Career Journey of a Foreign Engineer Active in Japan’s Automotive Industry

We spoke with Mr. A, a foreign engineer currently working in Japan’s automotive industry, about his career path to date and his experience working in Japan.

1. Coming to Japan and Building a Foundation at a Japanese Supplier

THE和RKERS: You are originally from China. Could you tell us how you came to Japan?

Mr. A: I am from Northeast China. After completing my undergraduate and master’s degrees in China, I came to Japan to pursue a PhD. Initially, I was also considering Hong Kong and Europe, but I chose Japan because I had a connection with a professor at a Japanese university whose research field—EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)—aligned closely with my master’s research.
Before coming to Japan, I had not studied Japanese seriously, but I picked up words and expressions through Japanese variety shows. After arriving, I studied Japanese for about a year and a half at my university’s Japanese language program. However, communication with my supervisor in the laboratory was conducted entirely in English throughout my studies.

THE和RKERS: How did you approach your first job search in Japan?

Mr. A: Considering the impact of COVID-19 and the economic situation in China, I decided to look for a job in Japan. I went through the same process as Japanese students, submitting entry sheets and attending interviews. However, due to my lack of experience and concerns about communicating in Japanese, I initially applied to companies one by one. In the end, I applied to three companies and, through an agent specializing in international students, received an offer from an automotive parts supplier, which I accepted.

THE和RKERS: What kind of work were you doing in your first role?

Mr. A: I was assigned to the electronic design division within the Electrified Business Unit, where I worked on ECU circuit design, verification, and simulation. At the beginning, I started by studying schematics and drawings. By the time I left the company, I was responsible for creating circuit diagrams myself, making detailed modifications, and conducting review and checking tasks.

THE和RKERS: What challenges led you to consider changing jobs?

Mr. A: In the powertrain electronics development department where I was assigned, there was an excellent existing base design created by senior engineers. As a result, there were few opportunities for me to significantly modify or develop new designs from scratch, and my work increasingly consisted of routine tasks. I felt this limited my growth. In addition, company-wide investment became heavily focused on electrification and inverters, which led to transmission development being deprioritized. This caused me to lose a sense of excitement and interest in my work. On top of that, the lack of social opportunities in the area where I was living also became a major factor in my decision to look for a new job.

2. Moving to a Foreign Supplier and Taking on System Design Challenges

THE和RKERS: What type of role were you looking for in your job search?

Mr. A: I wanted to move away from purely hardware-focused work and become involved in upstream system design. By transitioning to system design, I hoped to engage in more intellectually challenging work and gain experience that could lead to a future career in the IT industry. I also considered returning to EMC research from my graduate school days, but opportunities in the automotive industry were limited, so I decided to pursue system development instead.

THE和RKERS: How did you join your current company?

Mr. A: I registered with multiple recruitment agencies and also received messages via LinkedIn. I applied to IT companies as well, but due to a lack of experience, I was unable to secure an offer. Ultimately, I received an early offer from a foreign-owned automotive parts supplier through an agent who contacted me on LinkedIn, and I decided to join that company.

THE和RKERS: Could you describe your current responsibilities?

Mr. A: I am involved in developing an ECU-based “hands-on detection system” installed in steering wheels. My current role focuses on upstream processes, including system requirements definition, analysis, and design based on requirements from OEMs. I also attend meetings with OEMs alongside my manager and handle a wide range of tasks, from specification development to testing.

THE和RKERS: What do you feel you have grown the most in within this new environment?

Mr. A: I strongly feel my own growth in my current role. My department was newly established and is working on new products. When I shared my aspirations with my manager, I felt that this position truly allows me to pursue what I want to do, which I see as a very positive environment.

3. Career Aspirations and Insights into Japan’s Manufacturing Industry

THE和RKERS: Could you tell us about your future career goals?

Mr. A: I have a long-term goal of earning an annual income of around 10 million yen by the age of 35. I recognize that achieving this through hardware-only roles is difficult. To reach that goal, I believe I need to strengthen my software skills—such as C, Python, and Linux—and focus more on system-level expertise. I have a strong interest in autonomous driving and would like to enter the field through areas such as validation and testing, then gradually deepen my knowledge to understand entire systems. In Japan’s hardware-focused fields, it can be difficult to achieve rapid growth and salary increases, so I am exploring alternative paths such as autonomous driving.

THE和RKERS: What are your thoughts on the balance between software and hardware in Japanese manufacturing?

Mr. A: In Japanese manufacturing, hardware still tends to be stronger, and product owners are often hardware managers. Software engineers usually work based on instructions from the hardware side. While people with upstream design experience—particularly those with web development backgrounds—may be able to transition into manufacturing, hardware still holds the initiative on the ground.

THE和RKERS: Finally, is there anything else you are considering regarding your future career?

Mr. A: Until now, I have worked almost entirely in Japanese, but I would like to challenge myself in an English-speaking work environment in the future, including companies in Silicon Valley. Additionally, if my parents require support in China at some point, returning to China would also be an option for me.