What You’ll Be Part Of
The Principal Cost Engineer works on HARMAN profitability and growth goals with Procurement, Engineering, Suppliers via using mechanical engineering, cost analysis and business intelligence capabilities. Focusing on Mechanical components (Metal, Plastic, Speaker components).
Your Team
This position will report to the Best Cost Analytics, Cost Engineerig Lead and will be an individual contributor role with no direct or indirect reports.
How You’ll Make An Impact
Cost Engineer is a complex role, working on the following areas:
Cost intelligence:
- Analyze cost breakdowns from supplier quotes
- Define New RFQ and Sourcing cost targets with Engineering&Sourcing team
- Lead the HARMAN “best practice” cost reference for the Harman Automotive products to a component level
- Frequently review/improve/develop cost model inputs/logic for additional saving opportunities
- Understand key cost drivers of gaps to should cost and provide intelligence to organization how to reach targets
- Continuously improve cost transparency of supply base
- Seek and represent additional cost intelligence solutions to reach Harman’s targets
Business execution:
- Lead close technical relationships with suppliers to identify best cost/design/process solutions (Conduct internal and supplier Workshops)
- Develop suppliers cost performance on onsite visits
- Drive cost based negotiation events with should costing
- Identify category strategy activities to meet should cost target and (based on: new supplier scouting, benchmarking, purchased part relocation – defined category strategy plan including roadmap) , alignment with cross-functional teams
- Represent supply chain market overview (material, technology, economy)
Engineering aspects:
- Lead Best Cost Design initiatives (to improve Harman current design processes)
- Review/recommend design optimization opportunities
- Define cost saving measures within the category from technical and commercial opportunity
Data
- optimize data management processes from digitalization perspective
- continuously improve existing cost model data management (automation, intelligence, quality)
- benchmark market and implement state of the art data management solutions
What Makes You A Strong Fit
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering
- Minimum 10 years work experience in the following areas:
- For E(Mechanical):
- Cost engineering of (E)/mechanical components and systems
- VA/VE of (E)/mechanical components and systems
- Engineering automotive (E)/mechanical components
- Automotive procurement
- Advanced manufacturing engineering
- For E(Mechanical):
- Experience with factors impacting design for CO2e improvement
- Experience with complex components, modules, assemblies
- Proven technical leadership with demonstrated ability to lead and review the work of other cost engineers
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical topics through structure solutions. Must be able to influence others to drive alignment on proposed technical solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to breakdown component costs into the constituent costs
- Excellent presentation skills and demonstrated ability to effectively present complex technical topics
- Experience working in a fast paced, highly measured, results focused environment
- Proven team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who can effectively work with all levels of a global organization
- Leading role and behavior in cross-functional teams to achieve financial and/or transformational targets
- Fluency in English
Bonus Points if You Have
- Master’s degree in engineering
- Minimum 3 years work experience in developing costs models for component, modules, assemblies
- Experience with automotive electronic systems is highly desirable, including experience selecting and/or recommending automotive grade components
- Demonstrated ability to share knowledge and best practices with teammates
- Change Orientation: Able to adapt to changing demands and conditions
Things To Know
- Be willing to travel up to 20%, domestic and international travel
What You Can Expect
- A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration, with most office-based roles onsite four days a week (if applicable).
- Access to employee discounts on HARMAN 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
- 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
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering
- At least 10 years of experience in mechanical component cost engineering, VA/VE, automotive mechanical engineering, automotive procurement, or advanced manufacturing engineering
- Experience with factors impacting design for CO2e improvement
- Experience with complex components, modules, and assemblies
- Proven technical leadership and ability to lead or review other cost engineers' work
- Ability to solve complex technical topics through structured solutions and influence stakeholders
- Ability to break down component costs into constituent costs
- Excellent presentation skills and ability to present complex technical topics
- Experience in a fast-paced, highly measured, results-focused environment
- Strong teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills across a global organization
- Experience leading cross-functional teams toward financial or transformational targets
- Fluency in English
- Willingness to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally
- Master's degree in engineering
- At least 3 years of experience developing cost models for components, modules, or assemblies
- Experience with automotive electronic systems and selecting or recommending automotive-grade components
- Ability to share knowledge and best practices with teammates
- Ability to adapt to changing demands and conditions
Harman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harman and has not been reviewed or approved by Harman.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, often including medical, dental, and vision plans, with HSAs/FSAs and disability or life insurance also referenced. Wellbeing support such as EAP access and onsite occupational health services is also part of the package in some regions.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Lifestyle-oriented benefits include employee product discounts and region-specific perks like free fruit deliveries, Cycle to Work schemes, and meal coupons or allowances. Flexible schedules and work-from-home options are also part of the overall offering where roles and projects allow.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is repeatedly characterized as solid or market-aligned for many roles, with salary payments described as consistent and on time. Compensation is also tied to performance in some accounts, reinforcing a perception of basic fairness for a portion of employees.
Harman Insights
What We Do
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training and competitive compensation. Looking for a challenge where your experience is valued? Come see what you can achieve as a leader with HARMAN!
