Shape the engineering strategy, lead local product development, and build a team from the ground up.
Your decisions matter.
Each of ours do, but yours will have weight in the direction of this product, this company, and this market.
You will be the first engineering hire.
We're partnering exclusively with one of the world's leading live-commerce platforms to establish their engineering team in Japan.
The company has a large presence across North America and Europe.
Now they are launching in Japan.
As its first locally based engineer, you'll take ownership of technical operations in Japan, work directly with global engineering leadership, and develop the foundations for a growing local engineering team.
With a potential total compensation package of up to ¥35 million.
Build+ is working exclusively with a rapidly expanding international real-time marketplace provider on a Staff Software Engineer position in Tokyo.
This is an opportunity to become the company's first Japan-based engineer, working directly with global engineering teams, building the technical foundation for one of its most important international markets.
Why apply through Build+?
Instead of going through the standard application process (application, CV screening, meeting HR first) you will have your profile reviewed by the hiring manager and meet them for your first interview.
Apply here to learn more: buildplus.io
Quick Role Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Staff Software Engineer – Japan |
| Industry | E-commerce / Real-Time Marketplace |
| Location | Shibuya, Tokyo |
| Work Style | Hybrid – approximately 3 days per week in the office |
| Employment Type | Full-time, Permanent |
| Base Salary | Up to ¥25M |
| Total Compensation | Up to ¥35M, including equity |
| Primary Tech Stack | Python, Elixir, JavaScript |
| Experience | 7+ years in software engineering |
| Japanese | Strong conversational to business level |
| English | Fluent / Professional working proficiency |
| Leadership | Hands-on technical leadership; people management not required |
About the Company
Our client is a growing international tech company developing a next-generation real-time e-commerce marketplace.
The platform brings buyers and sellers together through interactive shopping experiences, enabling businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals to reach customers and build communities around their products.
Operating across hundreds of product categories, from collectibles and fashion to electronics and lifestyle goods, the company is helping reshape how consumers discover, purchase, and sell products online.
The business has already established a significant presence in major international markets, including the United States and the United Kingdom, with operations and engineering teams distributed across several countries in North America, Europe, and beyond.
Now, the company is investing in its Japanese operations.
Japan represents a significant growth opportunity, with a sophisticated e-commerce ecosystem, established consumer communities, and unique local requirements.
The Tokyo office currently has approximately 15 employees, primarily focused on business operations and market expansion.
Until now, engineering responsibilities for Japan have been supported by a small team of developers based overseas.
The company is now looking to establish a dedicated local engineering presence, beginning with its first Staff Software Engineer in Japan.
About the Role
Become the First Engineer on the Ground in Japan
As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll become the technical anchor for the company's Japanese business.
You'll take ownership of engineering initiatives that support the local market, collaborating directly with the Japan General Manager, business stakeholders, and global engineering teams.
Unlike joining an established engineering department, you'll have the opportunity to help define how engineering operates in Japan.
That includes identifying technical priorities, making architectural decisions, developing localized functionality, and establishing the engineering practices that future team members will build upon.
However, this is not an advisory or purely strategic position.
You will be expected to write production code, solve complex engineering problems, and remain actively involved in hands-on development every day.
The company is looking for someone who can operate at Staff Engineer level while remaining a strong individual contributor.
You'll need to be equally comfortable discussing technical strategy with senior stakeholders and opening your development environment to implement, test, and ship solutions yourself.
Key Responsibilities
1. Develop and Localize Product Features
Design, build, and deploy features tailored to the Japanese market, including payment and payout methods, logistics integrations, seller onboarding, compliance requirements, and localized customer experiences.
2. Own Technical Direction for Japan
Work closely with local business leadership to translate market requirements into technical solutions, determine development priorities, and make architectural decisions that balance local needs with the global platform.
3. Write and Ship Production Code
Contribute directly to backend development, particularly using Python, while working across the broader technology stack when necessary.
You'll be responsible for implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and maintaining the quality of the systems you build.
4. Transition Engineering Operations to Japan
Help bring local engineering ownership into the Japanese market by taking over responsibilities currently managed by overseas-based engineers.
5. Establish Engineering Standards
Define technical approaches, architectural patterns, and engineering practices that provide a foundation for the company's future development in Japan.
6. Connect Japan with Global Engineering
Act as the main technical bridge between the local business and international engineering organization, ensuring Japan-specific requirements are properly understood and implemented.
Tech Stack and Engineering Environment
The company's primary engineering technologies include Python, Elixir, and JavaScript.
This position has a particularly strong focus on Python backend engineering, although you'll need the flexibility to work across different parts of the platform.
| Technology / Area | Application |
|---|---|
| Python | Core backend development and business-critical functionality |
| Elixir | Backend services within the global platform |
| JavaScript | Frontend and full-stack development |
| API & Systems Integration | Local payments, logistics, and external services |
| System Architecture | Designing scalable, maintainable systems |
| Technical Leadership | Setting engineering direction and technical standards |
Strong Coding Skills Are Essential
Although this is a senior technical leadership position, the company places strong emphasis on hands-on engineering.
You'll be expected to contribute actively to the codebase, not just delegate development tasks or offer architectural recommendations.
The interview process also includes hands-on technical assessments, including live coding.
You should be confident demonstrating your programming abilities in a practical setting, even if you have spent several years operating at Staff or Lead Engineer level.
This opportunity is particularly well suited to engineers who enjoy technical leadership but still want coding and problem-solving to remain central to their careers.
What Makes This Opportunity Different?
1. A Genuine 0-to-1 Engineering Opportunity
Many Staff Engineer positions involve improving established systems or influencing an existing engineering organization.
This opportunity offers something different.
You'll become the first engineer based locally in Japan, helping establish the technical foundations for the company's continued growth.
Your early decisions will influence how engineering operates in the market, from system architecture and development standards to future hiring and technical priorities.
2. Direct Influence on Business Outcomes
You'll collaborate closely with the Japan General Manager and local business team, giving you direct visibility into commercial priorities and customer challenges.
Rather than working several layers removed from the end user, you'll help identify the problems that matter most and develop solutions that directly support business growth.
This creates an environment where engineers can see the real impact of their work.
3. Startup-Like Ownership with Global Resources
You'll have the autonomy and ownership associated with an early-stage engineering team, but with access to the resources, infrastructure, and expertise of an established international technology company.
You'll be able to leverage existing global systems while adapting and extending them to meet the needs of the Japanese market.
For engineers who enjoy building things from the ground up without sacrificing the support of a global organization, this combination is particularly attractive.
4. Competitive Compensation
The position offers a base salary of up to ¥25 million, with a potential total compensation package of up to ¥35 million, including equity.
Final compensation will depend on experience, technical expertise, and the overall offer structure.
5. An Opportunity to Shape Future Engineering Growth
As the first engineer in Japan, you'll help establish the practices and technical direction that future engineering hires will inherit.
While this position does not initially require direct people management, your work will have a lasting influence on the growth and development of the local engineering organization.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate?
The company is looking for an experienced, highly capable engineer who combines strong technical fundamentals with the independence and judgment required to lead complex initiatives.
Required Experience and Skills
7+ years of professional software engineering experience, ideally including time at high-growth technology companies.
Strong backend engineering skills, particularly with Python.
Full-stack engineering capabilities, including experience developing and integrating systems end-to-end.
Demonstrated experience leading technical initiatives or making important architectural decisions.
Strong hands-on coding abilities and confidence working directly on production systems.
Ability to operate independently and prioritize engineering work according to business needs.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders and international engineering teams.
Comfortable working in an environment where processes and technical requirements are still evolving.
Leadership Without People Management
You don't need to have managed a team of direct reports to be successful in this role.
The company is looking for technical leadership rather than traditional management experience.
That means demonstrating the ability to make sound engineering decisions, establish direction, support other developers, and take responsibility for complex technical work.
The ideal candidate is someone who can lead through technical expertise while continuing to contribute substantial hands-on development.
Preferred Experience
Experience in any of the following areas would be particularly valuable:
E-commerce or online marketplaces
Consumer-facing technology products
Payment processing and logistics integrations
Localization of global platforms for Japan
Early-stage product development or 0-to-1 engineering
High-growth international technology environments
Direct experience in the company's particular industry is not necessarily required.
Strong engineering fundamentals, technical leadership, and the ability to learn new domains quickly are especially important.
Language Requirements
This is an internationally focused engineering role, with English serving as the primary language for internal engineering collaboration.
English: Fluent / Strong Professional Proficiency
You'll regularly communicate with global engineering teams, participate in technical discussions, and collaborate on architectural decisions in English.
Strong English communication skills are therefore essential.
Japanese: Strong Conversational to Business Level
Japanese is important for understanding the local market, collaborating with Japan-based business stakeholders, and occasionally communicating directly with customers to better understand their needs and pain points.
However, you don't need perfect keigo or native-level Japanese to be considered.
The priority is being able to communicate effectively, understand customer challenges, and contribute to product improvements.
If you're comfortable holding practical business conversations in Japanese and can communicate fluently in English, your language abilities may be suitable for this position.
Work Style and Benefits
The role is based in Shibuya, Tokyo, where the company operates from a WeWork office.
The current working arrangement is approximately three days per week in the office, with flexibility to work remotely on other days.
Because the company is establishing its engineering presence in Japan, regular in-person collaboration with the local business team is particularly valuable.
You'll need to be based in, or willing to relocate to, the Tokyo area.
The company offers a range of employee benefits, including:
Generous paid time off and holiday policies
Health insurance and employee support programs
Home-office setup assistance
Phone and internet allowances
Wellness support
Childcare and family-planning benefits
Parental leave
Retirement benefits
Allowances to use and experience the company's platform
Specific benefits and eligibility may vary based on local employment policies.
Why Apply Through Build+?
Build+ is currently working exclusively with the company on this position, giving you a more direct route to the hiring team and access to insights that aren't available through the public job description.
Your Profile Goes Directly to the Hiring Manager
When you apply directly through a company's careers page, your CV typically enters the standard recruitment process.
Even if you're successful in the initial screening, your first interview would generally be with the HR or recruiting team.
For this particular opportunity, Build+ has a different arrangement.
Qualified candidates introduced through Build+ can have their profiles reviewed directly by the hiring manager, with the hiring manager serving as their first interviewer.
This gives you the opportunity to present your technical experience directly to the person responsible for the engineering hire, without going through the standard initial HR interview.
Of course, this doesn't guarantee an interview or an offer, but it gives your application a more direct route to the technical decision-maker.
Insights You Won't Find in the Job Description
Although this position only opened recently, Build+ has already gained valuable insights from candidates who have participated in the hiring process.
We understand which profiles have progressed successfully, which have been rejected, and the reasons behind those decisions.
This allows us to offer guidance that goes beyond the publicly available job description.
We can help you understand:
How closely your background aligns with the hiring manager's expectations.
Which engineering and leadership experiences are most relevant.
What technical capabilities are being evaluated.
Potential concerns about your profile before applying.
How to prepare for the technical interviews, including live coding assessments.
How to present your experience in a way that is relevant to the company's immediate priorities.
Our goal is to ensure that you enter the hiring process with a clearer understanding of the expectations, challenges, and opportunities involved.
Work with an Experienced Engineering Recruitment Specialist
The position is managed by one of Build+'s senior recruitment managers, who has over 10 years of recruitment experience in Japan and specializes in senior technical appointments, including Staff Software Engineer positions.
Through direct collaboration with the hiring team, our consultant has developed an understanding of the technical requirements, interview expectations, and experience needed to succeed in this opportunity.
By applying through Build+, you'll benefit from this knowledge and receive guidance throughout the recruitment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a management position?
No. This is a hands-on Staff Software Engineer position focused on technical leadership rather than people management.
You'll influence engineering strategy and architecture while continuing to write production code regularly.
How much hands-on coding will I be doing?
A significant amount.
The hiring team expects this person to remain actively involved in software development, potentially coding every day.
This is not an advisory or architecture-only position.
Is there a live coding interview?
Yes. The interview process includes practical technical assessments, including live coding.
You'll need to demonstrate strong programming skills in addition to your architectural and leadership experience.
Build+ can help you understand the technical expectations before you enter the interview process.
Do I need experience in e-commerce?
Not necessarily.
Experience with marketplaces, consumer technology, and payment systems is valuable, but candidates from other technically demanding environments may also be suitable.
Is Python experience important?
Yes. Python is a major part of the role, particularly for backend development.
Strong Python development skills will be a significant advantage.
Do I need to speak fluent Japanese?
Not necessarily.
Strong conversational to business-level Japanese may be sufficient, provided you can communicate with local stakeholders and occasionally speak with customers to understand product requirements.
Fluent English is particularly important because most internal engineering communication takes place in English.
Can I work fully remotely?
No. The role follows a hybrid arrangement, with approximately three days per week in the Shibuya office.
Can candidates based outside Japan apply?
The company requires the successful candidate to live in or relocate to the Tokyo area.
If you're based overseas, Build+ can help clarify whether your background and circumstances align with the company's relocation expectations.
What is the advantage of applying through Build+?
Build+ is currently working exclusively with the hiring team.
Qualified candidates introduced through Build+ can bypass the standard initial HR interview and proceed directly to a first conversation with the hiring manager.
You'll also benefit from guidance based on our experience with candidates who have already participated in the recruitment process.
Take the Next Step in Your Engineering Career
Becoming the first engineer in a new international market is a rare opportunity.
For experienced software engineers who enjoy hands-on development, technical ownership, and solving complex business challenges, this position offers a compelling combination of responsibility, autonomy, and compensation.
You'll have the chance to build the foundations of an engineering organization in Japan while contributing directly to the growth of an established international technology platform.
Interested in learning more?
Apply through Build+ to discuss the opportunity, learn more about the company's technical expectations, and understand how your experience aligns with the hiring team's priorities.
With our exclusive recruitment partnership, your application can go directly to the hiring manager rather than through the standard initial HR screening process.
