Lead Brand Architect - Car Audio

Harman Becker Automotive Systems Manufacturing Kft • Novi, MI

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

As 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.

Requirements

• 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
• 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
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication across technical and executive audiences
• Ability to operate in fast-paced, cross-functional environments
• 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

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior