Product Line Manager

Why should you choose us? Rakuten Symphony is reimagining telecom, changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe, and the Middle East Africa region. For more information, visit: Building on the technology Rakuten used to launch Japan’s newest mobile network, we are taking our mobile offering global. To support our ambitions to provide an innovative cloud-native telco platform for our customers, Rakuten Symphony is looking to recruit and develop top talent from around the globe. We are looking for individuals to join our team across all functional areas of our business – from sales to engineering, support functions to product development. Let’s build the future of mobile telecommunications together About Rakuten Group, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to 2 billion members around the world. The Rakuten Group has over 30,000 employees, and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit . Role Overview As an PLM Define and own the long-term vision and strategy for the assigned product line, aligning with overall company objectives. Identify new market trends, emerging technologies (e.g., 5G, SDN/NFV, Edge Computing, AI/ML in Telecom, IoT), and potential disruptors. Build compelling business cases for new product initiatives, including market sizing, revenue projections, cost analysis, and ROI. Develop and prioritize the product roadmap; translate strategy into clear requirements and release plans. Conduct competitive analysis and drive differentiation, including pricing and packaging considerations. Lead go-to-market planning and execution in partnership with Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success. Define and track product KPIs; ensure financial targets (growth, profitability) are met. Drive cross-functional alignment with Engineering, Operations, Procurement, and external partners. Manage the product lifecycle from introduction to growth, maturity, and sunset. Key Responsibilities Strategic Vision & Roadmap: Define the 5G product line strategy, develop long-term roadmaps, and identify market opportunities through continuous analysis of 5G trends and competition. Product Definition & Requirements: Gather, prioritize, and translate customer and market requirements into detailed product specifications and features, leveraging a deep understanding of 5G technology. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with R&D, engineering, sales, and marketing teams to ensure product development aligns with strategy and market needs. Go-to-Market & Commercialization: Develop and execute comprehensive launch plans, including pricing, positioning, and sales enablement strategies for new 5G products. Customer & Partner Engagement: Act as a key liaison with strategic customers and partners, gathering feedback and building strong relationships to inform product evolution. Product Lifecycle Management: Monitor product performance, drive continuous improvements, manage product iterations, and plan for end-of-life transitions. Business Case & Financial Acumen: Create compelling business cases for product investments, demonstrating financial viability and ROI for 5G solutions. Required Skills & Qualifications Strong expertise in SDN, NFV, and vRAN architecture, making you a key player in Rakuten Mobile’s groundbreaking virtualized 4G/5G network deployment. Advanced troubleshooting skills in complex virtualized environments, ensuring that network performance remains high and disruptions are minimized. Experience in cloud-native architectures and software-driven network solutions, a rare and valuable skill set that directly supports Rakuten Mobile’s network evolution. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, or a related field. 3+ years of experience with vRAN, SDN, NFV, or cloud-native network deployment. 10 + year experience with protocol level understanding and development. Relevant certifications in telecommunications or networking technologies (e.g., CCNP, 5G, vRAN, etc.) are highly desirable. RAKUTEN SHUGI PRINCIPLES: Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviours that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success. Always improve, always advance. Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen. Be passionately professional. Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best. Hypothesize - Practice - Validate - Shikumika. Use the Rakuten Cycle to success in unknown territory. Maximize Customer Satisfaction. The greatest satisfaction for workers in a service industry is to see their customers smile. Speed Speed Speed Always be conscious of time. Take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team.