General information

Location:

Garching - Bavaria, Germany - Parking 1-5 Business Campus

Job Family:

Global Design

Worker Type Reference:

Regular - Permanent

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Career Level:

Job ID:

R-56416-2026

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Description & Requirements

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Automotive

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive, we give you the keys to fast-track your career.

Engineer audio systems and integrated technology platforms that augment the driving experience

Combine ingenuity, in-depth research, and a spirit of collaboration with design and engineering excellence

Advance in-vehicle infotainment, safety, efficiency, and enjoyment

What You’ll Be Part Of

As Director, UX Research & Strategy, you will lead the team that turns consumer and automotive OEM understanding into experience direction for HARMAN Automotive. You will identify, shape, and validate future in-cabin experiences across our hardware and software product portfolio and translate them with Product Management, Design, and Engineering into roadmaps and product decisions.

Your mandate is to make our products better together with intuitive, immersive, and safe experiences that consumers value and that reinforce our OEM customers' brand identity.

With your team of UX Researchers and UX Strategists you will be responsible for developing scalable operating models, establishing best practices, and developing UX Research & Strategy into HARMAN Automotive's strategic experience organization.

How You’ll Make An Impact

Own UX Research & Strategy for HARMAN Automotive and set the consumer-led experience vision and research agenda across the portfolio.
Make user evidence the starting point of our UX-first product development process. Guide the translation of consumer needs, market and technology trends, OEM brand intent, vehicle-segment targets, and automotive constraints into opportunity spaces, experience principles, UX targets, and measurable success criteria.
Set the direction to identify and define future product experiences across cockpit, audio, connectivity, and driver assistance in and beyond the car so individual products work as one coherent in-cabin experience.
Orchestrate evidence-based decision making across our product portfolio ensuring that desirability, usability, trust, and relevance are validated with consumers and OEMs.
Build a closed feedback loop from research and competitive benchmarking through concepts, demonstrators, and customer engagements into product and portfolio roadmaps.
Partner with Product and Portfolio Management, Automotive Design, and Engineering to turn validated experiences into product definitions, roadmap priorities, and differentiated OEM value propositions.
Establish scalable research and strategy methods, experience frameworks, and quality standards.
Lead and coach a high-performing team focusing on business value.

What Makes You A Strong Fit

Demonstrated leadership experience in UX Research, UX Strategy, Human-Centered Design, Product Strategy, or a related discipline and a track record of influencing product and portfolio decisions.
A proven track record translating human needs, market signals, technology shifts, and business priorities into differentiated experiences across hardware, software, AI, multimodal interaction, and connected services.
Deep expertise in mixed-method UX research, behavioral research, human factors, strategic foresight, concept validation, and usability evaluation, with the ability to turn evidence into decisive product strategy.

Practical experience in automotive UX research and strategy and working with global automotive OEMs aligning user experience to brand, vehicle segments, and product-development constraints.

Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to create clarity in ambiguity and align senior stakeholders across a global organization.
Practical experience in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Human Factors, Design, Engineering, Business, Strategy, or related disciplines.

Bonus Points if You Have

Experience in mobility, consumer electronics, digital ecosystems, or another complex connected-product environments.
Experience with AI-enabled products, ecosystem platforms, or cross-product experience orchestration.
PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Human Factors, Behavioral Science, or a related discipline.

Things to Know

Willingness to travel up to 20%, domestic and international travel.
High intrinsic motivation for technology and innovation topics.
A strong, execution-oriented “can-do” attitude.
Ability to work in a complex, ambiguous and dynamic environment.

What You Can Expect

A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration, with most office-based roles onsite three days a week.
Access to employee discounts on world-class HARMAN and Samsung products (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG and others).
Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs
An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development
Work on best-in-class emerging technologies and an atmosphere that motivates you to give your best.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-AJ1

Pay Transparency

€ 138,550 - € 179,300

The above represents the annual gross base salary range for this role.

Variable compensation and allowances: Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation may also be available, such as quarterly or annual bonus pay, commission payments, long term incentive compensation, or certain allowances. Further details will be made available as part of the recruitment process.

How we set pay: The pay posted is a reasonable estimate of the wage range anticipated for this position. Pay is determined using objective, job-related criteria such as relevant experience, skills, role scope/responsibilities, and location-based market factors (where applicable). In appropriate circumstances, based on objective, job-related factors, the final determination on pay may deviate from the posted range.

Pay history: Please do not include current or past pay information in your application. We do not request pay history as part of our recruitment process.

Benefits: HARMAN is interested in supporting the health and wellbeing of employees and offers a range of benefits. Offerings vary by country and employment arrangement and reflect a combination of statutory requirements and company-provided programs. These may include paid time off and holidays, sick and family leave, as well as health and wellbeing support and retirement or savings plans where applicable, along with other locally relevant benefits. Further details will be made available as part of the recruitment process.

About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology

Ever since the 1920s, we’ve been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected.

Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today’s most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world’s ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other.

If you’re ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today!

Important Notice: Recruitment Scams

Please be aware that HARMAN recruiters will always communicate with you from an '@harman.com', ‘@careers.harman.com’ or ‘@harmanglobal.avature.net’ email address. We will never ask for payments, banking, credit card, personal financial information or access to your LinkedIn/email account during the screening, interview, or recruitment process. If you are asked for such information or receive communication from an email address not ending in one of the above email domains about a job with HARMAN, please cease communication immediately and report the incident to us through: harmancareers@harman.com.

You Belong Here

HARMAN is committed to making every employee feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. No matter what role you play, we encourage you to share your ideas, voice your distinct perspective, and bring your whole self with you – all within a support-minded culture that celebrates what makes each of us unique. We also recognize that learning is a lifelong pursuit and want you to flourish. We proudly offer added opportunities for training, development, and continuing education, further empowering you to live the career you want.

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job-related performance.(www.harman.com)

HARMAN is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at harmancareers@harman.com. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.

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Director, UX Research & Strategy

Key skills

About this role

General information

Description & Requirements