[Honing Skills at a Fast-Growing Startup] Airion Engineer Morinosuke Saito on "The Reality of Growth"

Airion Inc. is a University of Tokyo-born startup specializing in AI system development and DX consulting for the manufacturing industry.

In this interview, we sat down with Saito, an engineer at Airion, to talk in depth about his day-to-day work, what he has learned at Airion, and his goals going forward.

Through Saito's perspective, we explore what makes working at Airion appealing and the future possibilities that AI technology is opening up.

A Journey That Began with "I Want to Sharpen My Skills"

— What led you to join Airion?

Saito: I had some experience in system development, and I wanted to take those skills further. I had a strong desire to hone my craft and build real, marketable expertise. Around that time, I learned about Airion through an acquaintance, and I felt that the startup-style "rapid growth through hard work" suited me. That's what made me decide to join.

— How have things changed for you since you actually started working here?

Saito: I've been given a far wider range of experience than I ever imagined. At first I mainly worked on the frontend, but now I'm involved in the backend, infrastructure, and even the overall design of projects. Both the breadth and depth of my technical skills have grown — for example, by using new frameworks and tools, I'm constantly discovering ways to do things more efficiently.

My mindset has changed too. I'm surrounded by people who hold themselves to high standards and keep pushing themselves, so I naturally started thinking, "If people are putting in that kind of effort, I need to do more myself."

Growth in an Environment That Is "Demanding yet Kind"

— If you had to describe the atmosphere at Airion in a few words?

Saito: Demanding yet kind, I'd say. For example, Kawamura (our CEO) and Ohkuma (our CTO) are truly dedicated to their work, and their attitude naturally pushes you forward. It's not a strictness imposed from above — it's the kind where you set high goals for yourself and chase them. That's exactly why you can be hard on yourself, too.

At the same time, there's a kind side. Everyday communication is very flat and open, the casual chats are fun, and it's easy to ask anyone for advice. When mealtime comes around, for instance, we all go out to eat together and talk about things outside of work — there's time to relax.

— What has been your happiest moment?

Saito: When a client was delighted with a product I helped build. At Airion, we place great importance on having clients feel, "We're glad we did this together with Airion." When I feel I've contributed to even a small part of that, there's no greater joy as an engineer.

Growth Born from Struggle and Achievement

— What has been your toughest experience so far?

Saito: Definitely the final push on a project with a razor-thin deadline. There was a time when I wrote code for three days with barely any sleep. It was physically grueling, and there were moments I thought, "This might be impossible." But when we finally pulled through and completed the project, the sense of achievement was enormous.

— Does that struggle also feed into the sense of fulfillment?

Saito: It does. It's a bit like preparing for a school festival — there's this feeling of everyone charging toward the same goal. It's hard, yet fun — a strange sensation. I think you can only feel that way because you're driving the project forward on your own initiative.

Curiosity and Initiative Open Up the Future

— What do you look for in the people you work with at Airion?

Saito: People who are brimming with curiosity. At Airion, if you have the will to say "I want to do this," you'll be given plenty of chances to take it on. In return, initiative matters. I think it suits people who see work not as something that gets "assigned" to them, but as something they "create" themselves.

— What do you want to aim for going forward?

Saito: While continuing to sharpen my own skills, I want to take on the challenge of leading people as a project manager (PM). Of course, I also want to keep developing as an engineer. Airion's headcount and project portfolio will keep growing from here, so I want to grow into new roles along the way.

— Thank you very much for your time today!

Airion is currently hiring engineers!

If this article has sparked even a little interest in what it's like to work as an engineer at Airion, please take a look at the open positions below!

At Airion, we're taking on the challenge of transforming the future of manufacturing with AI, alongside colleagues who are passionate about technology. If you're even slightly interested, let's talk — starting with a casual conversation with our CEO. Meetings can be held online or in person at our Hongo office.

Why not put your ideas and skills to work and join us in taking on challenges that make an impact on society?