Program Manager - Japan (Bilingual Japanese/English)
AI Summary
Manages Japan-based programs as the primary point of contact between PlusAI and Japanese partners, coordinating engineering, product, and operations teams across the U.S. and Japan.
About this role
PlusAI is looking for a Program Manager to serve as the day-to-day owner of Japan-based programs — the connective tissue between our Japanese partners and PlusAI's engineering, product, and operations teams in the Bay Area.
This role is based in the Bay Area with regular, though not full-time, travel to Japan (approximately 25%). Japanese fluency is required, since you will be operating as a trusted, direct point of contact for partner teams who communicate primarily in Japanese.
Responsibilities
Independently manage ongoing programs with PlusAI’s Japanese customers, acting as the primary point of contact for program-level matters.
Serve as the connective tissue between Japan-based partner teams and PlusAI’s cross-functional engineering, product, and operations organizations in the U.S., translating context and priorities accurately in both directions.
Gather and integrate project performance and progress information from engineering, quality, and partner teams.
Prepare and deliver detailed status reports — accomplishments, upcoming deliverables, project metrics, and risk analysis — for both PlusAI leadership and partner stakeholders, in English and Japanese as needed.
Prepare and maintain detailed project plans, deliverable timelines, KPIs, and milestones across Japan programs.
Identify dependencies and risks early, and drive mitigation plans across internal teams and partner organizations.
Travel to Japan (~25%) to represent PlusAI in person at key partner reviews, program milestones, and testing activities.
Required Skills
Fluent in Japanese and English, with the ability to work professionally in both languages — written, verbal, and in real-time discussion.
Solid program management experience, with a proven track record of building and executing complex, cross-functional programs.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the judgment to adapt style and approach for different audiences and cultural contexts.
Strong organizational and planning skills; a natural leader in providing structure, prioritization, and decisiveness.
Willingness and ability to travel to Japan approximately 25% of the time.
Preferred Skills
Prior professional experience living or working in Japan, with first-hand familiarity with Japanese business norms and communication style.
Experience working with Japanese automotive OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.
Experience in the automotive, autonomous vehicle, or trucking industry.
Skills
Explore related jobs
More jobs at PlusAI
Senior/Staff Research Engineer — Vision-Language-Action Models (Autonomous Driving)Santa Clara, CA
Software Verification & Validation EngineerSanta Clara, CA
Senior/Staff Software Engineer, Motion PlanningSanta Clara, CA
Senior/Staff Software Engineer (Machine Learning Runtime), Motion PlanningSanta Clara, CA
Senior/Staff Machine Learning Engineer (Reinforcement Learning), Motion PlanningSanta Clara, CA
Senior/Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Motion PlanningSanta Clara, CA
Similar Automotive Industry Knowledge jobs
Jobs in Santa Clara
Hardware Lead Engineer, Hyperscale Line of BusinessEverpure · Santa Clara, California- Senior Counsel, Real EstateOklo · Santa Clara, CA or Remote
- General Internship Application 2027Oklo · Santa Clara, CA or Any Office Location
- SEC & ESG Reporting ManagerServicenow · Santa Clara, CALIFORNIA
- Presales Solution Manager (Continental US Only)dragonboat Inc. · Santa Clara, CA
Data Center Service Lead (Bay Area)EOS · Santa Clara, California
Browse these categories
Market data for this role
All reports →- SeriesRole reportsOne role family at a time: how many openings, what changed this week, who is hiring, what it pays.
- SeriesSalary reportsWhat employers publish in job postings, by level and workplace. Not self-reported pay.
- Market overviewState of tech hiring, September 2026: up 4.8%Tech hiring rose 4.8% month over month in September 2026, with 411,122 new listings. Customer support and account executive roles led the growth.