Acoustics Quality Director

A Career at HARMAN

As 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 every day.

The Acoustics Business Unit Quality Director owns end-to-end quality performance for the Acoustics Business Unit across New Product Introduction (NPI) and legacy products. This role serves as the single point of accountability for all customer-impacting quality outcomes and is responsible for defining and executing the Business Unit quality strategy, operating model, and governance.

Operating in a global, matrixed environment, the Director provides leadership through people leaders, influences senior stakeholders across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and customer organizations, and ensures that quality decisions are aligned with business objectives, financial performance, and risk management priorities.

The role directly impacts Business Unit results through improved customer satisfaction, reduced cost of poor quality, accelerated launches, and sustained product performance across the lifecycle.

What You Will Do

Supervisory and Organizational Leadership

• Provide direct leadership to Production Quality Managers across multiple manufacturing locations (including Tijuana and Dandong).
• Lead and develop a global team of Quality Engineers, Senior Engineers, and Technicians.
• Provide dotted-line leadership to Supplier Quality Engineering and Service Quality teams supporting the Business Unit.
• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, and clear accountability.
• Lead through subordinate managers, setting priorities and direction aligned with Business Unit objectives.

Quality Strategy, Governance & Business Acumen

• Define, develop, and execute the Acoustics Business Unit Quality strategy, operating model, and governance framework in alignment with Business Unit goals, customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and corporate standards.
• Act as a strategic partner to Business Unit and functional leadership, advising on quality, compliance, and product assurance trade-offs.
• Own quality-related contributions to Business Unit financial performance, including cost of poor quality, warranty exposure, risk mitigation, and launch readiness.
• Develop and own annual quality objectives, operating plans, and resource prioritization aligned with Business Unit plans.

Quality Systems, Compliance & Lifecycle Assurance

• Own and continuously improve the Business Unit Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring alignment with ISO 9001 and applicable global standards.
• Lead internal, external, and customer audits with robust governance, transparent escalation, and timely closure of findings.
• Ensure quality, reliability, and compliance requirements are embedded into product design, process decisions, and lifecycle governance.

Product, Manufacturing & Supplier Quality Leadership

• Lead quality engagement across R&D, NPI, manufacturing, and field performance to ensure First-Time-Right execution and stable ramp-up.
• Drive manufacturing readiness, design robustness, validation completeness, and early-life performance monitoring.
• Apply advanced quality analytics, risk-reduction tools, and defect-prevention methodologies across all lifecycle stages.
• Act as the senior escalation point for critical customer and supplier quality issues, directing cross-functional containment, root cause analysis, and sustainable corrective actions.
• Provide oversight of supplier qualification, performance management, and capability development in partnership with Supplier Quality organizations.

Leadership, Problem Solving & Impact

• Direct the resolution of complex, cross-functional, and high-impact quality issues, applying advanced critical thinking and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Balance short-term operational needs with long-term Business Unit quality and risk objectives.
• Influence, negotiate, and align priorities with senior leaders across engineering, operations, and commercial organizations.
• Champion a Quality-First culture emphasizing transparency, data-driven decisions, and continuous improvement.

What You Need to Be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (industrial, mechanical, acoustics, electrical, or equivalent).
• Master’s degree (MBA or technical field) preferred.

Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Quality, Engineering, or Operations in acoustics, audio, transducers, or precision manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site or global quality teams through people leaders.
• Strong expertise in acoustic testing, NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), reliability engineering, and precision process control.
• Proven track record developing and executing quality strategies that improve customer outcomes and business performance.
• Strong experience implementing Quality Management Systems and reducing cost of poor quality.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic and systems-level thinking with strong business and commercial acumen.
• Executive-level communication and stakeholder influence skills.
• Ability to negotiate priorities and trade-offs with senior leaders.
• Deep expertise in structured problem solving, risk management, and quality analytics
• High integrity, customer focus, and results orientation.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Experience in a similar customer quality/customer service/technical support or Quality role at a multinational global company.
• Knowledge of modern quality tools such as FMEA, DOE, SPC, Kaizen, and DMAIC.
• Previous experience with analytics tools like Power BI, Minitab
• Understanding and experience using systems like CRM, Windchill, SAP
• Experience in leading global cross-functional teams.

What Makes You Eligible

• Willingness to travel 15-20% globally.
• Willingness to work in an office.
• Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.

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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.