Take a senior leadership role in Japan's rapidly evolving automotive software and software-defined vehicle (SDV) market. As an Automotive Software Director, you will lead the Vehicle Software Platform business in Japan, covering embedded software, middleware, and software solutions for modern automotive ECUs, domain controllers, and next-generation vehicle architectures.
You will take responsibility for regional business performance, including revenue, market strategy, product and service direction, customer development, and team leadership. Working closely with global headquarters, Japanese automotive customers, and local sales teams, you will help align global technology strategy with the requirements of the Japan automotive market.
This is an opportunity for an experienced automotive technology leader to combine AUTOSAR and automotive software expertise with business development, technical sales, and people management while helping drive the transition toward software-defined vehicles in Japan.
Key Responsibilities
- Take full responsibility for the Vehicle Software Platform business in Japan, including revenue performance, business growth, product and service strategy, and regional execution.
- Develop and execute Japan-specific business strategies in close collaboration with global headquarters and local sales teams.
- Identify the technology and business requirements of Japanese automotive OEMs and Tier suppliers and communicate market needs effectively to global product and engineering teams.
- Lead technical teams across Field Application Engineering (FAE), engineering, customer project management, and technical support.
- Manage recruitment, employee development, performance evaluation, and overall people management for the Japan division.
- Build strong relationships with automotive customers and support business expansion through technical expertise and strategic engagement.
- Provide leadership across automotive software technologies, including AUTOSAR, embedded software, middleware, BSW, RTE, MCAL, ECU integration, and vehicle networks.
- Act as a key bridge between Japan and global teams, ensuring effective cross-cultural communication and alignment on customer, technology, and business priorities.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of technical experience in the automotive industry, or experience supporting automotive customers through Tier suppliers, tool vendors, IT solution providers, semiconductor companies, or related technology businesses.
- Strong experience with automotive software technologies such as AUTOSAR Classic, middleware, software platforms, BSW, RTE, or MCAL.
- Knowledge or practical experience with CAN, Ethernet, SOME/IP, ECU integration and validation, open-source software, or automotive cybersecurity.
- At least 3 years of experience in technical sales, Field Application Engineering (FAE), business development, product marketing, product planning, or project management.
- Experience working with automotive customers and translating complex technical requirements into commercial or product strategies.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant educational background.
Soft Skills:
- Strong leadership and people-management capabilities, including team development, recruitment, and performance management.
- Strong business acumen combined with the ability to understand and discuss complex automotive software technologies.
- Excellent stakeholder-management skills for building relationships with customers, sales teams, technical specialists, and global headquarters.
- Proactive and growth-oriented mindset with a strong commitment to developing the Japanese automotive software business.
- Strong cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills for working effectively between Japan and international teams.
Language Requirements:
- Japanese: Native-level proficiency.
- English: Business-level proficiency for regular communication and collaboration with global headquarters.
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with automotive software development tools, platforms, or products within a related technology ecosystem.
- Deep understanding of automotive software development processes, vehicle software platforms, and software-defined vehicle architectures.
- Advanced knowledge or hands-on experience with AUTOSAR Classic, middleware, BSW, RTE, or MCAL.
- Experience with CAN, Ethernet, SOME/IP, ECU integration, open-source automotive software, or cybersecurity.
- Experience supporting modern automotive ECU, domain controller, or centralized computing architectures.
- Previous experience in technical sales, FAE, business development, product marketing, product planning, or technical project management.
- Experience working directly with automotive OEMs, Tier suppliers, or automotive engineering organizations in Japan.
About the Company
Our client is a global automotive software and technology company providing embedded software, middleware, development tools, and engineering solutions to vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers.
The company supports the automotive industry's transition from traditional ECU architectures toward software-defined vehicles, domain controllers, and centralized vehicle computing platforms. Its technologies span AUTOSAR, basic software, middleware, ECU development and integration, vehicle diagnostics, cybersecurity, measurement, calibration, and software/hardware abstraction.
Working closely with automotive OEMs, Tier suppliers, and engineering teams, the organization helps customers develop, test, integrate, and manage increasingly sophisticated vehicle software systems. Its international structure also provides significant collaboration between Japan-based teams and global engineering headquarters.
Why You'll Love Working Here
- Take on a senior leadership position with responsibility for the Vehicle Software Platform business in Japan, covering revenue, strategy, customer development, and team management.
- Shape the company's Japanese automotive software strategy while collaborating directly with global headquarters.
- Lead a highly technical team of FAEs, engineers, project managers, and customer support professionals.
- Work at the forefront of software-defined vehicles, AUTOSAR, embedded software, middleware, automotive cybersecurity, and next-generation vehicle computing.
- Build relationships with major automotive customers while combining technical leadership with commercial strategy.
- Benefit from flexible working hours, including a flex-time system with core hours from 11:00 to 15:00.
- Receive compensation based on experience and previous salary, together with an annual salary review and performance-based bonus.
- Access comprehensive benefits including social insurance, commuting allowance, defined-contribution pension, retirement pension, and additional employee benefit programs.
- Enjoy weekends and public holidays off, summer and year-end leave, paid annual leave, and additional special leave programs.
- Join an international working environment offering long-term career development at the intersection of automotive software, technology, and business leadership.
Don't Miss Out - Apply Now!
