Head of R&D
Tokyo
Permanent
Negotiable
Power Delivery
PR/613996_1791956552
Head of R&D
Head of R&D
Company Overview
We are partnering with a rapidly growing energy technology company developing next-generation battery energy storage systems (BESS), energy storage power plants, EV charging infrastructure, electricity services, and digital energy solutions.
The company's vision is built around the belief that software and hardware should not exist separately. Its products combine battery systems, power conversion technologies, charging infrastructure, embedded controls, cloud platforms, and energy management software to create an integrated energy ecosystem that delivers real value to customers.
As the Engineering & Research Division (ERD) continues to expand, the organization is evolving into a structure that brings together world-class expertise in both Power Systems and Software Systems. To lead this transformation, we are seeking a highly experienced Head of R&D to oversee the company's entire engineering organization and drive the next phase of technological and organizational growth.
Position Summary
The Head of R&D will serve as the senior engineering leader responsible for the overall technical direction, innovation strategy, organizational development, and execution of the company's global R&D function.
Reporting directly to executive leadership, this individual will lead the Engineering & Research Division through two key technical organizations:
- VP of Power Systems
- VP of Software Systems
This role requires a leader who can bridge both hardware and software disciplines. The successful candidate must understand how sophisticated physical energy products and digital platforms come together to create commercially successful solutions.
The Head of R&D will ensure that technology investments, product development activities, and organizational priorities remain aligned with customer needs, business objectives, manufacturing realities, and long-term company strategy.
This is a highly visible executive leadership position that combines technology leadership, organizational transformation, product strategy, and business management.
Key Responsibilities
Technology Strategy & Innovation
- Define and lead the company's overall R&D vision, technology strategy, and long-term innovation roadmap.
- Drive alignment between software, hardware, and systems engineering organizations to create integrated, commercially successful products.
- Identify and prioritize future technology opportunities across battery energy storage, power electronics, EV charging, energy management systems, digital energy solutions, and connected products.
- Balance innovation with practical execution, customer requirements, product reliability, cost competitiveness, and business value.
- Ensure advanced engineering initiatives transition effectively into production-ready products.
Engineering Leadership & Organizational Development
- Lead and develop the overall Engineering & Research Division, including direct management of the VP Power Systems and VP Software Systems organizations.
- Build a scalable engineering organization capable of supporting rapid domestic and international growth.
- Develop engineering leaders and succession plans across multiple technical disciplines.
- Establish a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, innovation, quality, and customer impact.
- Ensure effective communication and cooperation across software, hardware, manufacturing, product management, and business functions.
Product Development & Execution
- Oversee the development and delivery of complex software-hardware integrated products from concept through production and field deployment.
- Ensure engineering teams maintain high standards in safety, reliability, cybersecurity, quality, maintainability, and performance.
- Drive effective engineering governance, architecture reviews, technical decision-making, and product lifecycle management processes.
- Support successful product industrialization, manufacturing scale-up, validation, and continuous improvement activities.
- Balance engineering excellence with speed, cost efficiency, and commercial requirements.
Commercial & Business Leadership
- Act as a strategic partner to executive leadership on technology investments, product decisions, and business growth initiatives.
- Ensure engineering resources and priorities align with company objectives and market opportunities.
- Evaluate trade-offs between technical ambition, customer needs, infrastructure costs, manufacturing constraints, and profitability.
- Support customer engagements, strategic partnerships, and key business opportunities when technical leadership is required.
- Drive a customer-focused culture where technology decisions are guided by clear commercial outcomes.
Global Collaboration
- Lead an international engineering organization comprising multiple nationalities and technical disciplines.
- Foster collaboration across global stakeholders, customers, suppliers, and external technology partners.
- Help establish and strengthen the company's international engineering capabilities and global market presence.
- Promote cross-cultural teamwork and communication across domestic and overseas teams.
Requirements
Experience
- 15+ years of leadership experience in engineering, product development, R&D, or technology organizations.
- Proven experience leading large multidisciplinary engineering teams through senior engineering managers or department leaders.
- Demonstrated success managing both hardware and software development organizations.
- Strong track record of delivering commercially successful products from concept through production and operation.
- Experience leading organizational transformation, scaling engineering teams, and building leadership capability.
Industry Background
Experience in one or more of the following industries is highly desirable:
- Automotive
- Automotive electrification
- EV and charging infrastructure
- Powertrain systems
- Battery technologies
- Battery Management Systems (BMS)
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Power electronics
- Power conversion systems
- Inverters and PCS
- Industrial automation
- Industrial IoT
- Connected products
- Digital energy
- Energy Management Systems (EMS)
- Virtual Power Plants (VPP)
- Mobility technologies
- Smart grid technologies
Technical Capability
The ideal candidate should possess a strong understanding of both physical products and software systems, including:
Power Systems
- Battery systems
- Power electronics
- Power converters and inverters
- Charging systems
- Electrical architecture
- Embedded controls
- System integration
- High-voltage products and safety
Software Systems
- Cloud platforms
- Energy Management Systems (EMS)
- IoT and connected devices
- Edge computing
- Industrial software platforms
- Data-driven products
- Digital services and infrastructure
While deep expertise in every domain is not required, the successful candidate must be capable of leading and evaluating both software and hardware organizations at an executive level.
Leadership Competencies
- Exceptional leadership and people management skills.
- Strong organizational design and team-building capabilities.
- Ability to lead through influence, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
- Strong commercial and business acumen.
- Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
- Ability to balance technical complexity with practical business decision-making.
- Proven experience operating in high-growth and rapidly changing environments.
Language Requirements
- Native-level Japanese language proficiency is required.
- Fluent business-level English communication skills are required.
- Comfortable working with both Japanese and international stakeholders on a daily basis.
International Experience
- International work experience is highly preferred.
- Experience living and working outside Japan will be viewed very favorably.
- Experience managing globally distributed teams and multicultural organizations is strongly preferred.
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to lead the complete R&D organization of one of Japan's most exciting energy technology businesses.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Shape the future technology strategy across both software and power systems.
- Lead the company's most senior engineering leaders and technical organizations.
- Drive innovation across battery storage, power electronics, EV charging, EMS, and digital energy platforms.
- Build a world-class international engineering organization.
- Influence business strategy and corporate growth alongside executive leadership.
- Play a critical role in the global energy transition and electrification movement.
If you are an engineering executive who combines deep technical credibility across hardware and software with strong commercial leadership and international experience, this role offers a unique opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the future of energy technology.
FAQs
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