HARMAN’s engineers and designers are creative, purposeful, and agile. As part of this team, you’ll combine your technical expertise with innovative ideas to help drive cutting-edge solutions in the car, enterprise, and connected ecosystem. Every day, you will push the boundaries of creative design, and HARMAN is committed to providing opportunities, innovative technologies, and resources to build a successful career.
A Career at HARMAN
HARMAN is a technology leader focused on making life better through innovation, inclusivity, and teamwork. Our environment encourages growth, making a difference, and pride in your work every day.
About the Role
As the Space 5 Business Lead, you will join the Car Audio Business Unit within the Automotive Division at HARMAN. You will partner with a dedicated team to define, design, and develop emerging sound experiences for vehicles.
Vehicle sound systems are used for communication, alerts, noise management, and immersive audio. You will work in a fast-paced environment with cross-functional teams to define brand strategies and product roadmaps for future generations of Harman branded sound systems across global automotive brands, aligned with OEM partners and future pursuits.
You will be responsible for consumer-centric, OEM partner-focused sound system definitions and roadmaps, creating differentiated system propositions based on market needs, consumer segments, and technical feasibility. You will nurture brand promise maturation and adapt to new technologies, architectures, and consumer demands to keep our brands relevant and profitable.
This role requires close partnership with HARMAN customer groups, focusing on market needs, and supporting customer pitches and relationship management. Insights from both global and regional markets will be essential.
Your Team
You will grow and manage a team of approximately 50+ members, including product management and engineering delivery teams, over the next 18 months. You will lead through influence, working with cross-functional teams within a matrix organization, requiring excellent communication and leadership skills.
What You Will Do
1. Identify gaps and generate ideas to improve consumer experience, address OEM pain points, and mature brand promises.
2. Define system, product, and brand value propositions that differentiate Harman and increase revenue and margins.
3. Translate insights and technology roadmaps into cohesive system definitions and support productization and marketing efforts.
4. Manage reviews of system concepts, adapt to strategic changes, and respond to market opportunities.
5. Develop system-level MRDs and PRDs with prioritized features and justifications.
6. Translate product strategies into detailed requirements and prototypes.
7. Collaborate with engineering teams for quick delivery and resource optimization.
8. Analyze market data to define system requirements, performance, content, features, pricing, and timing.
9. Leverage internal and external technologies to build lasting relationships.
10. Develop core value propositions, positioning, and messaging for branded systems.
11. Identify go-to-market strategies for OEM activations.
12. Create buy-in for the system vision internally and externally.
13. Drive early development phases, including ideation, MRD/PRD, PoC, and pre-development.
14. Support pursuits, RFQs, product launches, and develop sales tools and collateral.
15. Brief and train sales teams regularly.
16. Define cost targets and recommend pricing with margin analysis.
What You Need
* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business with sound domain experience.
* 10+ years in sound system hardware/software architecture, design, and development.
* 10+ years in product management, with success in B2B or B2B2C products.
* 3+ years automotive experience and agile development experience.
* Ability to synthesize multiple data streams into strategic proposals, leveraging platform efficiencies.
* Market trend awareness and curiosity.
* Strong customer orientation and credibility as a trusted partner.
* Experience working in a global, cross-functional matrix organization.
* Proven ability to develop strategies and communicate effectively to leadership.
* Solid technical background, experience in software development, automotive experience is a plus.
* Appreciation for UX and design.
What is Nice to Have
* Master’s Degree in Engineering or Business Administration.
* 3+ years in sound software domain (voice, audio, noise management).
* Experience with branded audio system design and development.
What Makes You Eligible
* Willing to travel up to 50%, domestically and internationally.
* Willing to work in Garching, GR, or Novi, MI, with corresponding travel requirements.
* Successfully pass background and drug screening.
* Have a clean driving record for vehicle use.
What We Offer
* Inclusive work environment with career development and training.
* Employee discounts on Harman and Samsung products.
* Flexible work schedule and good work-life balance.
* Competitive salary and benefits.
* Opportunities for professional growth through HARMAN University and leadership programs.
* Recognition and rewards programs.
HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristics.
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