Systems Architect / Head of Product - Tokyo, Japan
About Nethermind Nethermind is a blockchain research and software engineering company building high-performance infrastructure, security tooling, and cryptographic systems across the Ethereum ecosystem and beyond. We work closely with protocol teams, L2s, and ZK projects to help design, review, and secure cutting-edge decentralized systems. We are looking for a Systems Architect / Head of Product to define the product and technical architecture for a new category of AI-enabled automated retail and physical-machine systems. This is a senior, founder-facing role. You will help turn an ambitious technical vision into a real product that can be deployed in the field with commercial partners. The ideal candidate can think across product, systems architecture, customer requirements, hardware constraints, software architecture, integrations, and go-to-market needs. Responsibilities: Define the end-to-end product architecture across hardware, edge software, backend systems, AI workflows, user interfaces, and partner integrations. Translate founder and customer requirements into clear product specifications. Own the MVP definition, prototype scope, pilot roadmap, and longer-term product roadmap. Work with engineering, design, business development, and external partners to ensure the product is coherent and deployable. Evaluate build-versus-partner decisions across hardware, software, data, and integration layers. Define safe and reliable product behavior for real-world operating environments. Create clear documentation, system diagrams, product requirements, and technical decision records. Help prepare demos, customer conversations, and technical materials for partners and investors. Requirements: Strong product and systems architecture experience in one or more of the following areas: Automated retail Vending machines Payments / POS / payment terminals Industrial IoT Retail automation Self-service kiosks Robotics Edge computing Hardware-plus-software platform Machine telemetry or fleet systems Experience building or architecting real-world deployed products. Ability to work across hardware, software, cloud, data, AI, and field operations. Strong product judgment and technical judgment. Ability to create clear specifications from ambiguous requirements. Strong communication skills with founders, engineers, commercial teams, and partners. English fluency required. Willingness to travel when needed. Must Haves: Experience with payment-adjacent systems, machine telemetry, operator dashboards, fleet monitoring, or self-service hardware. Experience with AI agents, conversational interfaces, recommendation systems, or automation workflows. Experience working with OEMs, industrial partners, retail technology companies, or hardware manufacturers. Experience as a founder, CTO, head of product, principal engineer, or early technical/product leader. Success in the first 90 days: You define the architecture for the first working product. You create clear product requirements for prototype and pilot development. You align the team around a realistic roadmap and technical milestones. You identify key technical and commercial risks early. You help make the product understandable to partners, customers, and investors. Success in the first 6-12 months: The company has a working product architecture that supports real-world pilots. Engineering is building against clear requirements. Partners understand how the system integrates with their environment. You are on track to become a long-term product or technical architecture leader in the company. Our Commitment to Diversity At Nethermind, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We believe a variety of perspectives drives innovation and leads to better solutions for the blockchain community. Ready to Join Us? If you're passionate about blockchain and eager to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Click Apply for this job to start your journey with Nethermind.