Principal Engineer, System Engineering

HARMAN's engineers and designers are creative, purposeful and agile. As part of this team, you'll combine your technical expertise with innovative ideas to help drive cutting-edge solutions in the car, enterprise and connected ecosystem. Every day, you will push the boundaries of creative design, and HARMAN is committed to providing you with the opportunities, innovative technologies and resources to build a successful career.A Career at HARMANAs a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you'll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do everyday.

A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle

We're a global, multi-disciplinary team that's putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.

• Contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Mark Levinson and Revel
• Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development
• Create pitch-perfect, cutting-edge technology that elevates the listening experience

About the Role

We are looking for a talented and experienced System Architect to lead the design and development of innovative audio solutions for home entertainment products. In this role, you will drive the end-to-end system architecture, from conceptual design through to product development, ensuring superior audio quality, user experience, and performance.

You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including hardware, software, mechanical, acoustic and product management—to understand business requirements, identify technological opportunities, and lead the creation of scalable and high-performance architectures for audio products.

What You Will Do

• Work with business leaders and stakeholders to understand objectives and requirements, translating them into robust system architecture designs for audio products.
• Lead and oversee the implementation of system architectures, selecting platforms, key components, technologies, and frameworks to meet product goals.
• Work closely with hardware, software, mechanical, and acoustic engineering teams to ensure seamless system integration and design execution.
• Drive and explore new use cases, applications, and opportunities for innovation across various domains, driving product differentiation and competitiveness.
• Develop and maintain the technical roadmap, ensuring alignment with product features and potential technical solutions.
• Lead feasibility studies for new concepts, define use cases, propose architectures, and develop realistic development plans.
• Collaborate with chipset and ecosystem partners (e.g., Google, Amazon, Apple, Tencent) to understand their roadmaps and integrate them into our product strategy.
• Develop a platform strategy that minimizes risk, maximizes efficiency, and accelerates time-to-market.
• Proactively address architectural challenges, leading problem-solving sessions with cross-functional teams.
• Escalate critical issues to senior management when they pose a significant risk to program schedule, cost, or quality.

What You Need to Be Successful

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronics, Software, Acoustics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in audio system architecture and product development, preferably within consumer electronics.
• Proficiency with audio platforms, SoCs, and wireless technologies for audio systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to interpret complex requirements and design innovative architectures, including AI-based solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• A strong team player with proven ability to collaborate across all levels of the organization and with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English.
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Experience in integrating and troubleshooting DSP audio is a plus
• Open Minded and willing to work outside the box
• Honest and understands the value in reporting both good and bad news
• Schedule driven
• Innovative and willing to take calculated risks
• Able to work with aggressive goals on multiple programs
• Self-Motivated to be the best he/she can be

What Makes You Eligible

• Willingness to travel.
• Willingness to work in an office.
• Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote 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 and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
• Competitive wellness benefits
• Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria
• "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 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.

---