Director, UX Research & Strategy

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 Apart 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

• This role is based in Novi, Michigan and follows a hybrid schedule.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%, domestic and international travel.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment (Post-offer).
• 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 HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others).

• Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs.

• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being.

• Tuition reimbursement support.

• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available.

• An inclusive and diverse work environment that supports both your professional and personal development.

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