AI-Driven Development Engineer: Build the Future of Software with AI as Your Partner

SHIFT has passed ¥110 billion in annual revenue and is now entering its next phase of growth: transforming into a truly AI-centered organization.

At the heart of this transformation is AI駆動開発 (AI-Driven Development)—a new approach that blends SHIFT’s proprietary development framework SHIFT DQS with AI agents like Devin to deliver higher quality, faster development, and dramatically improved productivity.

Today, SHIFT is opening a key role that will shape this future:

AI-Driven Development Engineer

Redefining How Software Gets Built

This is not a conventional engineering role.

You’ll work side-by-side with AI to rebuild systems, shape requirements, design architectures, and ship features at a speed that wasn’t possible before.

Your ability to understand structure, clarify requirements, and make sound design decisions will become your strongest competitive advantage.

If you’ve ever wanted to work at the frontier of how modern development will be done, this is your chance.

What You Do

As an AI-Driven Development Engineer, you’ll take responsibility for high-quality, end-to-end development by combining your expertise with SHIFT’s AI ecosystem:

▶ Rebuild and modernize systems

Based on requirements and architecture crafted by SHIFT’s consultants.

▶ Implement, test, and release through dialogue with Devin (AI coding agent)

You’ll use AI not just for coding, but for reviewing, testing, debugging, and iterating.

▶ Redesign and develop legacy systems

Analyze existing assets, extract structure, and convert them into modern, scalable architectures.

▶ Work closely with clients

Support requirement clarification, prototyping, and solution exploration.

▶ Drive continuous development

Ship improvements and new features even after launch, supported by AI-driven cycles.

SHIFT’s early results already show 30–50% productivity gains across multiple projects, simply by combining DQS with AI-driven development workflows.

Why This Role Matters

SHIFT is building a software development structure that no longer relies solely on human capacity. AI agents are already beginning to replace the lower layers of work traditionally handled by offshore teams or secondary vendors.

You’ll be at the center of this transformation — the engineer who turns vision into reality.

Rather than prioritizing “experience with the latest tech,” SHIFT values:

✔ Structural thinking

✔ Requirement definition skills

✔ The ability to shape ambiguous needs into clear specifications

If you bring these strengths, SHIFT will give you all the tools — including AI agents — to take your development career to an entirely new level.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

✔ AI becomes your new superpower - Take on modern architecture challenges with advanced AI at your side.

✔ Escape inefficient development styles - Work in a reproducible, high-quality environment that eliminates unnecessary rework.

✔ Direct impact on clients - You’ll see how your work improves development speed, quality, and business outcomes.

✔ Multiple future career paths - Move deeper into advanced engineering, architecture, upstream consulting, or AI specialization.

✔ Fully remote possible - You can work from anywhere in Japan.

What SHIFT Is Looking For

Must-Have Experience

• Upstream experience: requirement definition, basic design, specification alignment
• Ability to lead a team of 3+ engineers and manage deliverables
• Web app or enterprise system development (any language welcome — even COBOL/VB.NET)
• Experience aligning requirements directly with clients

Even if you’re not confident about modern tech stacks, you can catch up through SHIFT’s standardized process (DQS) and AI collaboration workflow.

Nice to Have

• Experience rebuilding core enterprise systems

Who Thrives in This Role

• You believe in SHIFT’s mission and vision
• You enjoy learning and take ownership of your work
• You love figuring out how new technologies can solve real problems
• You stay curious, open-minded, and collaborative

Language Requirements

This role involves working closely with clients during upstream phases such as requirement definition, specification alignment, and prototyping. As a result, Japanese language skills are important for most projects.

Typical expectations:

• Japanese: Business level or above You’ll be expected to participate in meetings, discuss requirements, and align on specifications with clients and internal stakeholders.

Compensation & Work Style

• Salary: ¥6M – ¥12M (monthly ¥500k–1,000k)
• Locations: Tokyo or fully remote across Japan
• Working Hours: 9:00–18:15 (average overtime: ~7.2h/month)
• Hiring process: Document screening → 1st interview → Final → Offer (Live coding may be included.)

Your Career With SHIFT

You’ll continuously grow through:

• SHIFT QA Night (internal knowledge sharing)
• SPARK learning program
• SHIFT EVOLVE (external engineering community)
• S-1 Grand Prix & SHIFT AWARD (internal recognition)

Plus, SHIFT’s unique culture celebrates families and work-life balance with events like Kids Summer Camp, seasonal celebrations, and more.

If You Want to Build the Future of Development, Start Here

AI-driven development is not a trend; it’s the next standard.

SHIFT is already proving what’s possible when engineers and AI collaborate as true partners.

If you want to utilize AI as your new copilot, refine your upstream skills, and contribute to building a completely new model of software development in Japan, SHIFT would love to meet you.

👉 Apply now and build the future with SHIFT.