Customer Program Manager

Wayve

. Serve as the main customer-facing program lead for Wayve’s Japan-based OEM and partner activity, currently focused on robotaxi work involving Nissan .

Posted 11/8/2026full-timeTokyo • JapanMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong program management capabilities with extensive experience in automotive software development, customer-facing stakeholder management, and the ability to translate complex customer requirements into actionable plans. Proficient in both Japanese and English, facilitating effective communication and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Program ManagementStakeholder ManagementAutomotive Software DevelopmentFluent Japanese and EnglishTechnical Expertise in Robotics and AI

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Program ManagementAutomotive Software DevelopmentTechnical Expertise in RoboticsSoftware Development with PythonSoftware Development with C++Software Development with RustKnowledge of AI AdvancementsChange ManagementRisk ManagementTask Coordination

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication SkillsInterpersonal SkillsCollaboration SkillsOwnershipAbility to Operate in Ambiguity

Tools & Technologies

Jira

Certifications & Qualifications

Master’s Degree in EngineeringMaster’s Degree in Computer Science

Industry Keywords

Japanese OEMsAutomotive CompaniesTier-1 SuppliersGenerative AIAV 2.0Large Language Models

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonRustC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as the main customer-facing program lead for Wayve’s Japan-based OEM and partner activity, currently focused on robotaxi work involving Nissan
Work with customers to define and manage project plans
Ensure customer requirements flow into the internal development pipeline and are delivered on schedule
Translate customer needs and feedback into clear internal priorities
Filter and structure customer requests so the wider organisation can focus on the most important and executable work
Lead cross-functional teams executing complex customer programs and ensure program objectives are achieved
Establish and maintain project management frameworks covering planning, risk management, change management and task coordination
Engage customers to understand and address technical requirements and needs
Collaborate with Product, TPM, R&D and engineering teams to translate customer demands into actionable technical requirements
Align customer requirements with internal milestone planning and execution
Run progress reporting, stakeholder communication and meeting cadence with customers and internal teams in Japanese and English
Provide first-level customer support
Report progress and risks in Japanese and English

Requirements

What you’ll need

Fluent Japanese and English, with the ability to lead high-stakes external discussions in both languages
Strong program management experience, ideally more than 5 years or at senior individual contributor level, in complex automotive software development
Direct experience working with Japanese OEMs, automotive companies or tier-1 suppliers
Proven customer-facing stakeholder management experience, not just internal program delivery
Strong ownership and ability to operate effectively in ambiguity
Robust technical expertise, with comprehensive knowledge of the automotive industry and software development, and some robotics, autonomy or AI-related experience
Proficiency with program management tools (e.g. Jira)
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams
Willingness to travel as needed
Knowledge of current AI advancements, including Generative AI, AV 2.0 and Large Language Models (LLMs) — desirable
Hands-on software development experience with Python, C++, Rust and others — desirable
Master’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science — desirable

Benefits

Comp & perks

Meaningful equity, sharing in the ownership and long term success of Wayve
Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable
Hybrid working
Core hours
Chance to work hands on in vehicle workshops and labs
Learning and development budgets with support for training, conferences and growth
Comprehensive health insurance
Dental benefits
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Retirement or pension where applicable
Access to therapists
Wellbeing partnerships
Team socials
Salaries benchmarked against the market annually