About the Role
As Program Manager, you assume overall program responsibility for delivery of complex automotive Connectivity programs within the CAM VW organization. You are accountable for timing, cost, quality, scope, risk and customer commitments from acquisition / RFQ through development, launch, SOP and post-SOP stabilization.
The role combines end-to-end program ownership with strong execution leadership, including accountability for defined customer scopes, cross-functional workstreams and supplier contributions within the Group ConMod JDM environment. You actively steer cross-functional teams and suppliers, manage changes, risks, and schedules, and serve as a direct interface to the OEM customer on program status and technical alignment.
A strong focus lies on sample and prototype management, industrialization support, change and configuration management, and structured reporting towards customer, while building broader program management depth across commercial, technical, and organizational dimensions. The role requires close collaboration with the customer within a Joint Development Model.
What You Will Do
- Lead the execution of customer programs within the VW Group portfolio and ensure delivery against agreed timing, cost, quality, scope and performance targets.
- Act as Program Manager / accountable PM for ConMod JDM scopes, including ownership of defined program workstreams, customer commitments and cross-functional deliverables.
- Take end-to-end responsibility for Change & Scope Management, including change request (CR) governance and coordination of internal and external Change Control Boards (CCBs).
- Own and maintain the Project Master Plan, including schedule definition, milestone tracking, progress monitoring, and deviation management.
- Lead and steer cross-functional teams, sub-teams, and suppliers in close alignment with Program Management and Engineering.
- Prepare, recommend and drive management and customer decisions related to cost, scope, timing, risk, claims and program trade-offs.
- Manage commercial risks and opportunities, including budget, forecast, variance, change / claim management and mitigation in alignment with Finance, Sales and Program Management leadership.
- Act as OEM customer interface for technical status, program progress, and product alignment topics.
- Own Sample and Prototype Planning as part of program execution, including PV / DV coordination, hardware availability, customer priorities and cross-site alignment
- Actively support industrialization phases, coordinating activities with manufacturing, quality, logistics, and engineering teams.
- Coordinate and support Benches and Engineering Hardware activities, ensuring alignment of hardware availability, test setups, and engineering needs.
- Prepare and maintain management and customer reporting, including dashboards, status reports, and post-SOP support (SOP +90).
- Ensure configuration management across the program lifecycle.
- Ensure PLM / Teamcenter governance for the program, including configuration discipline, data completeness, release readiness, issue follow-up and coordination of required training with the relevant tool / process owners.
- Support issue tracking, escalation preparation, and systematic follow-up of action items.
- Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement within the program and organization.
What You Need to Be Successful
- University degree in Engineering (Electrical, IT, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline) or comparable qualification.
- At least 5 years of experience in program management, project leadership or comparable automotive / technology program roles, including cross-functional coordination of complex scopes.
- 3+ years of experience in teamcenter activites and understanding of full teamcenter toolchain.
- Hands-on experience in Sample Management, Engineering Hardware, benches or industrialization support is required or strongly preferred for this JDM scope and must be demonstrated through prior program delivery experience.
- Structured, reliable, and detail-oriented working style with strong coordination skills.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional and international teams.
- Fluent in German and English (written and spoken), Romanian is a plus
Bonus Points if You Have
- Basic knowledge of PMI methodologies, Automotive SPICE, or IATF 16949.
- Experience with VW Group programs or customers.
- Familiarity with program management tools and reporting systems.
- Understanding of HARMAN Core Competencies (Results, Change, Customer, Team, Self-Awareness).
What Makes You Eligible
- Willingness to travel up to 25%.
- Willingness to work on-site in Karlsbad, Germany, as required
What We Offer
- HARMAN offers a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities, professional training and competitive market base compensation
- You will also receive top-notch employee discounts on Harman’s Consumer Audio (JBL, AKG, HARMAN Kardon) and Samsung products
- Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work life integration and collaboration in a global friendly working atmosphere and good work-life-balance
- Attractive salary package based on the Metall & Elektro Tarif Baden Wurttemberg and an Employer contribution towards a company pension plan
- Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies which also includes extensive technical trainings
- Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs
- “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program
#LI-Hybrid
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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
- University degree in Electrical, IT, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline, or comparable qualification
- At least 5 years of experience in program management, project leadership, or comparable automotive or technology program roles
- Experience coordinating complex cross-functional scopes
- At least 3 years of experience with Teamcenter activities and understanding of the full Teamcenter toolchain
- Hands-on experience in sample management, engineering hardware, benches, or industrialization support
- Structured, reliable, and detail-oriented working style with strong coordination skills
- Good communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional and international teams
- Fluent German and English, written and spoken
- Willingness to travel up to 25%
- Willingness to work on-site in Karlsbad, Germany, as required
- Romanian language skills
- Basic knowledge of PMI methodologies, Automotive SPICE, or IATF 16949
- Experience with Volkswagen Group programs or customers
- Familiarity with program management tools and reporting systems
- Understanding of HARMAN Core Competencies
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!
