OpenAI

Manager, Forward Deployed Engineer - Tokyo

OpenAI4 days ago
Location

Tokyo, Japan

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 200,000 – 340,000

Level

Manager

Role

Engineering Manager

Posted

Jul 21, 2026

Full TimeManager

The role

Summary

Lead OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) team in Tokyo as a foundational manager, directing the deployment of frontier AI models into production systems while bridging customer needs with core platform development. This role requires 8+ years of engineering experience with 2+ years managing high-performing customer-facing technical teams, bilingual fluency in Japanese and English, and the ability to make sound technical decisions under high-pressure, ambiguous conditions. You'll own end-to-end delivery outcomes, translate field insights into product roadmap inputs, and scale field operations while maintaining technical excellence and team growth.

What you'll do

Lead and Scale Forward Deployed Engineering Team: Build and mentor a high-performing FDE team that delivers production-grade systems with frontier AI models into customer environments. Establish clear performance standards, provide direct and actionable feedback, and create a culture that thrives under pressure while maintaining technical rigor and delivering consistent results.
Own End-to-End Delivery Outcomes: Take full ownership of project delivery from prototype through production, ensuring clarity of objectives, speed of execution, tight cross-functional coordination, and maintained technical quality. Drive decision-making that balances business value with technical excellence in high-stakes customer deployments.
Translate Field Intelligence into Product Strategy: Synthesize customer deployment experiences, product behavior insights, and operational learnings into sharp, actionable feedback for Product and Research teams. Identify early indicators of issues or opportunities in customer environments and communicate them with appropriate urgency to influence roadmap priorities.
Codify Operational Excellence and Knowledge Transfer: Document proven methodologies, technical playbooks, and best practices from successful deployments into reusable tools and frameworks. Create scalable operational models that enable field teams to operate effectively without proportional increases in complexity or overhead.
Drive Customer and Stakeholder Alignment: Partner closely with Sales, GTM, Product, and Research teams to ensure field deployments inform go-to-market strategy and platform priorities. Build trust with enterprise customers through technical competence, clear communication, and consistent delivery on commitments.
Manage Team Staffing and Growth Strategy: Define hiring criteria, staffing models, and growth pathways for field engineers that scale sustainably. Plan for geographic and technical diversity within the team while ensuring retention and career development of high-performing engineers.
Maintain Technical Credibility Through Hands-On Contribution: Continue writing and reviewing production-grade code across frontend and backend systems to stay technically current. Model excellent engineering practices, architectural thinking, and debugging capabilities that set the standard for the team.

What we look for

Technical

Production-Grade Full-Stack DevelopmentDemonstrate proficiency writing and reviewing production-quality code across frontend and backend systems. This includes understanding system design principles, performance optimization, debugging complex distributed systems, and maintaining high code quality standards that scale with team growth.
Customer-Facing Technical LeadershipProven ability to lead high-pressure technical projects from prototype to production in customer environments. Experience delivering complex integrations, managing technical risk, and making architectural decisions that balance customer requirements with platform constraints.
Decision-Making Under AmbiguitySkilled at simplifying complex technical problems, distinguishing signal from noise, and making sound decisions with incomplete information. Comfortable operating in evolving environments where requirements change based on field learnings and customer feedback.
System Thinking and Process DesignCapable of designing scalable operational processes, playbooks, and tools that reduce complexity rather than increase it. Experience translating field observations into actionable frameworks for broader organizational leverage.
Bilingual Communication (Japanese and English)Fluent in both Japanese and English, spoken and written. Essential for leading a Tokyo-based team, engaging with local customers and partners, and conducting performance discussions with direct reports in their preferred language.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related FieldRecommended foundation in computer science, software engineering, or related technical discipline. Equivalent professional experience in software engineering or equivalent technical domain may substitute.

Experience

8+ Years Engineering or Technical Delivery ExperienceSubstantial background as an engineer or technical leader delivering complex systems from concept through production. This includes hands-on IC experience building scalable systems, leading technical initiatives, and demonstrating architectural thinking across multiple engineering projects.
2+ Years Managing High-Performing Field or Customer-Facing EngineersDirect management experience scaling customer-facing technical teams in high-pressure environments. Experience hiring, developing, and retaining strong engineers who operate effectively in customer environments with minimal supervision and maintain execution quality.
High-Pressure Technical Project LeadershipProven track record leading mission-critical projects through uncertainty and ambiguity. Experience managing stakeholder expectations, coordinating across multiple functions, and maintaining team morale and performance during complex technical challenges.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and CommunicationStrong experience partnering with Product, Research, Sales, and GTM functions to align on objectives and translate technical insights into strategic decisions. Demonstrated ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and influence roadmap decisions through field evidence.

Skills

Required skills

Full-Stack Software EngineeringProduction-level proficiency across frontend and backend development with demonstrated ability to write, review, and architect scalable systems. Competency in debugging, performance optimization, and mentoring others on code quality.
Team Leadership and ManagementExperience recruiting, developing, and retaining high-performing engineers. Skill in providing clear feedback, setting performance standards, and creating psychological safety for teams to operate effectively in ambiguous situations.
Technical Decision-MakingStrong judgment in balancing technical excellence with business requirements, timeline constraints, and customer needs. Ability to make fast, sound decisions with incomplete information and adapt as conditions evolve.
End-to-End Project OwnershipDemonstrated ability to take full responsibility for complex delivery outcomes across multiple functions. Experience coordinating between customer, sales, product, and engineering to ensure clarity, speed, and consistent execution.
Bilingual Japanese-English CommunicationFluency in spoken and written Japanese and English, essential for team management, stakeholder engagement, and conducting interviews with Japanese-speaking candidates. Ability to communicate technical concepts in both languages.
Customer Empathy and Field IntelligenceAbility to understand customer pain points, translate field observations into actionable feedback, and operate effectively in customer environments. Skill in identifying early indicators of issues and escalating with appropriate urgency.
Operational Design and ScalingCompetency in designing repeatable processes, tools, and playbooks that scale team effectiveness without proportional complexity. Experience codifying what works into frameworks others can apply.

Nice to have

AI/ML Systems ExperienceBackground deploying or integrating large language models, generative AI systems, or other frontier AI technologies into production environments. Understanding of LLM limitations, safety considerations, and practical deployment challenges.
Enterprise Sales Engineering BackgroundExperience in pre-sales or post-sales technical roles working with enterprise customers. Familiarity with enterprise buying cycles, customer success metrics, and translating product capabilities into customer value.
Geographic Experience in Asia-Pacific RegionPrior work or relocation experience in Tokyo, Japan, or broader APAC region. Understanding of local business practices, cultural communication styles, and working across timezones with global teams.
Platform SDK or Developer Tools ExperienceBackground building developer-facing tools, SDKs, or platforms. Experience understanding developer workflows, friction points in integration processes, and designing tools that improve developer productivity.
Infrastructure and DevOps CompetencySolid understanding of cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure), containerization, CI/CD pipelines, and deployment automation. Helpful for designing scalable field operations and understanding customer infrastructure constraints.
Cross-Cultural LeadershipExperience managing or collaborating with geographically distributed teams across different time zones and cultures. Demonstrated ability to build inclusive teams and communicate effectively across cultural contexts.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 200,000 – 340,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Competitive stock options or equity grants as part of total compensation package, aligning individual and company success over the long term.

Hybrid Work Model

Three days per week in the Tokyo office with flexibility for remote work, supporting work-life balance while maintaining team collaboration and company culture.

Relocation Assistance

Comprehensive support for relocating to Tokyo, including moving expenses, housing assistance, and transition support for international transfers.

Travel Budget and Support

Expense coverage for up to 40% business travel, primarily local within Japan but including international travel for cross-team collaboration and customer deployments. Travel logistics and planning support provided.

Professional Development

Access to learning resources, conference attendance, and career development opportunities to stay current with emerging technologies and leadership practices.

Health and Wellness Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance, wellness programs, and employee support services consistent with OpenAI's commitment to employee well-being.

Parental Leave and Family Support

Generous parental leave policies and family-friendly workplace benefits supporting work-life integration.

Retirement and Financial Planning

Retirement planning assistance and financial wellbeing resources to support long-term financial security.

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OpenAI

OpenAI

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OpenAI is an American artificial intelligence research organization developing advanced AI models like GPT. Focused on ensuring AI benefits humanity, it creates tools for natural language processing and generative AI applications.

San Francisco, California, United StatesFounded 2015openai.com

Tech Stack

Languages
PythonTypeScript/JavaScriptSQL
Frameworks
React or Vue.jsDjango or FastAPINode.js/Express
Databases
PostgreSQLRedisVector Databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, Milvus)
Tools
Git and GitHubKubernetesDockerCI/CD Platforms (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins)Monitoring and Observability Tools (Datadog, New Relic, Prometheus)
Other
LLM APIs and Integration PatternsScalable System ArchitectureAPI Design and VersioningSecurity and Compliance

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