Imai — Amazon Canada offer from Japan, then US transfer track
5 years IBM Japan (global AI/cloud APIs); Amazon CA offer while still in Japan; aiming Seattle via L1 after Canada tenure/PR.
ソフトウェアエンジニア（DevOps） · Vancouver · Amazon
Profile
Ryo Imai — software engineer. Received Amazon Canada offer while living in Japan, relocated to Vancouver Amazon, then pursued transfer to Seattle Amazon.
Current role
Software engineer at Amazon (Canada then US transfer path). Team peers largely in Seattle; infrastructure/DevOps strengths, interviewed into SWE track. Amazon culture noted for ownership and team-owned microservices including ops/incidents.
Japan experience
After grad school (electrical/electronic engineering, stronger in programming), joined IBM Japan specifically for foreign-affiliate mobility options. ~5 years in a group offering cloud AI APIs (e.g. PDF summarization); ~70% US / ~30% Japan colleagues; English on docs/GitHub. Repeated internal transfer attempts to the US without success during tenure—development transfers were rare vs sales patterns.
Path to Canada / North America
Left IBM as internal US transfer stayed hard and work became less compelling. LinkedIn recruiter led to Amazon Canada with relocation support. Interview loop long per day; ~2 months interviewing + ~3 months to relocate (~5 months total). Chose Canada/Germany-style options partly because US visas from outside are hard.
Outcome
Relocated to Amazon Canada; pursued PR quickly (article notes PR in under ~2 years in Canada). L1 intra-company transfer to US requires ≥1 year in company; negotiated toward Seattle with manager support. Title framing: US transfer after roughly 2 years Amazon Canada tenure.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)
Direct-from-Japan big-tech offer; excellent employer proof of Japan tenure quality.