Director, Audio Stack Software, SOPE
HybridShanghai, Shanghai, China
Job Summary
Lead global Software Only project delivery for Car Audio customers across major OEM programs, owning end-to-end technical engagement from pre-RFQ through production ramp-up and ongoing support. Define delivery strategy, execution plans, and operating priorities to ensure on-time, high-quality software releases while managing internal teams and external resources to deliver committed scope, quality, and timing. Lead annual budget planning, headcount planning, and capital tool allocation for the Software Only project engineering organization, ensuring project execution meets HARMAN's software engineering standards, quality expectations, and ASPICE compliance requirements up to Level 3. Industrialize innovation from the Car Audio SBU technology pipeline and translate pre-development concepts into scalable Software Only project offerings. Partner closely with product delivery, product strategy, CBU, CPM, software quality, and vendor management teams to build long-term customer relationships and ensure coordinated execution. Provide execution and technology leadership in automotive audio software, including mentoring team members and enabling effective technical decision-making across the organization. Operate effectively in a global matrixed organization, communicating with stakeholders at all levels and creating an environment of trust, openness, and accountability in decision-making. Apply critical thinking to manage risk, make timely decisions, adapt to changing business and technology environments, and optimize development focus and resources to achieve high-quality results.
Required Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience in automotive electronics, embedded software, or related product development, preferably within the audio or acoustic systems domain
- 10+ years of leadership experience in R&D, engineering management, technical program management, or global product development organizations
- Deep experience leading multinational and cross-functional teams in a global matrixed environment, with a proven ability to align diverse stakeholders across regions and functions
- Strong automotive domain knowledge, with solid exposure to audio, acoustics, DSP software, embedded software development, and software-defined vehicle architectures
- Proven track record of delivering complex customer programs across multiple product cycles, including managing technical scope, quality, timing, risks, and customer expectations
- Demonstrated success building, developing, and retaining high-performing engineering teams, including coaching leaders and enabling effective technical decision-making
- Experience managing external customers, partners, suppliers, or vendors in a technical delivery environment
- Strong passion for audio quality, system performance, and customer-focused engineering excellence
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage ambiguity and prioritize effectively in a fast-changing environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with executive leaders, customers, peers, and global engineering teams
- Professional working proficiency in English, with the ability to communicate effectively in global business and engineering environments
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 20% of the time, based on business and customer needs
- Flexibility to support global collaboration across time zones when required
- Eligibility to work in China and the ability to obtain required government security clearance, where applicable
Desired Qualifications
- Ability to define and communicate a compelling technology and execution vision, with the leadership presence to inspire alignment across global teams
- Experience developing technology roadmaps, platform strategies, or software delivery models for automotive, audio, or embedded software products
- Strong cross-cultural leadership capability, with the ability to bridge East-West working styles and drive effective collaboration across regions
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a global matrix organization, balancing customer priorities, engineering constraints, and business objectives
- Experience in strategic planning, leadership development, employee engagement, or organizational transformation within a technology-driven engineering environment
- Results-oriented mindset with the ability to simplify complex problems, create execution focus, and drive sustainable improvements across teams and programs
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