Senior Director Technology & Product Management

Kongsberg Automotive AS; München; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Kongsberg Automotive AS in Germany seeks a Senior Director of Technology & Product Management to lead the strategic direction, innovation roadmap, and global product portfolio for our automotive business. This executive role shapes future technologies and drives profitable growth.

You will oversee the complete lifecycle from concept to end-of-life, manage partnerships with OEMs, technology companies, startups, and academia, and collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations to

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in a technical discipline; MBA is advantageous.
• 10+ years in automotive, ideally Tier 1 or OEM.
• 5+ years in senior leadership across PM, Tech Mgmt, and/or R&D.
• Proven success launching complex automotive products with HW, SW, and connectivity.
• Strong understanding of OEM processes, cost targets, and global supply chains.
• Expertise in product strategy, portfolio mgmt, and Agile.
• Outstanding leadership and stakeholder management for senior executives.
• Fluent English; additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the global product and technology strategy.
• Own lifecycle from concept to end-of-life management.
• Lead long-term tech scouting and adoption of emerging automotive tech.
• Drive product profitability and portfolio optimization.
• Build strategic partnerships with customers, tech firms, startups, and academia.
• Act as executive technical interface to major OEMs.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations to enable launches.
• Monitor market trends, regulatory changes, and customer requirements.
• Foster a culture of innovation and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Product management

Technology management

R&D leadership

Systems engineering

Agile development

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

English fluent

Education

Master's degree in Engineering

Master's in Automotive Engineering

PhD in Engineering/Automotive

Computer Science

MBA

Job description

About The Position

As Senior Director Technology & Product Management, you will lead the strategic direction, innovation roadmap, and global product portfolio for our automotive business. You will play a critical role in shaping future technologies, driving profitable growth, and ensuring our products remain aligned with evolving industry trends such as software-defined vehicles, electrification, connectivity, and autonomous driving. This executive leadership role combines business strategy, technology vision, customer engagement, and product portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the global product and technology strategy, aligning portfolio investments with business objectives and market opportunities.
• Own the complete product lifecycle from concept through launch, growth, and end-of-life management.
• Lead long-term technology scouting and innovation initiatives, ensuring early adoption of emerging automotive technologies and software solutions.
• Drive product profitability, portfolio optimization, and investment decisions based on market demand, business value, and technical feasibility.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with customers, technology companies, startups, and academic institutions.
• Act as the executive technical interface to major automotive OEMs, translating customer needs into innovative product solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations to support business growth and successful product launches.
• Monitor market trends, competitive developments, regulatory changes, and customer requirements to proactively adapt product and technology strategies.
• Foster a culture of innovation, systems thinking, and cross-functional collaboration across global teams.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline; MBA is an advantage.
• 10+ years of experience in the automotive industry, ideally within a Tier 1 supplier or OEM environment.
• At least 5 years of senior leadership experience spanning Product Management, Technology Management, and/or R&D organizations.
• Proven success in developing and launching complex automotive products that integrate hardware, software, and connectivity solutions.
• Strong understanding of automotive business models, OEM customer processes, target costing, and global supply chains.
• Expertise in product strategy, portfolio management, systems engineering, and Agile development methodologies.
• Outstanding leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills with the ability to influence senior executives and customers globally.
• Fluent English language skills; additional languages such as German, Mandarin, or Japanese are considered a plus.
• Strategic mindset with a passion for innovation, transformation, and delivering customer-centric solutions.