Considering a Move to Japan as a Data Engineer – Seeking Advice!

5 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **Considering a Move to Japan as a Data Engineer – Seeking Advice!**

   I’m in need of some guidance and advice regarding my plan to move to Japan with my Japanese wife in the next year or so. I’m a data engineer currently based in Canada, and we’re thinking of settling down in Fukuoka, close to her parents.

   First off, I don’t have any conversational ability in Japanese at the moment. Are there many companies that are open to hiring non-Japanese speakers for tech roles?

   Secondly, my ideal scenario would be to find a remote job that allows me to continue working as a data engineer while living in Fukuoka. Are there companies in Japan that are open to hiring remote employees, or does the majority prefer an in-office presence?

   I’m also curious about the job market in Fukuoka specifically. It’s a beautiful city, and we’d love to settle there, but I’m unsure about the demand for data engineering professionals in that region. If any of you have any experience or knowledge about the tech scene in Fukuoka, I’d greatly appreciate your input.

   Now, I have a couple more questions. Would it be easier to apply for jobs once I’m in the country? Are there any advantages to being physically present in Japan during the job search process, such as attending networking events or interviews in person?

   Additionally, I’m considering the possibility of teaching English in the meantime to get my foot in the door and earn some income while I search for data engineering jobs in Japan. Is it worthwhile for someone with a data engineering background to take up English teaching, or are there better options for making a living while I explore job opportunities in my field?

   Thank you all in advance for your support and insights! 😊🙏

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2. You’d be better served coming over on a spouse visa and looking for work, rather than doing English teaching as a stop-gap.

   Lots of companies are hiring data engineers. Plenty of companies are still allowing remote work and Fukuoka does have some tech jobs available (I believe Line has an office there).

   Check out some sites like Japan-dev and Tokyo-dev. As long as you have a few years of experience, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something. Not sure how important Japanese ability is for data jobs, but it isn’t important for many SWE roles.

3. There are many companies in Japan that hire people from all around the world and offer remote working opportunities, even if you don’t have any Japanese language skills or cultural knowledge.

   You just need to show your enthusiasm and technical abilities to make it through the recruitment process. Also, having a good understanding of international business practices can be helpful too.

   Teaching English is definitely a viable option if you’re looking to make some money while searching for data engineering jobs. However, there are other alternatives that could be more beneficial in the long run such as freelancing or contract work related to your field.

   I’m sure there are some great websites out there that could help with your job search. Have you tried searching on [https://dataaxy.com/jobs/big-data-engineer](https://dataaxy.com/jobs/big-data-engineer) They have a lot of postings for data engineering roles, so they might be worth checking out.

4. You could also look into working remotely for a Canadian company since your SOR will be spouse. I hear that Fukuoka is trying to establish itself as a startup hub, so I’m sure there will be some need for data engineering, but it’s absolutely not my field so I’m not sure.

5. > Are there many companies that are open to hiring non-Japanese speakers for tech roles?

   Yes. You can check [Japan Dev](https://japan-dev.com/) or [LinkedIn Jobs](https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/) to find most of them.

   > I’m also curious about the job market in Fukuoka specifically

   The foreigner tech scene in Fukuoka is way smaller than Tokyo, so it will be hard to find an English-speaking position there.

   However, some big JP companies like PayPay and Mercari allow working remotely from outside Tokyo, so they’re still an option.

   > Are there companies in Japan that are open to hiring remote employees, or does the majority prefer an in-office presence?

   It’s a mixture. Some companies (like the ones I mentioned above) are still fully remote.

   Some others are back to “hybrid” remote. A few are back to fully in-office.

   > Would it be easier to apply for jobs once I’m in the country? Are there any advantages to being physically present in Japan during the job search process?

   Yes and yes. Meetups are very helpful.

   > I’m considering the possibility of teaching English in the meantime to get my foot in the door

   YMMV but this usually doesn’t work out too well. Most people get trapped teaching for several years and let their other skills get stale.