Designing Cars in Japan: A Foreign Mechanical Engineer’s Career Story

We spoke with Mr. A, a foreign engineer who has built his career 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 as a Contract Engineer

THE和RKERS: You’re originally from Pune, India. Could you tell us how you came to Japan?

Mr. A: After graduating from university in Pune, I came to Japan in 2019 for employment. During my university years, I began studying Japanese out of personal interest and passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5. Later, I joined a Japanese language school program and resumed studying toward N4.

THE和RKERS: How did you go about your job search in Japan?

Mr. A: After graduating, I spent about a year continuing my Japanese studies and preparing for job hunting. This preparation included receiving interview advice from an older mentor who had worked at a Japanese company.
I started job hunting in earnest in October 2018 and interviewed with three companies in Japan in February 2019, including firms introduced through a Japan-based interview event. The event lasted two days and included written tests and aptitude and personality assessments. As a result, I received offers from two companies and decided to join staffing company Company A in October 2019.

THE和RKERS: What kind of work did you do in your first role?

Mr. A: After joining, I completed three months of CAD training and one month of analysis training, then was assigned to an outsourced team at an automotive manufacturer. For about three and a half years, I worked on analysis related to noise, vibration, and stiffness (NVH) of vehicle body components such as doors and tailgates. In addition to reporting analysis results to the design department, I also proposed design changes.

THE和RKERS: Were there any particular challenges related to cultural or language differences in the workplace?

Mr. A: One challenge was writing reports. Japanese companies require extremely detailed documentation so that even people who did not attend meetings can fully understand the content.
Another major cultural difference I experienced was during the COVID period, when my request for long-term leave was not accepted because it was considered “inconvenient for the client.” This made me strongly aware of the difference between Indian and Japanese work cultures.

THE和RKERS: Did you experience any work-related issues in that environment?

Mr. A: Around my second year, I made a mistake in reporting analysis results, which caused rework. Although there was also a supervisory oversight, we created a checklist to prevent recurrence. Through this, I learned the importance of thorough preventive measures.

THE和RKERS: How was the support for daily life?

Mr. A: At my first company, life support such as opening bank accounts and completing ward office procedures was outsourced to an external company with English-speaking staff. Indian employees relied heavily on them.

2. Transition to Design Work and Career Growth

THE和RKERS: What prompted you to move from analysis work to a design role?

Mr. A: Through analysis work, I became increasingly interested in design and wanted to learn how design decisions are made and how changes are implemented. Since internal transfers were difficult, I started job hunting with the clear goal of working in design.

THE和RKERS: How did you choose staffing company Company B during your job search?

Mr. A: I was contacted by multiple recruiters via LinkedIn, and one recruitment agent provided very dedicated support, including resume preparation. I mainly applied to staffing companies—about seven or eight in total—and received offers from most of them.
Among them, Company B offered an annual salary of over 5.5 million yen, which was higher than other offers (around 4.5–5.0 million yen), and also provided strong support such as housing allowances. That ultimately determined my decision.

THE和RKERS: What kind of design work did you experience at Company B?

Mr. A: I was dispatched to an automotive manufacturer as an engine design engineer, working on the design of cast and forged components such as crankshafts and connecting rods. In addition to design tasks, I handled phone communication with prototype departments and suppliers, as well as investigations when issues occurred—responsibilities similar to those of full-time employees.
However, due to contract limitations, I was not allowed to use analysis tools within NX software.

THE和RKERS: In what area did you feel you grew the most at this workplace?

Mr. A: My Japanese communication skills improved the most. Handling phone calls with prototype teams and suppliers, reviewing inspection data, and investigating damaged parts greatly increased my face-to-face communication opportunities, significantly improving my practical Japanese ability.

3. Moving to a Full-Time Position and Current Responsibilities

THE和RKERS: Why did you decide to change jobs again to pursue a full-time position?

Mr. A: As a contract engineer, my responsibilities were limited to certain phases, such as drawing creation, and I couldn’t participate in the planning stage or the full project lifecycle from concept to mass production. To gain broader experience as a full-time employee, I decided to change jobs again.

THE和RKERS: What kind of work are you currently doing at a major automotive manufacturer?

Mr. A: I am involved in advanced development for suspension design. Immediately after joining, I completed four months of software training covering topics such as C language and ECUs. Going forward, I am scheduled to work on modeling and validation of analysis methods using tools such as MATLAB and AMESim.

THE和RKERS: What are your future career goals?

Mr. A: I hope to continue working at my current company for a long time. My long-term goal is to see vehicles or components that I personally worked on and developed reach the market as mass-produced products.

4. Insights into the Job Market for Foreign Professionals

THE和RKERS: Could you share your perspective on foreign professionals in the mechatronics and hardware fields?

Mr. A: It’s true that many foreign professionals move into IT, but within mechatronics and hardware, I believe there are many foreign engineers in embedded systems (such as PLCs and ADAS) and plant engineering. Plant design, in particular, is an area to watch, as Japanese companies often contract work to India, including related suppliers.
Additionally, as Japan’s automotive industry strengthens ties with India, many companies hire Indian designers to handle work involving Indian subsidiaries and affiliates.

THE和RKERS: How about quality assurance (QA) and mass production process engineering?

Mr. A: I haven’t seen foreign professionals in QA; almost everyone is Japanese. This may be due to differences in perceptions of quality standards between Japan and other countries, as well as the need for specific domestic certifications. While full-time employees may receive company support for certification, this can be a hurdle for those seeking employment shortly after arriving in Japan.

THE和RKERS: Do you notice differences between Japan and India in daily life and culture?

Mr. A: Compared to India, Japan feels somewhat closed. In India, it’s common to strike up conversations with strangers while waiting for a train, for example, but that’s rare in Japan. However, once people realize you can speak Japanese, especially elderly people, interactions can unexpectedly become very warm. I think daily life would become even more enjoyable if this aspect improved.

THE和RKERS: Finally, what do you think is most important for foreign nationals seeking employment in Japan?

Mr. A: Proof of Japanese language ability, such as JLPT certification, is extremely important when job hunting in Japan. I feel that obtaining certification is the most reliable shortcut. No matter how strong your technical skills are, insufficient Japanese ability can lead to rejection.
Additionally, those who enter Japan on a dependent visa generally cannot work, so they need to secure a job first and then change to an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. Based on my partner’s work experience as well, I want to emphasize that Japanese language ability is ultimately required in many cases.