Job Description

Kardex AutoStore is seeking a motivated self-starter to be in the role of Software Project Manager. This full-time position is to be based in Tokyo and shall report to the Regional Director of Operations AutoStore APAC. This is an amazing opportunity to join a growing company shaping up the project realisation team in Japan!

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and extensive experience in intralogistics automation. This role requires excellent collaboration skills as you will work closely with our Kardex WES product center, project managers, and clients to ensure the successful delivery of software solutions.

The software project manager will define the WES functionality for the project scope and work with customer in workshops to align the deliverables until signoff. The software project manager is open to work in an environment that will at times require to take range of tasks to support the growth of the overall team.

Your tasks

Responsibilities:

• WMS Expertise: Serve as the local expert on Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and intralogistics automation technologies.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the WMS product centre to understand product capabilities, features, and integration requirements.
• Customer Workshops: Lead customer workshops to gather requirements, demonstrate software functionalities, and facilitate discussions until specification signoff.
• Single Point of Contact: Act as the primary liaison for all software and IT-related topics between internal teams, project managers, and clients.
• Project Support: Collaborate with project managers to ensure software deliverables align with project timelines and requirements.
• Technical Leadership: Provide technical leadership and guidance to software development teams, ensuring adherence to best practices and quality standards.
• Problem Solving: Address software-related issues and challenges promptly, proposing effective solutions to meet project objectives.
• Implementation Support: Support the implementation of software solutions, including testing, deployment, and post-implementation support.
• Documentation: Ensure comprehensive documentation of software configurations, specifications, and user guides.
• Detailed understanding of logistics and IT processes.
• Travel to project sites. Total travel estimate is 20% to 30%.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in software management, specifically with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and intralogistics automation, AutoStore experience will a definite plus.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC), agile methodologies, and project management principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and clients.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including the capacity to lead workshops, mentor team members, and drive consensus among stakeholders.
• Problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying issues and implementing solutions.
• Ability to travel occasionally as needed for customer meetings or project deployments.
• Language: English CEFR Level B2 (Upper Intermediate) & Japan – fluent (both spoken and written).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in relevant technologies (e.g., PMP, Agile Scrum Master, etc.).
• Experience working with international teams or on global projects.
• Knowledge of additional languages (if applicable to the company’s operational regions).

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