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Rapidus & Kioxia Recruitment 2026 is a topic many job seekers are following because two very different chipmakers are expanding in Japan at the same time. Rapidus is a government-backed startup building a 2nm logic foundry, while Kioxia is an established NAND flash memory maker that runs large joint-venture fabs with Sandisk. Together they show the two faces of Japan’s semiconductor push: a brand-new company racing to reach advanced logic production, and a mature memory producer adding capacity. These jobs mostly suit degree holders, experienced engineers and technically minded people, although the wider chip-plant ecosystem also uses operators, equipment assemblers and support staff through suppliers and contractors.
The work is spread across three regions. Rapidus is based in Chitose, Hokkaido, where its IIM-1 plant started a 2nm pilot line in April 2025, and where a chiplet R&D site (RCS) was added in April 2026; the company targets 2nm mass production in the second half of FY2027. Kioxia’s main manufacturing locations are Yokkaichi in Mie Prefecture and Kitakami in Iwate Prefecture, where the Kitakami Fab2 (K2) began operating in September 2025 for 218-layer 3D flash memory, with full-scale shipments planned from the first half of 2026. Each site sits in a different labour market, so living costs, local wages and commuting patterns differ from one prefecture to another.
For foreign applicants, the visa route depends on the role. Engineering, research and professional posts usually need a degree and are generally considered under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities and International Services status. Some production and assembly roles in electronic device manufacturing may potentially fit the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Industrial Products Manufacturing field, depending on exact duties and occupational classification. Neither company has published a statement about sponsoring overseas applicants, so readers should not assume that a job listing comes with visa support.
Rapidus & Kioxia Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview
| Job Title | Semiconductor Engineer, Process Technician, Cleanroom Operator, Equipment Support Staff |
| Country | Japan |
| Location | Chitose (Hokkaido), Yokkaichi (Mie), Kitakami (Iwate) |
| Employers | Rapidus Corporation, KIOXIA Corporation and their suppliers/contractors |
| Industry | Semiconductor manufacturing (2nm logic and 3D NAND flash memory) |
| Indicative Salary | ¥200,600 – ¥280,000 per month for operator and graduate-level roles |
| Experienced Salary | ¥333,333 – ¥666,666 per month for experienced professionals (Rapidus listing example) |
| Education | Degree for engineering roles; high school or diploma for some support roles |
| Experience | Rapidus mainly seeks experienced staff; some contractor roles accept beginners |
| Japanese | Business-level often expected for professional roles; basic level for some production roles |
| Work Type | Full-time, mid-career, contract and contractor positions |
| Work Schedule | Day shift or rotating shifts, depending on the role |
| Accommodation | Depends on employer; some contractors offer dormitory or housing support |
| Overtime | Possible; one Rapidus listing includes 30 hours of fixed overtime in monthly pay |
What Does a Chip Plant Worker Do?
A chip plant worker helps turn bare silicon wafers into finished memory or logic chips by running, maintaining or supporting highly controlled manufacturing equipment.
- Loading and unloading wafer carriers on process tools
- Monitoring equipment screens for alarms and process deviations
- Following strict cleanroom gowning and contamination-control rules
- Recording production data in manufacturing execution systems
- Supporting process engineers during tool qualification and test runs
- Performing routine checks on lithography, etching or deposition tools
- Handling parts, consumables and spare components carefully
- Reporting defects and abnormal results to shift leaders
- Assisting with preventive maintenance schedules
- Analysing yield data and suggesting process improvements (engineering roles)
- Coordinating with equipment vendors and customer teams (professional roles)
- Keeping work areas and tools clean, labelled and organised
- Following safety procedures for chemicals and gases
Types of Rapidus & Kioxia Recruitment Jobs
Rapidus Engineering and Professional Roles
Rapidus mainly recruits mid-career engineers and professionals with a degree and several years of experience, for example in process integration, equipment, design support, customer engagement and corporate functions. One published listing for a community relations role required a degree plus five years of experience.
Kioxia Memory Production Roles
Kioxia operates large flash-memory fabs in Yokkaichi and Kitakami, which typically need process engineers, equipment engineers and production staff. Details of current factory-floor roles and pay were not verified, so applicants should check Kioxia’s official recruitment page.
Process and Equipment Engineers
These engineers set up, tune and improve the tools that pattern and build each chip layer. The role usually needs a background in electrical, chemical, materials or mechanical engineering.
Cleanroom Operators
Operators run day-to-day production steps inside the cleanroom. In the wider chip industry such roles are often hired through manufacturing contractors rather than directly by the chipmaker.
Equipment Assembly and Parts Staff
Suppliers that build or service semiconductor equipment hire assemblers and parts-handling staff, some of whom work in cleanroom conditions.
Facilities and Utilities Technicians
Fabs depend on ultra-pure water, gas, power and air systems, so they need technicians who keep these utilities stable around the clock.
CAD and Technical Support Staff
Drafting, documentation and data-support staff help engineers manage layouts, drawings and equipment records.
Rapidus & Kioxia Recruitment Salary 2026
| Position | Indicative Monthly Salary |
| Rapidus Professional Staff (degree + 5 years’ experience) | ¥333,333 – ¥666,666 |
| Graduate Semiconductor Engineer (industry benchmark) | ¥280,000 |
| Cleanroom Equipment Assembly Staff | ¥270,000 (hourly ¥1,500 – ¥1,700) |
| Semiconductor Plant Operator | ¥200,600 – ¥255,000 |
| Semiconductor CAD Operator | ¥200,600 – ¥255,000 |
The Rapidus figure comes from a published listing that quotes ¥4.0 million to ¥10.0 million a year including 30 hours of fixed overtime, while the other rows are industry benchmarks from recent semiconductor listings (the graduate figure is the starting pay reported by TSMC’s Japanese unit JASM in 2024), because Kioxia and Rapidus operator-level pay was not published. All figures are indicative, and actual pay depends on base salary, shift allowances, overtime and the prefecture’s wage level.
Rapidus & Kioxia Recruitment Jobs for Foreign Workers
Foreign engineers with a relevant degree may be able to work at a chipmaker under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities and International Services status, provided the employer offers a qualifying role and supports the application. Readers should confirm the current rules with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA), because requirements and documents can change.
For production and assembly work, the SSW Industrial Products Manufacturing field covers electronic components and device manufacturing, including semiconductors. Under this route, workers must be employed directly by an eligible manufacturer that is a member of JAIM; dispatch (staffing agency) employment is not allowed. The SSW (i) cap for this field is 199,500 workers through the end of March 2029.
Applicants should not assume every vacancy qualifies for a visa. A job advertisement, even from a well-known company, is not a visa guarantee, and neither Rapidus nor Kioxia has been confirmed to sponsor overseas applicants for factory-floor roles.
Japanese Language Requirement
Language expectations vary sharply between engineering and production roles.
- Professional and engineering posts in Japanese companies often expect business-level Japanese
- Some global-facing roles may accept strong English with conversational Japanese
- Production roles need enough Japanese to follow safety rules and work instructions
- Reading technical terms, kanji labels and alarm messages is a practical advantage
For the SSW (i) manufacturing route, applicants generally need JFT-Basic at A2.2 or above, or JLPT N4 or above, together with the manufacturing skills evaluation test.
Eligibility
- A residence status that permits the specific type of work offered
- A relevant degree for engineering and professional roles
- Prior semiconductor or manufacturing experience for most Rapidus roles
- Ability to work in cleanroom gowning for long periods
- Willingness to work shifts where required
- Good attention to detail and respect for safety procedures
- Passing the employer’s selection process, interviews and health check
Education Qualification
Rapidus and Kioxia engineering roles usually need a bachelor’s or higher degree, while support and operator roles at contractors may accept high school or diploma holders.
- B.Tech/BE or M.Tech in electrical, electronics, materials, chemical or mechanical engineering
- Physics or chemistry degrees for some process roles
- Diploma or ITI-level training for maintenance and equipment support
- 12th pass for some entry-level contractor roles
Daily Work of a Chip Plant Worker
- Arrive early and check the shift handover notes
- Pass through the air shower and change into a full cleanroom suit
- Review the production plan and priority lots for the shift
- Check tool status, alarms and consumable levels
- Load wafer pods onto assigned equipment
- Monitor process steps and log any deviations
- Join a short meeting with engineers about yield issues
- Support maintenance work or tool requalification
- Update production records and lot tracking systems
- Clean the work area and hand over to the next shift
Safety is taken very seriously in fabs, and workers are trained to handle chemicals, gases and emergency alarms correctly.
Working Hours
- Fabs operate continuously, so many production roles use rotating shifts
- Engineering and office roles often follow day-time schedules
- Some listings include fixed overtime hours inside monthly pay
- Holidays and rest days follow the company calendar
Exact hours, shift patterns and overtime depend on the employer and the job contract.
Accommodation
- Some contractors provide dormitories or company-leased apartments
- Larger employers may offer housing allowances for relocating staff
- Chitose, Yokkaichi and Kitakami each have different rental markets
- Winter heating costs can be significant in Hokkaido and Iwate
Applicants should check whether rent, utilities or furniture are deducted from salary before signing.
Benefits
- Japanese social insurance (health insurance and pension)
- Employment insurance
- Commuting allowance in many contracts
- Shift, night and overtime allowances
- Paid annual leave according to Japanese labour law
- Training on cleanroom procedures and equipment
- Possible bonuses for regular employees
Actual benefits depend on the employment type and contract terms.
Career Growth
Operator → Senior Operator → Technician → Supervisor
- Engineers can move into process integration, yield or project leadership roles
- Technicians may progress into equipment specialist positions
- Experience at an advanced logic or memory fab is valued across the industry
- Japanese language improvement usually opens more senior opportunities
Skills That Can Improve Your Chances
- Semiconductor process knowledge (lithography, etch, deposition, CMP)
- Experience with yield analysis or statistical process control
- Equipment maintenance or vacuum system experience
- Cleanroom work experience
- Data analysis skills using Python, Excel or similar tools
- Japanese at JLPT N3 or higher
- Clear technical communication in English
- Understanding of safety and chemical handling
- Teamwork and patience with detailed procedures
Documents Required
- Valid passport
- Updated CV (Japanese-style rirekisho may be requested)
- Degree certificates and transcripts
- Experience letters from previous employers
- Japanese language test results, if available
- Passport-size photographs
- Medical check report, if requested
The exact document list varies by employer and visa category.
How to Apply Online
Step 1: Prepare Your CV
Write a clear CV highlighting semiconductor, manufacturing or engineering experience.
Step 2: Describe Your Skills
List the tools, processes and software you have used, with measurable results where possible.
Step 3: Gather Certificates
Collect degree certificates, experience letters and any language test results.
Step 4: Check the Job Category
Visit the careers sections of the official Rapidus and Kioxia websites and confirm whether the role is engineering, professional or production.
Step 5: Complete Required Tests
Prepare for aptitude tests, technical questions or, for SSW routes, the manufacturing skills test and language test.
Step 6: Attend the Interview
Expect online or in-person interviews that may focus on technical depth and teamwork.
Step 7: Review the Contract
Read salary, overtime, housing and contract-period details carefully before accepting.
Step 8: Complete Immigration Procedures
Work with the employer on the Certificate of Eligibility and visa steps required by Japanese immigration.
Rapidus & Kioxia Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Does Rapidus hire freshers for factory work?
Rapidus mainly recruits experienced engineers and professionals, so freshers are more likely to find entry-level roles with suppliers or contractors.
Where are Kioxia’s main fabs?
Kioxia’s main manufacturing sites are in Yokkaichi, Mie, and Kitakami, Iwate.
What does Rapidus make?
Rapidus is developing 2nm logic chips and targets mass production in the second half of FY2027.
Is this a guaranteed job offer?
No. This article is general career information, and selection depends entirely on each employer’s process.
Which visa may suit semiconductor engineers?
Degree-holding engineers are generally considered under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities and International Services status, subject to ISA rules.
Can I join through a staffing agency on an SSW visa?
No. The SSW manufacturing field requires direct employment by an eligible manufacturer.
Are Kioxia factory salaries published?
Verified Kioxia factory-floor pay was not found, so check the official recruitment page for current figures.
Should I pay an agent to get a chip plant job?
Never pay unlicensed agents or anyone promising a guaranteed job or visa.
Final Words
Rapidus and Kioxia represent two big growth stories in Japanese semiconductors, but they recruit mostly skilled and experienced people. Engineers with relevant degrees have the clearest path, while beginners may find better entry points with equipment suppliers and contractors. Always check openings on the official company websites, and never pay unlicensed agents or trust anyone who promises a guaranteed job or visa.
Disclaimer: All salary figures mentioned in this article are indicative estimates based on published job listings and industry data and may vary by employer, location, experience, and contract terms. They do not represent a guaranteed salary, job offer, or visa approval. This website is not affiliated with Rapidus Corporation or KIOXIA Corporation.