Harman International Industries

Executive Director, Product Manager

Harman International Industries$210K — $308K *
Novi, MI 48375In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, business administration management, or related field
  • 10+ years of experience in Product Development
  • 10+ years of experience in Automotive or Consumer Software/Hardware/Audio/Connectivity
  • 3+ years of experience in automotive or consumer technology development
  • Experience with audio, sound system hardware and software, IoT, and connected systems

Responsibilities

  • Identify gaps and generate ideas for enhanced consumer experiences
  • Define value propositions that differentiate HARMAN from competitors
  • Translate insights and technology roadmaps into branded system definitions
  • Deliver system-level requirements and product development documentation
  • Collaborate with engineering teams for efficient product launches
  • Analyze market data to define system requirements and product trends
  • Develop Go-To-Market strategies for branded audio systems

Benefits

  • Flexible work environment allowing for remote work globally
  • Employee discounts on Harman and Samsung products
  • Extensive training opportunities through HARMAN University
  • Comprehensive wellness benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement program
  • Recognition and rewards through the 'Be Brilliant' program
  • Inclusive and diverse work environment supporting professional development
Full Job Description
General information

Location:

Novi - Michigan, USA - Cabot Drive

Job Family:

Product Management

Worker Type Reference:

Regular - Permanent

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Career Level:

M5

Job ID:

R-54175-2026

Description & Requirements

About the Role

As the Executive Director, Product Management, you will join the Car Audio Business Unit and will partner with a team dedicated to defining, designing, and developing emerging sound system architectures, products, and experiences.

You will work with Harman's innovation and technology team, research and UX design team, and our world-class Engineering, Purchasing, Sales, and Marketing teams. Define the overall product strategy, families, roadmaps, business model, development, and launch plans for a future generation of Harman-branded sound systems, based on an entirely new system approach and architecture. You will manage component-level product managers and delivery leads in their roles defining and delivering on component product strategies and roadmaps for our global markets.

Your Team

You will grow and directly manage a global 50+ member Product Management Scope Team + New Product/Platform Engineering Delivery team

What You Will Do
  • Identify gaps and generate new ideas contributing to improved consumer experience while addressing OEM partner pain points and needs, meeting Harman's business goals, and maturing our brand promises.
  • Find and define OEM-winning system, product, and brand value proposition opportunities that differentiate HARMAN from our competitors and increase revenue and margins.
  • Define and translate Proofs of Concept, consumer insights, customer feedback, and technology roadmaps into cohesive branded system definitions and support component productization, marketing, and partnership work streams, with a rolling 2-3-year iterative product roadmap and release calendar
  • Manage structured review of branded system concepts with the objectives defined by the 2-3-year plan
  • Deliver overarching system and individually branded system-level MRD and PRDs with prioritized features and corresponding justification
  • Translate product strategy into detailed requirements and prototypes
  • Work closely with engineering teams to deliver quick time-to-market and optimal resources
  • Analyze appropriate market data and extract technology, system architecture, and product trends for Harman, and define necessary system requirements including performance, content, features/products, pricing, and SOP timing.
  • Leverage technologies within and outside of HARMAN to develop lasting and winning relationships to benefit the unique nature of the diverse HARMAN business.
  • Develop the core value proposition, brand and system positioning, and messaging for the Harman house of branded systems, the individual branded systems used by our OEM partners, and those targeted for new pursuits.
  • Identify the Go-To-Market strategies for all branded audio systems (10-15 individual brand activations at major OEMs)
  • Create buy-in for the branded system vision, both internally and with key external partners
  • Drive branded system early development (ideation, MRD/PRD, PoC, pre-RFQ, pre-development)
  • Support pursuits and RFQs, product development, and launch, including working with engineering, marketing, public relations team, executives, and other product management team members
  • Develop sales and marketing tools, leveraging our marketing teams
  • Training at quarterly sales meetings and dedicated training sessions
  • Define branded system cost targets in cooperation with the customer groups and component product management colleagues
  • Recommend list pricing, with accompanying competitive and margin analysis (high-level business case generation in cooperation with our finance teams)


What You Need to Be Successful
  • Bachelor's in engineering, business administration management, or related fields,
  • 10+ years of experience in Product Development
  • 10+ years of experience in Automotive or Consumer Software/Hardware/Audio/Connectivity
  • 3+ years of automotive or consumer experience and agile-based technology development/delivery experience
  • Experience in audio, sound system hardware and software, IoT and connected system architecture design, and development
  • Demonstrated success with B2B or B2B2C products
  • Aptitude for meshing multiple information streams (B2B customer voice, consumer insights, internal business targets, and new technologies into distinct brand promises), into system-level strategies and proposals, while leveraging underlying platform or business efficiencies
  • Experience in owning and driving the Product Development Roadmap
  • Experience working in a global matrix, cross-functional organization and communicating with key stakeholders in sales, product operations, marketing, and engineering
  • Understanding of current technology and consumer trends, processes and how decisions are being made along the value chain in the Automotive industry


Bonus Points if You Have
  • Master's Degree in Engineering, Business Administration
  • Entrepreneurial experience
  • Strong technical background in software development
  • 3+ years of wearable and connectivity module architecture and product development experience
  • 3+ years of experience working in the sound software domain (voice, audio, noise management)
  • Senior Pre-Sales or Business development experience
  • Experience with branded audio system design, definition, and development
  • Appreciation for UX and design


What Makes You Eligible
  • Be willing to travel up to 30%, domestic and international travel
  • Be willing to work in an office in the Novi, MI office (3 Days per week)
  • Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment


What We Offer
  • Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location
  • Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
  • Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
  • Competitive wellness benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • "Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program
  • An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development


#LI-RV1

Pay Transparency

$ 210,000 - $ 308,000

Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation are also available, such as bonuses or commission.

Pay is based on a wide range of factors, including, without limitation, skill set, experience, training, location, and business need. While the above range is a reasonable estimate of the wage range for this position, please note the disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographical differential associated with the location where the position may be filled.

Benefits

HARMAN is interested in the health and wellbeing of you and your family and offers a range of benefits designed to support your needs for holistic wellbeing. Benefits and perks may vary depending on the nature of your employment with HARMAN, and may include paid vacation and holidays, paid sick leave, volunteer leave, and paid bonding and care giver leave. Employees may also be eligible to participate in comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, fertility support and adoption assistance, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan with employer match, short and long term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.

About Harman International Industries

Harman International Industries, Incorporated is an American company that designs and engineers connected products for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson and Revel, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. The Company's software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Learn more about Harman International Industries
Size
30,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1980

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