Job Description
Work Arrangement
This role is categorized as on-site. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to GM Japan Headquarter office in Tokyo, Japan full time.
The Role -
The IT System Engineer is a fully qualified, independent individual contributor who combines business analysis, system architecture and hands‑on operations responsibilities across a broad portfolio of applications and infrastructure services. The role will:
- Act as Business Analyst/System Architect for Japan and regional local‑unique systems (CRM/DMS for Vehicle Sales, digital showroom, warehouse management, recall/recycle, SAP), ensuring robust integration with global and regional platforms and third‑party providers.
- Provide onsite first‑tier IT support in Japan for PCs, network, servers, phones, video conferencing and core IT tools, while helping ensure a reliable day-to-day technology experience for site users in Japanese.
- Lead or support key transformation initiatives such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud (SAP RISE) and Salesforce CRM deployment, ensuring local business requirements, interfaces and data are properly addressed.
This position is critical to ensuring business continuity and risk mitigation in GM Japan’s IT landscape and will work closely with GM Japan leadership and GMAP IT regional leadership as needed.
What You’ll Do -
- Own the sustainment and operational control of regional/local business applications for Japan maintaining a current inventory of applications and their technical landscape.
- Coordinate application sustainment communication and planning with IT portfolio teams, including platform renewals, middleware upgrades and lifecycle management.
- Manage IT PO‑to‑invoice processes and vendor interactions for assigned services, including task/resource planning and spend approvals in partnership with Finance and Purchasing.
- Lead or support vendor security and application security communications (e.g., urgent security advisories, regulatory requirements, vulnerability monitoring reports) together with Global Cybersecurity.
- Provide application operation support, including digital marketing technical support, external service interfaces, and integration/tool analysis and feedback for backend applications.
- Deliver ad‑hoc IT support to business users and other IT groups (needs analysis, routing to appropriate IT owners) and support IT security awareness communications to end users in Japan.
- Support IT budget and spending control for assigned scope (spending plan redesign, fixed asset planning, mobile/telecom/OA supply costs) in coordination with portfolio, finance and service providers.
- Provide business process and technology advice for Vehicle and P&A operations (e.g., SAP‑based sales and logistics processes, CX, CRM, brand site), partnering with business SMEs where they own process leadership.
- Support annual and ad‑hoc warehouse operations such as P&A physical inventory and WMS processes (SAP, mainframe, WMS, Sterling), coordinating with business SMEs and SAP engineers.
- Serve as a technology direction and solution advisor to Japan users, including evaluation of new tools (e.g., external service tools, electronic signature solutions) and supporting user training in collaboration with regional IT leadership.
- Coordinate application and network UAT activities and scheduled maintenance with telecom and infrastructure teams; support troubleshooting of network‑connected hardware (Wi‑Fi, gateways, internet latency) as needed.
- Lead or support business recovery during and after IT disruptions, including SAP batch and external integration recovery in partnership with business SMEs and SAP teams, and recovery of common infrastructure (email, external services, display, printing) for all users in Japan.
- Plan and execute end‑user communication for service, tool and application deployments (including new AI‑enabled features) and system changes or terminations (e.g., video conferencing solutions), as well as scheduled maintenance such as office power‑downs and SAP outages.
- Coordinate and support incident response and recovery for network, SAP and other critical IT services impacting Japan users.
- Operate the onsite first‑tier support desk for Japan, covering:
- a) Dealer support for GM resource access and ID management.
- b) Application ID administration for Global Connect, SAP and local apps.
- c) Business partner support (alliances, vendors, contractors) in partnership with Global Service Desk.
- d) General business user support including guidance on IT points of contact and onsite device support.
- Manage IT hardware assets and lifecycle (PCs, phones, Wi‑Fi devices, network equipment, peripherals) including procurement, configuration, deployment, recovery, decommissioning and recycling in collaboration with Regional Site operations and suppliers.
- Coordinate with remote field engineers and regional/global helpdesks, acting as the local agent between remote IT support teams and Japan users for incidents, pilots and UAT activities.
- Oversee local application infrastructure operated by vendors, ensuring service levels and change controls are adhered to.
- Support facility‑related device management for conference room systems (Cisco RoomKit, PolyStudio) and meeting room monitors in partnership with Regional Facility and Site Operations teams.
- Provide IT oversight for local remote facilities such as parts warehouses, PDI and training centers, including network and application connectivity, security oversight for external internet sites and first‑tier network monitoring support.
- Support IT security control activities across Japan in partnership with Global Cybersecurity and SAP teams, including monitoring, mitigation control and ongoing application governance and vulnerability management.
- Maintain accurate IT asset data for fixed asset audits and other compliance requirements in collaboration with Regional Facility and Site Operations teams.
- Coordinate with business owners, Legal and Data Privacy teams on data privacy, PI control, customer privacy inquiries, ensuring GM systems and processes comply with applicable privacy regulations in Japan.
- Support supplier governance in Japan, including security, quality and change control activities, and IT sustainment interactions with vendors and application owners.
- Act as the primary IT interface to key alliances and external partners in Japan (e.g., Yanase, Isuzu), coordinating:
- a) Ad‑hoc batch process modifications for year‑end, recovery and special deliveries.
- b) Change management for GM SAP and infrastructure updates.
- c) Sterling EDI batch coordination and error follow‑up.
- Support onsite network ownership and connectivity for partner locations, including GM‑owned edge devices and circuits, and manage application access and EDI change management activities (e.g., ELETE) together with business owners and Global/Regional Telecom teams.
- Serve as the single IT point of contact for GM Japan in Japanese, supporting internal employees, contractors, sales agents, dealers, distributors and outlets for key systems (e.g., GWM, Global Connect, EPIC, SAP, local applications).
- Partner with GM Japan Managing Director and Regional IT leadership on IT‑related decisions affecting Japan.
- Support Business SMEs on new business transformation projects (e.g., SAP RISE, Salesforce CRM, connectivity enablement, new sales models, digital showroom and web renewals) as the in‑country IT owner and liaison to global product/engineering teams.
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Demonstrated experience (typically 5–8+ years) in IT systems engineering, business application ownership or IT operations supporting enterprise environments.
- Hands‑on experience with enterprise applications and data flows such as SAP (e.g., SD/MM/FI/CO, logistics planning), CRM, WMS and integration with external partners or third‑party systems.
- Practical knowledge of networked workplace services (PCs, telephony, Wi‑Fi, conferencing systems) and first‑tier support processes for end users, dealers and distributors.
- Experience working with external vendors and service providers in Japan, including contract/scope management, operational coordination and security/compliance follow‑up.
- Strong understanding of IT security and compliance fundamentals (vulnerability management, data privacy, access management, fixed asset and audit controls).
- Native or near‑native proficiency in Japanese and strong business‑level English, with the ability to communicate effectively with local stakeholders and global teams.
- Proven ability to work independently as a fully qualified individual contributor, making sound decisions on complex, cross‑functional initiatives and acting as a resource for colleagues.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Prior experience working in automotive, manufacturing, logistics or similar complex, regulated industries.
- Familiarity with ITIL‑aligned service management practices and tools for incident, change and problem management. (Service Now, Jira)
- Experience with cloud‑based ERP/CRM transformations (e.g., SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Salesforce) and integrating legacy systems during transition.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to decompose complex, ambiguous business problems into actionable technical initiatives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of translating technical concepts into clear language for business leaders, external partners and global IT teams.





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