Legal Director, Hardware Engineering, Procurement, Software Development Engineering and R&D

Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.

■Job Description

This position is a role to oversee the team that provides legal support to business teams such as the design/development departments for PlayStation consoles and peripherals, software development departments, procurement departments, and R&D departments in Japan. While primarily supporting business divisions in Japan, you will also collaborate and coordinate with legal departments and business teams in other regions.

We are looking for a proactive and solution-oriented leader who can respond flexibly to business growth, be deeply rooted in the business, and build an influential legal function. In addition to the role of a player handling practical matters, you will also actively engage in managing team members and the operation of the Japan Legal Department as a manager.

【Main Responsibilities】

You will provide support from a legal perspective, primarily focusing on the following business divisions in Japan. This includes drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts (English and Japanese), legal risk assessment, and providing legal advice.

• Development of major components such as semiconductors used in PlayStation consoles and peripherals, and product design/development departments

• Procurement departments (Procurement/Purchasing)

• Software development departments

• R&D departments

• Information security, IT-related departments, etc.

• Geopolitical risk response in collaboration with other legal teams

• Legal advice and decision-making support for executive management and development leaders

• Training of team members, performance management, and organizational development

■Required Practical Experience, Skills, and Persona

【Mandatory Requirements (MUST)】

• Legal practical experience (In-house legal experience is mandatory, 15+ years)

• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts in both Japanese and English (including direct negotiation experience for English contracts with major Western companies)

• Experience in legal risk analysis and decision-making support in product, service, and business planning

• Experience promoting cross-functional projects in a global environment

【Preferred (WANT)】

• Legal experience in the technology industry

• Qualification as a lawyer in Japan or other countries

• Experience working or studying abroad

• Experience managing multinational teams

■Ideal Persona

• Someone who can organize and simplify complex issues and processes and exert influence both inside and outside the company

• Someone with strategic thinking skills to provide solutions that transcend regions and fields from a global perspective

• Someone with excellent interpersonal and communication skills who can build relationships of trust with diverse stakeholders, including executive management

• Someone who possesses practical business judgment, analytical skills, leadership, and management skills in addition to legal judgment

• Someone who can make calm and highly transparent decisions even in a rapidly changing environment

• Someone who can encourage team growth and promote a culture of knowledge sharing and learning

• Someone who has interest and passion for the PlayStation brand and the entertainment industry

■Language Skills

English: Business level or higher (Capable of leading contract negotiations, meetings with executives, and global meetings)

Japanese: Native or equivalent level (JLPT N1 or higher)

■Organization/Team Introduction

This position belongs to the Tokyo team of the Legal Department of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Inc., which develops a wide range of PlayStation businesses such as hardware, software, content, and network services within the Sony Group.

The SIE Legal Department has approximately 180 members globally, and the Tokyo team has approximately 35 members. Members with diverse backgrounds respect each other while collaborating across regions and departments to promote legal strategies on a global scale.

We adopt a flexible hybrid work style that combines office attendance (Shinagawa) and remote work, making it possible to work with a good work-life balance while being involved in international projects. This position belongs to the Tokyo team of the Legal, IP, and Compliance Department of SIE, which is responsible for the PlayStation business within the Sony Group.

Legal Director, Hardware Engineering, Procurement, Software Development Engineering and R&D

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is seeking an experienced and strategic legal leader to oversee legal support for the Hardware Engineering, Procurement, Software Development Engineering, and R&D organizations in Japan. As Legal Director, Hardware Engineering, Procurement, Software Development Engineering and R&D , you will lead a team responsible for providing comprehensive legal guidance to key business divisions, including product design and development, component procurement, software engineering, and research and development. While this position primarily supports business units in Japan, it will also require close collaboration and alignment with legal and business teams across other regions.

We are seeking a proactive, solution-oriented leader who can build an influential legal function deeply integrated with the business, adapt to evolving needs, and foster a high-performing, collaborative team culture. In addition to providing hands-on legal support as an individual contributor, this position will also take on managerial responsibilities for its own team and expected to act as the leader of the broader Japan Legal, Public Policy and ESG Department.

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal support for the following business areas in Japan, including contract drafting, review, negotiation (both in English and Japanese), legal risk assessment, and strategic legal advice:

 – Hardware design and development teams, including semiconductor and key component development for PlayStation consoles and peripherals  – Procurement and purchasing departments  – Software development teams  – R&D organizations  – Information security and IT-related functions

• Partner with other regional legal teams to assess and address geopolitical and regulatory risks
• Provide legal counsel and decision-making support to senior management and engineering leaders
• Lead, mentor, and develop legal team members, including performance management and organizational development
• Collaborate with business leaders to align legal strategies with business goals and enable innovation

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 15 years of corporate legal experience, including in-house counsel experience at a global company
• Extensive experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts in both Japanese and English, including direct negotiation with major international companies
• Proven experience providing legal risk analysis and decision-making support for products, services, and business initiatives
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects in a global environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Legal experience in the technology industry
• Licensed attorney in Japan or another jurisdiction
• Overseas work or study experience
• Experience managing or mentoring multinational teams

The Ideal Candidate:

• Able to simplify complex challenges and processes while exercising strong influence across the organization
• Strategic thinker with the ability to deliver cross-regional and cross-functional solutions in a global business environment
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of building trusted relationships with senior executives and diverse stakeholders
• Combines legal judgment with practical business acumen, analytical skills, leadership, and people management capability
• Demonstrates sound, transparent decision-making in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Committed to developing team talent, fostering knowledge sharing, and building a culture of continuous learning
• Passionate about the PlayStation brand, technology, and the entertainment industry

Language Requirements:

• English: Business level or higher (able to lead contract negotiations, executive discussions, and global meetings)
• Japanese: Native or equivalent proficiency (JLPT N1 or higher)

About the Team: This position is part of the Japan Legal Team within Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) , which drives the PlayStation business across hardware, software, content, and network services as part of the Sony Group. SIE’s global Legal organization consists of approximately 180 members, with about 35 based in Tokyo. The Tokyo Legal Team works in close collaboration with colleagues across regions and business units, leveraging diverse expertise to advance SIE’s global legal strategy.

The team embraces a hybrid work model , combining office presence in Shinagawa with flexible remote work, enabling members to engage in international projects while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This position is part of the broader SIE Legal, Public Policy & ESG Department supporting PlayStation’s global business operations.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.