, wiring, debugging, and field testing.
Must-Have: Co-Founder Mindset
- Solid sense of ownership and willingness to take responsibility for technical outcomes.
- Comfortable working independently in an early-stage startup with limited resources.
- Pragmatic engineering mindset focused on shipping working systems.
- Willingness to learn across disciplines and solve unfamiliar technical problems.
- Genuine interest in robotics, drones, autonomous machines, and AI.
- Comfortable with the uncertainty, responsibility, and long-term commitment of building a startup.
Nice to Have
- Experience with multi-robot coordination, drone swarms, or autonomous mission planning.
- Computer vision, SLAM, object detection, navigation, or perception systems.
- Experience deploying AI models on edge devices.
- Experience connecting LLMs or agentic AI systems with physical hardware.
- Experience building commercial robotics products or taking prototypes into real-world deployment.
- Familiarity with aerospace, defense, industrial automation, or mission-critical robotics systems.
- Previous startup or entrepreneurial experience.
You do not need to be an expert in every technology listed above. However, you must have demonstrated depth in both software and hardware engineering and be able to build working systems independently.
How to Apply
We are especially interested in seeing what you have built.
Please share
- A brief introduction about yourself and why you are interested in becoming a technical co-founder.
- Your GitHub, portfolio, or examples of software you have personally developed.
- Links to robotics, drone, embedded systems, or hardware projects you have built (videos, photos, demonstrations, or technical documentation).
- A short explanation of your specific technical contributions to those projects.
- Your current location and availability.
You do not need an impressive CV. We would rather see a working drone, robot, or technical system that you built yourself.
If you are the kind of engineer who enjoys going from an empty repository and a box of electronic components to a fully working autonomous system, we would love to hear from you.
Join Omokai and help build the next generation of intelligent autonomous systems.
📌 Lead Robotics & UAV Engineer | Equity-Based Compensation (India)
🏢 Omokai
📍 India