Mercari, a well-known e-commerce company based in Japan, is offering a Software Engineering Internship for summer 2025. This internship is a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in software development, work on real-world projects, and collaborate with industry experts. The program is open to both domestic and international students, with visa sponsorship and accommodation support available for those residing abroad.

Program Details

  • Internship Duration: Minimum 3 months (shorter/longer durations can be discussed with recruiters)
  • Work Hours: More than 20 hours per week
  • Location: Remote or Mercari’s office in Roppongi, Tokyo
  • Application Deadline:
    • Students in Japan: Until June 15, 2025 (Summer intake), September 1 – October 31, 2025 (Winter intake)
    • Foreign nationals residing abroad: Until April 30, 2025 (Summer intake)
  • Stipend: Competitive compensation (specific details not disclosed)
  • Visa Support: Provided for international students
  • Travel & Accommodation: Sponsored by Mercari (conditions apply)

About Mercari

Mercari is a Japanese marketplace platform founded in 2013 with a mission to “circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people.” It provides a seamless platform for buying and selling pre-owned items and has expanded its services through Merpay, a mobile payment solution. Mercari continuously innovates using cutting-edge technology and values diversity, collaboration, and customer experience.

Internship Responsibilities

Interns will work as software engineers in various teams, contributing to Mercari, Merpay, and Mercari Shops. Some responsibilities include:

  • Developing features and improving user experience (UX)
  • Enhancing product specifications and optimizing the listing/purchasing experience
  • Working on B2B and B2C service development
  • Utilizing data and technology to improve search functions and app performance
  • Presenting internship work and results at an internal event at the end of the program

Unique Benefits

  • Hands-on experience: Work on actual features integrated into the app
  • Flexible tech choices: Use modern tools and technologies
  • Company culture immersion: Work alongside full-time engineers
  • Personal and professional growth: Gain real-world problem-solving experience

Eligibility Criteria

Required Skills

  • Shared belief in Mercari’s mission and values
  • Students aged 16 years or older, eligible to graduate between July 2026 – June 2027
  • Interest in joining Mercari as a full-time software engineer post-internship
  • Basic knowledge of SQL and RDBMS
  • Development/operational experience in software engineering
  • Experience in at least one of the following areas:
    • Backend: API development using Go, PHP, or Java
    • Frontend: JavaScript, React, TypeScript, Next.js, Redux
    • Mobile (iOS): Swift
    • Platform Engineering: Go, Kubernetes
    • Site Reliability Engineering (SRE): Go, Kubernetes, Terraform
    • Corporate Engineering: Java, PHP, or Go
    • Infrastructure: GCP, Nginx, Kubernetes

Preferred Skills

  • Project management/team leadership experience
  • Scalability and performance-focused design knowledge
  • Object-oriented programming, memory management, networking
  • Experience with unit, functional, and end-to-end (E2E) testing
  • Experience working with Linux servers, logging, and monitoring tools
  • Cloud development experience (AWS or GCP preferred)
  • UI/UX development understanding
  • Contributions to Open Source Software (OSS)
  • Familiarity with Git-based team development

Language Requirements

  • English or Japanese proficiency at B2 CEFR level
  • Some positions within Merpay require Japanese proficiency (B2)
  • Some positions within Mercari require English proficiency (B2)

How to Apply

Apply Link: https://apply.workable.com/mercari/j/29F7FC9266/

Step 1: Online Application

Submit your application on Mercari’s official careers site. The application requires:

  • Resume (including education, skills, and projects)
  • Cover letter (optional but recommended)
  • Work samples (GitHub projects, coding portfolio, etc.)

Step 2: Screening Process

After submission, your application will go through a screening process.

Step 3: Skill Assessment

Candidates must complete a HackerRank or GitHub coding assessment.

Step 4: Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will go through one or more technical and behavioral interviews.

Step 5: Reference Check

A reference check will be conducted before the final offer.

Step 6: Offer and Onboarding

Successful candidates will receive an offer letter with internship details and start date.

How to Fill the Application Form

  1. Visit Mercari’s Careers Page
  2. Select the Internship Program (Summer/Winter intake)
  3. Enter Your Personal Details (Name, Contact Info, Nationality, etc.)
  4. Upload Resume & Other Documents (GitHub projects, Portfolio, etc.)
  5. Complete a Short Questionnaire (Experience, Skills, Expectations)
  6. Submit Your Application and await confirmation email

Visa and Sponsorship Details

  • For international applicants, Mercari provides:
    • Visa application and processing support
    • Accommodation assistance during the internship
    • Flight reimbursement (only if the ticket was not purchased before the offer)

Past Interview Experience

Candidate Experience: SDE Intern (Frontend, Onsite Tokyo)

A candidate shared their interview experience for Mercari’s Software Development Engineer (SDE) Internship.

Perks of the Internship

  • Visa support and accommodation for international students
  • Opportunity to visit and work in Tokyo
  • Competitive stipend
  • Real-world project involvement

Interview Rounds

Round 1: Resume Shortlisting

  • Applied via referral
  • Verdict: Selected ✅

Round 2: Coding Round

  • Platform: HackerRank
  • Duration: 1.5 hours
  • Questions:
    1. Bit Manipulation problem (Easy)
    2. Stack-based problem (Medium)
    3. Dynamic Programming problem (Hard)
  • Tip: Write clean and well-structured code. Mercari reviews the submitted solutions carefully.
  • Verdict: Successfully solved all questions. Selected ✅

Round 3: Technical Interview

  • Format: 90-120 minutes live coding session on the HackerRank Interview platform
  • Focus: React-based tasks with 9-10 questions
  • Topics: React Hooks, rendering, component optimization, and state management
  • Tip: Revise React fundamentals, especially Hooks and component rendering. Communication skills are crucial.
  • Verdict: Not selected ❌
  • Interviewer Feedback: The candidate was close but lacked significant open-source contributions and extensive frontend experience. Their resume leaned more towards backend development.

Additional Insight:

  • The final round (Techno-managerial) involves discussions on projects, internship experiences, real-world problem-solving, and behavioral questions.
  • The interview process is rigorous but provides valuable learning experiences, even if not selected.

The Mercari Software Engineering Internship 2025 is an incredible opportunity for students and aspiring engineers to gain experience in a global tech company. The program offers a paid internship, visa sponsorship, accommodation support, and hands-on learning opportunities with cutting-edge technologies.

With a structured application process, competitive stipend, and a chance to work in a diverse, innovative, and fast-paced environment, this internship is perfect for those looking to advance their careers in software engineering. Don’t miss the chance—apply before the deadline!

Categories:

Internship

Tags:

International Internship Internship Japan Japan Internship Tokyo Internship