Director of Engineering (Search & Discovery)

This position requires English language ability. JD is available in English only. 　本ポジションは日本語JDの用意がありません。

Introduction 

Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people 

"What can I do to help society thrive with the finite resources we have?" The Mercari marketplace app was born in 2013 out of this thought by our founder Shintaro Yamada as he traveled the world. We believe that by circulating all forms of value, not just physical things and money, we can create opportunities for anyone to realize their dreams and contribute to society and the people around them. Mercari aims to use technology to connect people all over the world and create a world where anyone can unleash their potential. For more information about Mercari Group’s mission, see Mercari's Culture Doc.

Equal Opportunity Hiring

Here at Mercari, we work to realize a world in which no one’s potential is limited by their background and everyone has the opportunity to freely create value. We also firmly believe that a mindset of Inclusion & Diversity is essential for us to achieve our mission.

This, of course, extends to our hiring practices as well. Mercari is committed to eliminating discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, physical disability, and other such factors so that anyone who shares our mission and values can join us, regardless of their background. For more details, please read our D&I Statement.

Team’s Mission / Work Responsibilities

At Mercari, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology in the e-commerce industry. Our platform revolutionizes the way people connect and transact online. As the company continues to evolve and mature, we are seeking an Engineering Director for our Product Engineering Organization.

In Product Engineering we are the architects of innovation, the builders of the future. It is here, at the heart of Mercari, that our dedicated team works to construct the very essence of our platform and services. Tasked with the pivotal role of bringing our product visions to life, our engineers collaborate closely with product leaders, drawing upon the robust infrastructure laid down by our platform teams. Through this partnership, we champion the principles of iterative development and bold experimentation. Our eyes are always on the pulse of product metrics, guiding us as we navigate the intricate balance of engineering excellence with the dynamic needs of our users. In Product Engineering, we embrace the art of making calculated trade-offs and taking strategic risks when necessary. This approach ensures we continually deliver an unparalleled user experience, propelling Mercari to the forefront of the e-commerce industry.

Join us and be part of our exciting journey as we expand our business and drive innovation.

As the ML & Search Director, you will significantly impact the business  by enhancing the Mercari product using ML strategies.

• Lead and manage a diverse team of approximately 50 engineers and Engineering Managers, including those in platform, SRE, ML, backend and client engineering.
• Drive the technical roadmap in harmony with the product direction.
• Supervise the domains of Search, Recommendation, and Search Platform, strategizing and planning the company’s machine learning initiatives within these areas.
• Develop engineering organizations within Search, Recommendation, and Search Platform to maximize the performance and output of their members.
• Collaborate with other departments such as software engineering, data engineering, and product, to integrate machine learning solutions into products and services.
• Be responsible for the recruitment and training of new team members.
• Collaborate with managers to ensure the professional growth and development of team members.
• Regularly report on machine learning project outcomes and metrics to higher management and the business side.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the team.

Unique and Bold Challenges

• Perform a key role leading multiple high-performing teams within our product engineering organization 
• Help enhance the discovery experience for over 20 million users through Enhancements in search and recommendation functionalities and directly impact Mercari’s business
• Take a leadership role in a field in constant innovation . New algorithms, techniques, and technologies are being developed constantly, providing a great opportunity to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology.

Required Qualifications 

• Shared understanding and belief in our company’s mission and values
• Demonstrated track record in high-level leadership roles, effectively overseeing and guiding teams of engineers specializing in Search, Recommendations, Platform, or related domains.
• Experienced leading ML and product engineering teams, with expertise in search technologies and managing backend, web, and native client development.
• Experience with End to End large scale projects & products  ideally B2C or C2C platforms. 
• Knowledge of modern web technologies .
• Leadership Skills: Exceptional leadership qualities, including the ability to inspire, motivate, and mentor individuals at all levels. A track record of driving high performance and a commitment to developing talent. Experience managing managers

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Modern search & recommendation technologies
• E-commerce Experience

Language Requirements (required)

• English: Proficient (CEFR - C1) 
• Japanese: Proficient (CEFR - C1) - nice to have 
• What does CEFR mean?

Working Conditions

Employment Status

Full-time

• Probationary period: First 3 months after joining the company. (During this period your contract conditions will be the same as that of a permanent employee.)

Office

Roppongi

• Smoking is prohibited within our offices

Work Hours

• Full flextime *Does not apply to all positions.

Holidays

• Two days off per week (as well as national holidays, New Year's break, etc.)
• Paid leave, congratulatory and bereavement leave, relax days, sick leave

Salary

• Annual salary paid in 12 monthly installments (including fixed overtime allowance)
• Based on skills, experience, and abilities
• Reviewed twice a year

Benefits

• Complete health and social insurance
• Incentive program
• Support systems, including those that benefit the employee’s family members

Support

• Relocation support
• Language learning support
• Translation/interpretation support