Project Manager

This project manager role is in NEC’s Maritime Security Division, Second Maritime Systems Group. The group designs and builds IT infrastructure systems for Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels, using commercially available servers and software. This opening focuses on shipboard IT infrastructure projects.

The role covers the full project lifecycle, including proposals, requirements definition, design, development, testing, on-site deployment support, and post-release maintenance and operations. The system provides a cloud-platform-like foundation inside a vessel, allowing systems such as combat systems to operate and connect through networks and server virtualization environments. It also provides services such as email and chat.

The project manager gathers requirements through interviews and workshops with operational units and system development personnel. The role then designs the infrastructure configuration, considering reliability, availability, performance, scalability, maintainability, and security. The design scope includes servers, networks, system monitoring, and backups.

Construction work takes place internally and at customer land sites. Before work on a vessel, operational verification is performed to shorten the time required onboard; construction and testing are then carried out on berthed vessels. The role also covers monitoring and remote maintenance of shipboard systems from land through satellite connections.

The project coordinates servers, networks, security, services, and applications as a whole. The successful candidate will initially lead a subteam from an area of expertise or interest while advancing the project, and will coordinate customers, internal departments and members, and partner companies. Work is conducted with partner companies that mainly handle detailed design through manufacturing. Defense-sector experience is not required; domain knowledge can be developed with advice from former Self-Defense Force personnel inside the company.

For the professional grade, equivalent to section manager, candidates must either have advanced a development or construction project for a business or information-processing system as a project manager or leader, including at least one phase from requirements definition, design, development, testing, or deployment, or have advanced a customer-facing system project while coordinating customers, internal and external stakeholders, and partner companies.

Preferred experience includes upstream work such as requirements definition and basic design; large-scale or multi-subsystem development; systems for government, social infrastructure, or mission-critical environments; design that addresses security, availability, performance, and maintainability; project activities such as reviews, progress, issue, and quality management; and basic knowledge of cloud, virtualization platforms, databases, or networks. The posting also seeks people who act proactively, coordinate effectively with stakeholders, take responsibility for quality and reliability, and are willing to learn new knowledge and technologies.

The position is expected to be a permanent employee at the professional, section-manager-equivalent level. The stated annual compensation is approximately JPY 9.3–12.0 million, with monthly pay of approximately JPY 580,000–800,000, including the stated basic salary range; previous compensation is considered and company rules apply. The work location is Minato-ku, Tokyo, at the Daini Tamachi Building. Remote work is generally unavailable. The scope of duties and work locations may change to locations designated by the company, including a telework location where applicable.