Forward Deployed Engineer

Our AI-native platform, Skill.com, transforms traditional recruiting workflows into an integrated operating system. Powered by patented matching models, Skill delivers 12x faster matching and 7x higher precision in internal benchmarks. It is not just a prototype—it actively powers our high-volume global recruiting operations.

We are now expanding this AI-native capability into the Japanese market. As the first Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) in Japan, you will bridge global AI technology and local operational workflows, owning the end-to-end deployment and continuous engineering of the platform.

The Engineering Challenge

Adapting global AI models to the Japanese recruiting landscape presents unique data and engineering challenges:

• Non-standardized Japanese resume/CV formats and unstructured career histories
• Address variations, missing fields, and localized compensation structures
• Complex Japanese job taxonomies and industry-specific terminology

Your mission is to bridge the gap between manual recruitment processes and AI automated precision, optimizing search and matching accuracy for real-world deployment.

What you will take on

• Step 1 — Two Parallel Initiatives
  • 1-A Production Deployment of Internal AI Search & Matching Tools
    • Tailor and optimize our internal AI search/matching tools for the Japanese market.
    • Structure and clean localized talent data to dramatically improve query response and matching accuracy.
    • Build robust integrations with internal system architecture.
  • 1-B Internal AI Enablement & Operational Adoption
    • Partner with internal recruitment teams (approx. 20 agents) to drive daily AI tool adoption (e.g., automated resume summaries, outreach generation).
    • Design practical AI enablement strategies and workflows (execution supported by HR).
    • Ensure technology is effectively adopted into daily operations to achieve measurable workflow improvements.
• Step 2 — Rollout of “Skill” in Japan
  • Leverage the technical insights and operational data from Step 1 to lead the Japanese rollout of “Skill.”
  • Feed local operational insights back into the core architecture, influencing global product features.

Organizational structure and reporting

• Primary Reporting Line (Solid): Country Manager, Japan
• Global Engineering Line (Dotted): Global Product Engineering Team (US HQ)

You will build directly alongside our US-based engineering team sharing the same repository, code reviews, and architectural discussions. At the same time, your performance evaluation and career path remain rooted in the Japanese business organization.

This hybrid positioning ensures you are not merely a localization liaison, but an active contributor shaping global product decisions.

Responsibilities

• Deployment & Operational Integration: Embed within recruiting operations to analyze workflows, define technical requirements, and customize AI solutions for Japanese business practices.
• Hands-on Development: Build system integrations, data pipelines, and rapid prototypes (PoC). Directly debug and resolve production issues in the code base.
• Multi-LLM Architecture: Apply advanced LLM techniques (RAG, prompt engineering, evaluation metrics) using multiple LLMs optimized for latency, cost, and task complexity.
• Leverage modern tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot daily.
• Global Alignment: Collaborate closely with US engineering teams to translate local requirements into scalable product capabilities.

Requirements

• 5+ years of software engineering experience with active hands-on coding capability.
• Hands-on development experience and technical judgment with LLMs, RAG, or AI integration.
• Proven track record of defining technical requirements through direct interaction with internal users or client stakeholders.
• Japanese: Native or Business Level (JLPT N1 equivalent required) to navigate Japanese business documents and negotiations.
• English: Business Level for technical discussions, code reviews, and architectural alignment with US teams.
• Location: Current residence in Japan with valid work authorization, located within commuting distance of our Tokyo office (Hybrid, approx. 2 days/week on-site).

Nice to haves

While not specifically required, tell us if you have any of the following.

• Background as a Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Architect, Customer Engineer, or Technical Consultant.
• Experience in Staffing, HR Tech, Search Engines, Matching Algorithms, or Data Pipelines.
• Experience designing enablement programs or supporting software adoption for non-technical teams.
• Experience working across multicultural (Japan–US) engineering environments.

Compensation

¥8,000,000 ~ ¥15,000,000 annually.