Lead Engineer

Language skill ：Fluent in English & JapaneseWorking Style ：Hybrid with occasional travels to customer locationsWork Location ：Japan Tokyo is preferred (occasional travels to Cognizant Osaka Office or Shiga Ken Client office)Job summary: We are seeking a highly experienced and bilingual Lead Engineer to drive the delivery of Industrial IoT (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 solutions across manufacturing and energy sectors. This role demands deep technical expertise in edge computing, industrial automation, and secure cloud-edge integration. The ideal candidate will lead initiatives that enable Smart Production, Smart Quality, Smart Maintenance, Smart Asset, and Smart Inventory operations, working closely with engineering teams and Japanese clients. The ability to communicate fluently in both English and Japanese is essential for success in this role. Key Responsibilities:• Lead end-to-end IIoT solution delivery, focusing on edge integration and smart operations across manufacturing domains. • Architect and deploy Edge computing solutions using Azure IoT Edge, AWS Greengrass, Red Hat OpenShift or similar.• Integrate plant floor assets (PLCs, sensors, gateways, controllers) using industrial and IIoT protocols such as Modbus, OPC UA, MQTT. • Ensure secure and scalable communication between Edge and Cloud environments. • Collaborate with global teams across Japan and offshore (India) locations to deliver high-impact solutions. • Engage with mid-senior client leadership to understand business needs and translate them into technical architectures. • Stay abreast of emerging trends in Industrial DataOps, including Unified Namespace (UNS) and contextualized data models. • Support pre-sales, solutioning, and competency development initiatives. • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to capability building in IIoT and Industry 4.0.Skills and experience(Mandatory)• 12+ years of experience in Industrial Automation, Manufacturing Operations Management, Digital Manufacturing, or IIoT. • Strong understanding of industrial and IIoT communication protocols: Modbus, OPC, OPC UA, MQTT. • Hands-on experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and Edge runtimes. • Experience with Red Hat OpenShift is a strong advantage. • Deep domain knowledge in Manufacturing (Discrete, Process, Pharma) and Energy & Utilities. • Familiarity with Industrial DataOps concepts like Unified Namespace (UNS) using tools such as HighByte, Litmus, Ignition etc.• Proven ability to manage customer relationships and deliver business-aligned solutions. • Fluent communication skills in both English and Japanese (mandatory). • Strong business acumen and ability to quickly grasp client operations and challenges. • Experience working in global delivery models with virtual teams.Required certifications:• Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or Professional• Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration• Certified Automation Professional (CAP) – ISA• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 or higher (if not a native speaker)