Senior Data Scientist — Python / ML / Power BI — Japanese industrial group (Tokyo or Kyoto · business Japanese, JLPT N1)

Eligibility — read this before applying

The client has now issued its written job description. It sets blocking requirements: an application that does not meet them will not be reviewed, however strong the technical profile.

• Business-level Japanese, demonstrated: JLPT N1 or an equivalent certification is expected. Proficiency must be shown through formal certification and/or professional experience genuinely conducted in Japanese. Self-declared conversational Japanese does not clear the bar — meetings and workshops are held in Japanese.
• Tokyo or Kyoto, on-site or hybrid: the role is based in Tokyo or in Kyoto — the client confirmed both sites on 2 September. It is not fully remote, and it is not in Osaka. Employment conditions differ between the Kyoto headquarters and the Tokyo Shinagawa site; we raise this at the first call.
• An already-settled long-term life in Japan: permanent residency, spouse visa, long-term work visa or Japanese nationality. Working Holiday, recent arrival and relocation from overseas are out of scope. No visa sponsorship.
• Master's degree or higher in a quantitative field (Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering). PhD welcome.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in data science, machine learning or advanced analytics.

Context

A major Japanese industrial group is building an in-house DX & Data Science team. Two data scientists are already on board; this senior hire completes the founding core of the team.

This is not a pure research position. You will work directly with business leaders and operational teams to solve real-world problems across the group: sales and marketing, customer experience, supply chain, manufacturing excellence, business process transformation and corporate functions.

Mission

• Lead advanced analytics and machine learning projects end to end — from business problem definition through production deployment.
• Build predictive models and decision-support solutions using structured and unstructured data.
• Work with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI and data-driven improvement.
• Translate complex analytical findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Support strategic initiatives across sales and marketing, customer experience, supply chain management, manufacturing excellence and business process transformation.
• Coach and mentor junior data scientists and citizen data analysts.

Your profile

• Python, SQL, machine learning frameworks, statistical analysis and data visualisation tools — Power BI preferred.
• Proven experience deploying machine learning models in production environments.
• Experience working with large enterprise datasets.
• Experience with Microsoft O365 and Copilot.
• Strong stakeholder management: turning business problems into analytical solutions, working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Genuine autonomy, with limited supervision.
• Comfortable inside a traditional Japanese organisation: implicit decisions, nemawashi, scope that firms up gradually.

What sets a candidate apart

• Experience in manufacturing, industrial automation or B2B industries.
• Experience with SAP, CRM or enterprise operational data.
• Experience leading global, cross-cultural projects.
• Generative AI and large language models.
• PhD in a quantitative discipline.
• Prior experience inside a Japanese company or Japanese business environment.

What “senior” means here

The client's own definition, as written: ability to independently lead end-to-end projects; ability to influence business decisions through data; ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership; ability to mentor junior team members; a proven track record of delivering measurable business impact.

What success looks like in 12 months

• Deliver at least one high-impact business analytics initiative.
• Establish strong relationships with key business stakeholders.
• Contribute to the organisation's data-driven decision-making culture.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders on analytics and AI opportunities.

Why Abbeal

Abbeal is a French tech consultancy operating in Tokyo, Paris and Montreal. We place senior engineers on high-impact missions, and we tell you plainly what fits and what does not in your file.

Logistics

Location: Japan — Tokyo or Kyoto, on-site / hybrid. Start: as soon as a selected profile is approved. Engagement: freelance or permanent in Japan via Abbeal KK — both are open, to be confirmed at first call.