About the RoleAs the Lead Systems Architect for one of our premium brands in Car Audio, you will translate brand and customer experience vision into scalable, production-ready technical solutions.
You'll define system architecture, technical strategy, and feature pipelines that power both demo vehicles and production programs, with a strong focus on reuse, performance, and feasibility.
This role serves as the primary technical authority across hardware, software, and system integration-partnering closely with brand, product, and OEM stakeholders.
Your Team- Reports to the Brand Owner
- Individual contributor with high cross-functional influence
What You Will DoTechnical Strategy & Architecture
- Translate experience vision into technical architecture, feature concepts, and implementation strategy
- Define system architecture, NFRs, and technical enablers across audio and infotainment systems
- Establish scalable designs supporting ~80% reuse into production programs
- Lead feasibility, risk assessment, and go/no-go decisions
- Define and maintain the architectural roadmap and runway
Product & Innovation Leadership
- Evaluate emerging audio, UI/UX, and infotainment technologies
- Drive innovation in system design, audio performance, and user experience
- Convert customer and user needs into detailed engineering requirements
- Identify and define enablers required to deliver experiences
- Leverage Enterprise AI tools to support all aspects of the product lifecycle
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as primary technical interface with OEM customers and partners
- Align long-term architecture and integration strategies with customer roadmaps
- Collaborate across internal engineering, product, and innovation teams
Delivery & Execution
- Enable teams to deliver high-quality features with speed and reliability
- Support demo vehicle builds and feature integration
- Ensure compliance with NFRs, system performance, and stability
- Contribute to PI Planning and Agile delivery within SAFe frameworks
What You Need to Be SuccessfulCore Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Acoustics, or related field
- 15+ years in automotive, audio, or technology systems
- 5+ years in technical leadership or customer-facing roles
- Deep expertise in automotive audio and infotainment system architecture
- Strong understanding of hardware/software integration and system design
- Proven ability to influence OEMs, partners, and internal stakeholders
Technical Expertise
- Audio systems, acoustics, and sound tuning
- Infotainment architectures and in-vehicle systems
- Software/hardware tradeoffs and system-level design
- Feature definition and technical requirement synthesis
Leadership & Soft Skills
- Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication across technical and executive audiences
- Ability to operate in fast-paced, cross-functional environments
Bonus Points if You Have - Master's or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Acoustics, or related field
- Experience in Luxury Audio or Premium Automotive Brands
- Specific experience in three or more of the following fields: signal flow design, UI/UX design, electronics engineering, transducer engineering, acoustic engineering, digital signal processing, psychoacoustics, and recording arts.
Success Metrics (KPI's)- Feature and enabler delivery throughput
- System performance and NFR compliance
- Asset reuse across programs
- Integration stability and quality
- PI predictability and delivery accuracy
What Makes You Eligible- Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic and international travel
- Be willing to work in a hybrid office environment in our Novi, MI location
- 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
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Salary Ranges:$ 161,250 - $ 236,500
