Project Manager- Telematics

Job Title: Technical Project Manager

Job Category: Automotive Telematics

Location: Shinagawa,Japan

JOB DISCRIPTION

As the connected vehicle ecosystem expands, the Telematics Control Unit (TCU) serves as the critical gateway between software-defined vehicles and cloud infrastructure. We are seeking a highly technical, execution-driven Technical Program Manager (TPM) to orchestrate the end-to-end delivery of our next-generation telematics software platform. In this role, you will lead complex, cross-functional engineering programs, managing dependencies across embedded firmware, cellular hardware, cloud infrastructure, and global OEM/Tier-1 partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Program Strategy & Execution: Define, drive, and deliver complex telematics software roadmaps from initial concept through architecture, verification, and global production release.
• Technical Leadership & Architecture Alignment: Partner closely with Systems Architects and Lead Engineers to review technical designs, evaluate architectural tradeoffs, and resolve deep-seated technical blockers (e.g., latency, cellular connectivity issues, OTA failures).
• Dependency & Risk Management: Proactively identify, track, and mitigate cross-functional risks across hardware, embedded software, cloud backends, and external suppliers (e.g., SoC vendors, cellular carriers).
• Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for internal leadership and external automotive OEM/Tier-1 customers, translating complex engineering metrics into clear, actionable executive updates.
• Agile Lifecycle Management: Establish, optimize, and enforce software development lifecycles (SDLC) tailored for automotive systems, ensuring predictable release cadences for Over-the-Air (OTA) updates.
• Embedded & Communication Stack: Deep understanding of telematics architectures, including Cellular-V2X, 5G/LTE modems, TCP/IP, MQTT, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth integration.
• Automotive Systems: Familiarity with vehicle network architectures (CAN, CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet) and flashing/diagnostic protocols (UDS, ISO 14229).
• Standards & Compliance: Oversight of programs executing under regulatory and quality frameworks, including Automotive SPICE (ASPICE), ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity).
REQUIRED SKILLS
• Technical Program Management: Minimum of 5 years of experience managing complex software programs, with a proven track record of shipping embedded or communication-centric products.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong foundational knowledge of embedded software concepts (RTOS, Linux/QNX kernels) and software development in C/C++.
• Agile Mastery: Extensive experience driving programs using Agile/Scrum methodologies and enterprise tracking tools (Jira, Confluence).

PREFERRED SKILLS
• Automotive Domain Expertise: Prior experience delivering connected vehicle components (TCU, IVI, Gateway ECUs) within a Tier-1 or OEM environment.
• E-Call development experience
• OTA & Cloud Experience: Experience managing large-scale Over-the-Air (OTA) software update campaigns or connected cloud backend integrations.
• Certifications: Project/Program Management certifications (PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM) or formal training in Automotive SPICE/ISO 26262.
• Technical Credibility: Ability to engage in deep technical discussions with engineers and challenge architectural decisions when necessary.
• Ambiguity Navigator: Exceptional ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, carving out structured paths from complex, high-level objectives.
• Influential Communicator: Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external partners without direct organizational authority.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Computer, Automotive, Systems Engineering, or related field)
 

EXPERIENCE
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in automotive domain.