Skip to content

General information

Location:
Ariake - Tokyo, Japan
Additional Location:
Ota - Japan - Uchigashima-cho
Job Family:
Engineering
Worker Type Reference:
Regular - Permanent
Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Career Level:
P4
Job ID:
R-53012-2026

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

About the Role

The Program Manager (PM) will own the execution of our products for a customer base(s). In this role, the TPM will manage the customer interface in Japan and will be the escalation path for the customer. PM will participate in program development from inception developing new business opportunities with the sales team to active program development to post-launch maintenance. With a global cross-functional team, PM will be responsible for planning, managing, and completing the development of our products.  The team consists of multidisciplinary groups in US, Mexico, India, China, and in Japan.  This position will drive world-class system development to meet customer deliverables and prototype deliveries while driving the team to adhere to high quality processes / standards that ensure zero customer defects.

What You Will Do

  • Manage customer interface and communication strategy with Japan OEMs in Japan.  Ensure assignments from Japan OEMs are well understood, distributed to core teams, and reasonable for Harman success.
  • Build and manage customer relationships in Japan and other locations as needed.
  • Work with internal teams to manage issues
  • Support sales team by orchestrating the creation of business cases and technical concept presentations to justify and promote our proposals internally and externally
  • Represent product engineering team in new business opportunities by interfacing with core team/customer/ sales.  Drive business case inputs and product engineering engagement on new technologies.
  • Serve as an internal expert on Japan OEM development processes
  • Analyze and negotiate program schedules with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ensure product costing targets are achieved for each product.  Maintain records of BOM costs compared to targets; escalate within Harman when targets are not achieved.  Ensure design actions are implemented to recover any cost variance in BOM cost target.
  • Ensure adherence to engineering best practices / processes and facilitate creation of new best practices as appropriate
  • Own and maintain the resource budget and cost of external resources for assigned set of programs. Ensure engineering resources are allocated and qualified to meet the customer requirements.  This includes resources in US, Mexico, EU, China, India, and Japan.
  • Ensure engineering teams have equipment and facilities needed to meet customer requirements. 
  • Back up colleagues in Japan Office and program management team as appropriate.
  • Oversee decisions regarding product content, budget and timing to ensure the product is on-time, on-schedule, on-quality, and meets all customer acceptance criteria (Performance and Features).
  • Manage product risk proactively, identify engineering risks and coordinate meetings with the cross-functional team to address risks before they become issues.
  • Evaluate and track program metrics to measure program success.  Update processes where needed to address customer-specific requirements.  Ensure all supporting departments are meeting program targets and Harman processes.
  • Ensure customer requirements are communicated throughout Harman engineering teams.  Ensure customer requirements are met with the product designed. Manage customer interface teams to clarify requirements when needed

What You Need to Be Successful

  • Bachelors in Engineering
  • 5+ years related technical experience
  • 2+ years experience in technical program management or customer resident engineering
  • Proficient in Japanese language
  • Able to communicate in English (spoken and written)
  • Experience as Japanese carmakers or experience as a supplier to Japanese carmakers
  • Must have general knowledge of automotive engineering.
  • Must be able to articulate vision and influence decision making outcomes with internal stakeholders, external suppliers, and the customer.
  • Must have a "whatever-it-takes" attitude using diplomatic leadership skills within a collaborative teamwork environment to accomplish the necessary results.
  • Proven and effective communication, analytical, judgment, initiative and execution skills.
  • Willingness to help your colleagues
  • Team player, don’t be sticking with low priority details, ability to accept different approaches, always being focused to complete priority task items.

What Makes You Eligible

  • Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic and international travel.
  • Be willing to work in an office, client-site, home office
  • This position requires the use of a HARMAN or customer-owned vehicle.  As such, any offer of employment will be contingent upon having a clean driving record, which will be evaluated and determined in HARMAN’s sole discretion, no more than 4 active points for moving violations (issued by any motor vehicle agency), and no references to operating a vehicle under the influence of controlled substances within the last 10 years.

What We Offer

  • We offer an authentic diverse, equal, and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development in a truly global organization.
  • You will work on products and services that touch people’s lives and will change the industrial standards, being a part of the transformations in our industry.
  • Our work environments are fast paced, challenging, empowering, collaborative, flexible and exciting.
  • We offer our own HARMAN University with regular updates on the new technologies and trends by utilizing various sessions organized by Self Learning and Development Trainings to help grow and advance talent.
  • We offer competitive compensation/benefit programs and recognition programs

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.