Job Description

One of our top clients, a fast-growing Japanese AI and FinTech company developing innovative SaaS solutions for major financial institutions, is looking for an experienced Senior Product Manager (PdM) to lead the strategy, development, and growth of its AI-powered products. The company combines deep expertise in financial services, AI, and data technologies with the development of its own proprietary SaaS products. This position offers an opportunity to take ownership of product strategy, collaborate with international engineering teams, and work closely with senior leadership to develop solutions that transform how major financial institutions operate. Join a rapidly growing global team developing next-generation AI products with significant business and societal impact. Why Join? Competitive Salary: ¥10M–¥25M annually Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work (2–3 days per week in the office) + Full Flex-time with no core hours Global Environment: Work with an international team of engineers, AI specialists, and product professionals Career Growth: Take ownership of product strategy and contribute directly to business expansion AI & FinTech Innovation: Develop proprietary SaaS products using Generative AI, RAG, and advanced data technologies Pre-IPO Phase: Join a rapidly growing company preparing for an IPO Direct Access to Leadership: Work closely with the CTO and senior executives in a flat organizational structure International Expansion: The company is preparing to expand into markets including New York and Singapore Strong Financial Foundation: Product development is funded through the company’s profitable consulting business rather than external investment About the Company Our client is one of Japan’s fastest-growing AI and financial technology companies, specializing in AI-driven digital transformation, data analytics, and enterprise software development. Founded in 2022, the company has grown to approximately 340 employees in just a few years. Its clients include some of Japan’s largest financial institutions, including major banks. The company operates two complementary businesses: AI & Data Consulting Supporting major financial institutions with AI adoption, data analytics, data infrastructure development, machine learning, and enterprise digital transformation. Proprietary AI SaaS Products Developing AI-powered solutions that help financial institutions modernize legacy systems, automate business processes, and improve operational efficiency. Unlike many startups, the company has developed its products using profits generated from its consulting business, allowing it to maintain a high degree of independence in its product development strategy. The company is currently preparing for an IPO while expanding its domestic presence in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. International expansion is also being planned, including New York and Singapore. Its engineering and AI teams include professionals with diverse international backgrounds and experience in large-scale software development, machine learning, and enterprise systems. The organizational culture is collaborative and relatively flat, with opportunities to work directly with the CTO and executive leadership. Role Overview As a Senior Product Manager , you will lead the strategic direction, development, and continuous improvement of proprietary AI-powered SaaS products designed for financial institutions. You will play a central role in defining product priorities, understanding customer requirements, coordinating engineering teams, and ensuring that product development aligns with business objectives. The company operates in a fast-moving startup environment where product decisions are made collaboratively and teams continuously improve through rapid experimentation and iterative development. You will work closely with Software Engineers, AI Engineers, Product Owners, Business stakeholders, and enterprise clients to translate complex business challenges into practical product solutions. In addition to product strategy and delivery, you will contribute to improving Agile development processes, supporting Scrum teams, and coordinating resources across multiple projects. Development Team Size: Approximately 10–15 members The ideal candidate combines strong product management experience, technical understanding, enterprise customer communication skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a bilingual Japanese-English environment. Key Responsibilities Product Strategy & Roadmap Lead the overall strategy and direction of proprietary AI-powered SaaS products. Define product priorities, development objectives, and improvement initiatives. Develop and maintain product roadmaps aligned with business and customer requirements. Identify new opportunities for product development and innovation. Facilitate discussions on product direction, feature prioritization, and technical feasibility. Balance long-term product strategy with short-term delivery and business impact. Customer Engagement & Requirements Management Lead discussions with enterprise clients, including major Japanese financial institutions. Understand customer challenges, operational requirements, and business objectives. Translate customer feedback into product requirements and development priorities. Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders during product implementation and customization. Support requirement definition and alignment between business and engineering teams. Build strong relationships with customers and key stakeholders. Product Development & Agile Delivery Work closely with engineering teams to drive product development and delivery. Support Scrum team operations and improve Agile development processes. Coordinate product development activities across multiple stakeholders. Identify delivery risks, dependencies, and resource constraints. Improve team workflows, communication, and development efficiency. Promote rapid experimentation, iterative development, and continuous improvement. AI Product Innovation & Technical Collaboration Collaborate with AI Engineers and Software Engineers on new product features and technical initiatives. Participate in technical discussions, feasibility assessments, and proof-of-concept reviews. Support the development of AI-powered features using technologies such as Generative AI and RAG. Evaluate opportunities to apply AI technologies to financial services and enterprise operations. Help translate technical capabilities into meaningful business value. Ensure product development decisions consider technical feasibility, customer needs, and commercial impact. Product Implementation & Customer Success Support product implementation and customization for enterprise clients. Contribute to post-implementation support and customer success strategies. Work with commercial teams to support sales activities and product demonstrations. Gather customer feedback to identify opportunities for product improvement. Help improve customer adoption and long-term product value. Cross-Functional Leadership & Project Coordination Coordinate priorities and resources across multiple product development initiatives. Facilitate communication between Product, Engineering, AI, Business, and Customer-facing teams. Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across projects. Support decision-making through clear communication of priorities, risks, and trade-offs. Work closely with senior leadership to align product development with business strategy. Requirements Requirements Professional Experience 3+ years of professional experience as a Project Manager (PjM) or Product Manager (PdM) in software development. At least 2 years of experience working as a Product Manager at another company. At least 1–2 years of hands-on software development experience. Experience communicating and negotiating with internal or external customers regarding software systems. Experience working in Agile software development environments. Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle and product delivery processes. Ability to translate business requirements into actionable product development plans. Educational Background Bachelor’s degree from a four-year university or equivalent education and learning experience in information technology. Language Requirements Japanese: Business Level or Higher — Required Ability to communicate effectively with Japanese enterprise customers. Experience discussing business requirements and coordinating with Japanese stakeholders. English: Business Level — Required Ability to communicate effectively with international engineering teams. Technical discussions and engineering-related communication in English are essential. Native-level or fully fluent business English is not required, provided the candidate can communicate effectively about technical matters. Work Authorization Must be legally authorized to work in Japan in an appropriate professional or technical role. For candidates working under a time-limited residence status, the current status must not expire within six months of joining. Preferred Qualifications Experience managing AI or machine learning-related products or projects. Experience developing or managing products involving Generative AI, RAG, or data science technologies. Knowledge of machine learning applications, AI systems, or data analytics. Ability to perform basic programming, data analysis, or technical investigations using Python, SQL, macros, or similar tools. Experience or familiarity with legacy systems and technologies such as COBOL, PL/I, or RPG. Experience working with financial institutions or enterprise SaaS products. Experience collaborating with multicultural or international engineering teams. Technology Environment The company uses a modern technology stack across its engineering and AI product development teams. Frontend TypeScript React Next.js Tailwind CSS Backend & Development Python Node.js MCP SDK Cloud & Infrastructure Google Cloud Run Cloud Functions Cloud Storage Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL Terraform AI & LLM Technologies Vertex AI Azure OpenAI Service LangGraph Langfuse Mastra Dify n8n AI Development Tools Cursor Claude Code Codex Devin CodeRabbit Development & Collaboration GitHub GitHub Actions Cloud Build Jira Confluence Slack Hands-on experience with every technology listed above is not required. Benefits Employment Type: Full-time employee Annual Salary: ¥10,000,000 – ¥25,000,000 (depending on experience and qualifications) Bonuses: Twice per year (June and December) Work Arrangement: Hybrid — approximately 2–3 days per week in the office Flexible Working Hours: Full Flex-time (no core hours) Standard Working Hours: 8 hours per day Annual Holidays: Approximately 123 days Holidays: Weekends and company-designated holidays Paid Leave: 10 days granted after the probationary period, subject to the joining date Additional Leave: Refresh leave, year-end holidays, parental leave, and special leave Additional Benefits: Full social insurance coverage Defined contribution pension plan Transportation expenses fully covered Professional development and training support Book purchases, courses, seminars, and conference participation Sports allowance (up to ¥10,000 per month) Annual health examinations Influenza vaccination coverage, including eligible family members Employee networking and social activities Childcare and babysitting support Relocation assistance for eligible employees Business travel and training-related allowances Employee stock ownership program Location Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan Hybrid Work: Approximately 2–3 days per week in the office. The company operates multiple offices in Tokyo, with additional locations in Osaka and Fukuoka. Interview Process The selection process typically consists of 2–3 interviews , depending on the candidate and hiring requirements. Typical Process: Resume Screening First Interview — Online Final Interview — In Person Offer Discussion — Online Additional interviews may be arranged depending on the selection process. About Our Relationship with the Company GAIDOOR has an excellent and well-established relationship with this client, including direct communication with its CEO and senior leadership team. We work closely with the company to understand its hiring priorities, organizational culture, and technical expectations. This allows us to provide candidates with detailed insights into the company, the position, and the interview process, as well as personalized support throughout the selection process.