Senior Director Technology & Product Management

Kongsberg Automotive AS; München; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Kongsberg Automotive seeks an exceptional Senior Director Technology & Product Management to set the strategic direction for its global automotive portfolio. You will drive innovation, align products with software-defined mobility, electrification, connectivity, and autonomy trends, and partner with OEMs to deliver customer-centric solutions.

The role combines strategy, technology vision, and executive leadership across global teams, with a dynamic, international environment and growth

Qualifications

• 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.

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.

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline; MBA is an advantage

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.

We want your integrity, accountability, creativity and teamwork mindset and skills

In Kongsberg Automotive we embrace diversity within our workforce. We make recruiting decisions based on experience and skills and pride ourselves on having a strong culture of leadership, diversity and inclusiveness.

We aim to employ the world's brightest minds, providing a limitless pool of ideas and opportunities, who will incorporate our core values within their work. We believe in hiring talented people of varied backgrounds, experiences and styles and offer an unlimited contract within a dynamic and international environment with prospects for personal growth.

Welcome to an outstanding career in Kongsberg Automotive!

KA careers: jobs.kongsbergautomotive.com

Web: kongsbergautomotive.com

Keywords: Senior Director Technology & Product Management