Information Systems Manager

OverviewThe AI Robot Association (AIRoA) is a general incorporated association established at the end of 2024 to promote the development of foundation models aimed at achieving the social implementation of AI robots.The association's goal is to receive a total investment of 20.5 billion yen from NEDO by 2029, build a robust foundation model, and expand its applications globally.BackgroundStarting this fiscal year, AIRoA will officially begin a large-scale, four-year national project.To ensure the smooth progress of this initiative—including the establishment of a reliable development environment—the Information Systems Department will play a crucial role.Currently, operations are being carried out with the support of external partners, but we are now forming an internal team of full-time employees and are seeking a Head of Information Systems to lead it.Key ResponsibilitiesAs the Head of the Information Systems Department, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the IT infrastructure that supports the national project and ensures efficient collaboration among development teams.This position is hands-on and close to a playing manager role, involving both leadership and on-site technical work.Main Duties Develop and implement the strategy and architecture for the internal IT infrastructure. Manage, maintain, and monitor internal networks (LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, VPN). Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve network issues, including coordination with vendors. Configure and operate online storage systems (NAS, cloud storage, etc.). Prepare and maintain network diagrams and operation documentation (including reports required by NEDO). Gather and visualize configuration information by coordinating with subcontractors. Provide helpdesk support for network-related issues raised by development team membersRequirementsRequired Qualifications (MUST)2. Storage and Cloud-Related Skills3. System and Infrastructure Operations4. Security and Authentication Skills5. Documentation, Visualization, and Communication Skills Network Infrastructure Knowledge and Experience Solid understanding and hands-on experience with TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, and other core networking concepts. Operational experience with network devices (L2/L3 switches, routers, firewalls). Experience configuring and managing Zero Trust networks (e.g., Tailscale). Experience managing and setting permissions for NAS and cloud storage systems (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive, Box). Practical experience using AWS S3 or similar cloud-based storage services. Knowledge and operational experience with Linux/Unix systems. Experience in server setup and operations, both on-premises and in cloud environments. Familiarity with virtualization and container technologies such as VMware, KVM, Docker, and Kubernetes. Fundamental understanding of IT security (patch management, authentication/access control, log analysis, etc.). Experience operating or setting up LDAP environments. Ability to create network diagrams and operational manuals using tools such as Visio, draw.io, or Lucidchart. Experience visualizing system metrics using monitoring tools like Prometheus or Grafana. Strong communication skills and experience supporting internal users (helpdesk or IT support). Preferred Qualifications (WANT)2. Storage and Cloud Operations3. Automation and Development Infrastructure4. HPC and GPU-Related Skills5. Large-Scale System Operations Network Certifications and Monitoring Certifications such as CCNA, CompTIA Network+, or equivalent. Experience using network monitoring tools (e.g., Zabbix, Nagios, Prometheus). Advanced experience managing cloud storage, including backup policy design and audit log management. Experience operating infrastructure in cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure). Experience using network automation scripts (Python, PowerShell, Ansible, etc.). Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or Puppet. Experience building CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Jenkins. Experience operating HPC clusters. Knowledge of GPU cluster optimization (CUDA, InfiniBand, Lustre, etc.). Experience with performance tuning for large-scale distributed systemsBenefitsCareer OpportunitiesGlobally, there are few projects that collect data on such a large scale and develop foundation models, and as mentioned above, significant funding has been provided by NEDO. This is one of Japan's leading national projects.This role offers a rare opportunity to engage directly, from the inside, at the core of a large-scale national project. It will allow you to gain unique experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere. In addition, there will be many opportunities to collaborate with supporting member companies and startups, providing an environment where you can explore diverse career opportunities both inside and outside the association.