Additional Work Location(s) ?????:None
About the Role
The Global Car Audio Division is continuing to grow and we are establishing the position of the Director, Product Manager Sound Systems. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining strategic roadmaps for Sound Systems and their components, like Amplifiers, Boosters, Speakers and all related features in sound field control and management. This position is defining "What's next" in the Car Audio product portfolio. This includes defining new sound system architectures in collaboration with others divisions, deriving needs for technologies enabling new customer features and envisioning new products to enable non-traditional business growth.
You will work closely with, and provide technical leadership to the Global Customer Business Unit (CBU) teams, Global Product Development team, Regional Engineering Centers, Samsung technology partners, as well as, technology partners across all Harman Divisions (Connected Car, Connected Services, Consumer Audio and Professional). You will also be the key technical interface to 3rd party partners for developing new innovative audio technologies.
This role will be capturing the voice of the customer working together with the CBU leads, identifying forward-looking Sound System & associated strategies analyzing market trends and industry issues. You will monitor the competitive landscape and initiate appropriate evaluation and benchmarking of competitor products and associated product optimizations. This role will support growth by targeted technology deployment and feature development. You will strategize and roll out technology deployment in Global Demo Cars working together with EPIC (Early Pursuits and Innovative Concepts) team.
Your Team
You will build a small team eventually leading approx. ~3 Technology Experts.
What You Will Do
- Drive Market Success - Assess the global Car Audio competitive Sound System landscape, anticipate industry trends, as well as the needs of current and future OEM customers. Identify technology & performance differentiators, which justify further investigation, investment and development. Develop a cohesive Sound System roadmap for technologies/products that serve as the basis for product strategies for next generation CBU OEM pursuits and Regional Product Development Engineering activities.
- Live the Product Lifecycle - Understand all aspects of Sound System product lifecycle from cradle to grave and ensure technology evolution strategies are in place to maximize ROI. Evaluate and advise on the impact of the long-range planning, introduction of new Sound System products, especially product platform definition and feature extensions.
- Financial and Commercial Acumen - Think beyond the technology itself and understand key business drivers that ensure technology investment will provide substantial value or improvements to customers.
- Partnerships and Collaborations - Develop strategies to connect and partner with other automotive suppliers to leverage synergies and ensure that Harman is OEM customers' first choice for Car Audio related solutions.
- Leading a Team - Build and develop a supporting structure for running the product management of Sound Systems
- Strategic Partner & Team Player - Participate in the development of the Global Lifestyle Car Audio plans and programs as a strategic partner for Sound Systems, works as a global team player in all Product and Technology Development teams, CoC, EPIC and Marketing activities outside specific responsibility, establishing credibility throughout the organization as an effective developer of solutions to business challenges.
What You Need
Master's Degree in Engineering; or Bachelor's Degree and at least 10 years of related progressive leadership and product management experience in automotive electronics.
Strong technical background in electronics, project management skills, and deep market and process knowledge. You must be culturally attuned in order to effectively build relationships, influence, and motivate internal and external constituents. You must be comfortable and adaptable in a dynamic and changing environment.
Product Development - Experienced leader with extensive experience in automotive product management Experience driving and leading program and product execution - technical capability to guide strategically and manage resources. You must have an innate passion for technical product management
Business Acumen - Business acumen, to gauge not just what can be done but to know what can be profitable, is a key requirement for this role. Intelligent and articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent communication skills. A good educator who is trustworthy and willing to share information.
Communication Skills - You will be able to effectively communicate, motivate, coach and develop technical excellence; is skilled at getting individuals, teams, and an entire organization to perform at a higher level and to embrace change. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to Global Automotive Audio and/or Corporate Executive Leadership, as well as public groups. You must be able to work effectively with your engineering team and partners one minute and then articulate a compelling vision of the company to non-technical parties in the next.
Customer Skills - Experience and skill building relationships, selling to customer executives.
Strategy - You must be a strategic technology leader; that is, you must combine a solid technical foundation with forward-looking strategic skills to effectively develop a strategy to enable Harman to capitalize on emerging technologies including emerging technology trends outside of Harman's core domain. Strategic visionary with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong focus on technical product management.
Team Player - Negotiates skillfully to achieve a fair outcome or promote a common cause; communicates a compelling vision and is committed to what needs to be done; inspires others; is considerate and can resolve conflict; understands what motivates different people. Energetic, forward thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards. Well-organized and self-directed individual who is "politically savvy" and a team player.
What is Nice to Have
Strong technical background in electronics, speaker design, and audio features is preferred.
What Makes You Eligible
- Be willing to travel up to 30-50% domestic and international travel
- Be willing to work in an office in Novi, MI
- Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment
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HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or Protected Veterans status. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training and competitive compensation. ()
