Principal Engineer, Visual Experience Cost Management

A Career at HARMAN Automotive

Were a global multi-disciplinary team thats 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 display 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

About the Role

The Manager Visual Experience Cost Management will lead cost competitiveness initiatives across HARMANs automotive visual experience portfolio. This role is accountable for driving cross-functional designed-to-cost activities to achieve best cost performance while maintaining product value proposition. You will work closely with Product Management Engineering/Delivery Procurement Manufacturing VAVE BCA and Quality teams and instill design-to-cost mindset across the product lifecycle and deliver measurable business impact.

You will manage cost optimization initiatives across multiple product families by discovering ideas through various means and maintain a drumbeat of continuous cost optimization projects by using prescribed tools methods supported by a cross functional team.

This position reports to Jason Zhu within Strategic Business Unit - Intelligent Cockpit Product Management Group at HARMAN.

What You Will Do

• Design and system concept analysis: Compare PRD (Product Requirements Document) with incoming customer requirements and drive design reviews and analysis to avoid over-design in products and manufacturing processes and identify VAVE ideas.
• Design-to-cost analysis: Use modeling tools and concepts such as digital twins to derive cost insights and support decisions for trade-off analysis. Partner with product management engineering and procurement teams to embed cost targets early in product development and RFx. Support VAVE and BCA teams in development and maintenance of detailed should-cost models and cost breakdowns. Synthesize actionable insights to leadership for decision-making.
• Continuous Cost Competitiveness: Maintain the drumbeat for design to cost analysis BOM reviews design reviews supplier quotation reviews to identify cost improvement opportunities and set up the cost optimization target and action plans. Own cost performance tracking and reporting across products and support procurement team derive reasonable quotations from suppliers.
• Support formal VAVE Initiatives: Drive structured VAVE workshops teardown activities and cost ideation sessions. Identify prioritize and execute VAVE opportunities across display products (such as LCD FALD OLED HUD etc.). Deliver validated and sustainable cost savings through design material and process optimization.
• Supplier management and Procurement engagement: Collaborate with procurement SQE and engineering teams to identify best-cost suppliers. Provide support in supplier qualification and onboarding process. Drive cost transparency and continuous improvement across the supply base collaborate with suppliers to identify cost optimization opportunities and alternative technologies. Support sourcing strategies RFQs and negotiations with data-driven cost inputs.

What You Need to Be Successful

• Bachelors or masters degree in engineering (Mechanical Electronics Industrial or related).
• 8 to12 years of experience in automotive industry at least 4 years of experience in automotive display industry engineering System Design Product Development Technical Project Manager VAVE or related roles.
• Reasonable understanding of automotive display technologies FOG/LCD design and process Backlight Unit Design FALD OLED HUD Display hardware and mechanicals is preferred.
• Strong analytical and present skills with expertise in should-costing and cost modeling.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives in a global organization.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Proven experience in automotive display engineering development especially to be the technical project leader for global projects.
• Experience working in display panel industry or BLU companies is preferred.

What Makes You Eligible

• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across global teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced matrixed organization.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment allowing for hybrid work one day per week for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location
• Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman 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

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard torace 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.