Director, Engineering and Research

Rakuten•Bellevue, WA

3d•$143,055 - $267,190•Onsite

About The Position

Rakuten Americas’ AI & Data Division (AIDD) is seeking a passionate and experienced Director, Engineering and Research to play a pivotal role in bridging cutting-edge research with robust engineering capabilities to solve critical business needs. AIDD’s mission is to build world-class AI experiences that serve as the digital core of Rakuten’s global ecosystem. In this role, you will focus on AI applications such as agent experiences, search, recommendation, personalization, and the broader customer experience—delivering meaningful impact for nearly 2 billion Rakuten users. Inspired by our CEO’s vision, “No AI, No Rakuten,” you will help ensure AI is embedded at the heart of everything we do. You will define and execute multi-year technical and research roadmaps that align foundational research with real-world engineering execution. You will lead interdisciplinary teams, scale operations, and oversee the full lifecycle of innovation—from early-stage prototypes to production-ready, large-scale systems. The role requires close collaboration with executive stakeholders across Research, Product, Business, and global Rakuten teams to drive integrated, high-impact AI initiatives.

Requirements

Exceptional leadership in defining, communicating, and executing multi-year technical and research roadmaps for complex, large-scale systems.
Proven track record of building, coaching, and scaling interdisciplinary engineering and research organizations that deliver innovative, research-informed software products.
Deep expertise in architecting and operating scalable, secure, and resilient cloud-native systems, combined with a strong foundation in research methodology and experimental design.
Mastery of the full software development lifecycle, modern DevOps practices, and a commitment to engineering quality and scientific rigor.
Demonstrated ability to align and influence executive stakeholders across Research, Product, Business, and Operations on strategic, cross-functional initiatives.
Strong technical acumen in AI/ML domains, including LLMs, NLP, search, recommendation systems, and conversational AI.
Comfortable leading through ambiguity in fast-moving, international environments, managing globally distributed teams.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills; ability to translate complex technical and scientific concepts across diverse stakeholders.
Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top-tier engineering and research talent, fostering a culture of innovation, psychological safety, and continuous learning.
Experience or strong potential for engaging in strategic partnerships and business development initiatives.
Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Japanese is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Master’s or Ph.D. preferred. A Ph.D. in a relevant AI/ML research field (e.g., Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research) is highly desirable.
12+ years of progressive experience in software engineering and/or applied research, including 5+ years in senior manager or director-level leadership roles.
Significant hands-on experience with large-scale, distributed systems and modern cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure).
Proven ability to translate AI/ML research advancements—including Deep Learning, NLP, LLMs, and conversational AI—into scalable production systems.
Demonstrated success in leading large, interdisciplinary teams toward high-impact outcomes that combine research excellence with engineering precision.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in Japanese is a plus.
Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.
A Ph.D. in a relevant AI/ML research field (e.g., Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Define and drive multi-year technical and research roadmaps, ensuring seamless integration of scientific discovery with scalable engineering implementation.
Champion a culture of deep collaboration between research and engineering, breaking down silos to accelerate innovation and solution delivery.
Guide architectural direction, modern engineering practices, and the adoption of technologies emerging from internal and external research.
Provide expert leadership on the transition from research prototypes to reliable, secure, production-grade systems.
Establish cross-functional standards and processes that support both research excellence and engineering efficiency.
Build, mentor, and scale high-performing interdisciplinary teams, including both ICs and managers.
Lead talent strategies—recruitment, retention, performance management, and career development—for a diverse, technically excellent organization.
Communicate vision, goals, and priorities across functions, ensuring strong alignment and shared ownership.
Optimize resource allocation across multiple product lines and initiatives, balancing delivery velocity with long-term innovation.
Accountable for resource planning and budgetary oversight.
Partner with executive stakeholders in Research, Product, Business, and Operations to align on technical direction and deliver integrated solutions.
Drive cross-functional initiatives by uniting research and engineering contributions toward shared business goals.
Serve as a technical and scientific ambassador internally and externally, representing the team’s innovation and capabilities.
Identify and support strategic partnerships and business development opportunities that leverage the team’s research-engineering synergy.