Director, Global Mechanical Engineering & Prototyping - JBL Professional Loudspeakers

HARMAN International; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 293,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Learning & development

Wellness benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Campus fitness center

Job summary

HARMAN International, a leader in audio technology, seeks a Director of Mechanical Engineering & Prototyping for the JBL Professional lineup. The role is based in Northridge, CA, and leads global mechanical engineering and rapid prototyping to deliver industry-leading loudspeaker systems.

You will own enclosure design, structural components, and manufacturing solutions while partnering with product management, acoustics, and quality teams to meet performance and reliability goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years in product development engineering.
• 5+ years leading engineering teams and technical leaders.
• Strong background in mechanical design, materials, and manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead global engineering organizations and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead global Mechanical Engineering and Prototyping teams for JBL Professional.
• Oversee mechanical enclosure design, structures, and fasteners.
• Drive design, analysis, prototyping, and validation activities.
• Ensure performance, manufacturability, quality, and cost objectives.
• Collaborate with systems, acoustics, quality, and manufacturing across lifecycle.

Skills

Mechanical design

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Prototyping

FEA/Simulation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

MATLAB

Python

Job description

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.

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.

• Contribute your talents tothehigh-end, esteemedJBLbrand

• Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development

• Creatingcutting-edge technology that elevateslisteningexperience

What You’ll Be Part Of

The Director of Mechanical Engineering & Prototyping is responsible for leading the mechanical engineering, enclosure design, structural systems, manufacturing solutions, and rapid prototyping functions across the JBL Professional loudspeaker portfolio.

This role ensures products are developed with robust mechanical architectures, innovative engineering solutions, advanced prototyping capabilities, and optimized manufacturing approaches that deliver industry-leading performance, reliability, quality, manufacturability, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.

The Director leads global Mechanical Engineering and Prototyping teams and partners closely with Product Management, Systems Engineering, Acoustics & Transducer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Firmware, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and Program Management throughout the product development lifecycle.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead global Mechanical Engineering and Prototyping teams across JBL Professional loudspeakers.

• Build and develop a high-performing organization of engineering leaders and technical specialists.

• Recruit, mentor, and retain top engineering talent.

• Plan and execute resource loading and allocation to deliver the strategic roadmap.

• Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Product Development & Engineering Execution

• Own mechanical design of loudspeaker enclosures, structural components, rigging interfaces, mounting hardware, transportation accessories and related mechanical systems.

• Lead mechanical development activities from concept through production.

• Drive design, analysis, simulation, prototyping, and engineering validation activities.

• Ensuresolutions meet performance, reliability, manufacturability, quality, sustainability, and cost objectives.

• Provide technical leadership for complex product development and engineering reviews.

• Ensure structural designs meet applicable safety, load, transportation, environmental and field-use requirements.

• Lead the development and operation of world-class rapid prototyping capabilities to accelerate innovation and reduce technical risk.

Technology & Platform Strategy

• Support development of the Strategic Roadmap and innovation initiatives.

• Lead advanced technology development and research programs.

• Evaluate emerging materials, manufacturing processes, simulation methods, and design technologies.

• Provide technical feasibility assessments and engineering effort estimates for future platforms and products.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Systems Engineering on system integration, and product-leveldesign, while owning mechanical requirements, verification, and validationfor mechanical systems and components.

• Collaborate with Acoustics & Transducer Engineering to develop integrated loudspeaker systems.

• Work closely with Quality, Manufacturing,Supply Chain, and Operations throughout the product lifecycle.

WhatMakes YouaStrong Fit

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related technical discipline.

• 12+ years of product development engineering experience.

• 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams and technical leaders.

• Strong technical background in mechanical design, materials, manufacturing processes, structural analysis, and product development.

• Proven ability to lead global engineering organizations and influence cross-functional teams.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Management, or related discipline.

• Experience designing and manufacturing professional loudspeaker systems.

• Expertise with SolidWorks, PDM systems, FEA, COMSOL, MATLAB, Python, and related engineering tools.

• Experience with suspension systems, rigging, life-safety requirements, and structural compliance.

• Experience establishing rapid prototyping, model shop, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

• Passion for music, live sound, and engineering innovation.

Leadership Competencies

Strategic Thinking Technical Leadership Innovation Management Executive Communication Talent Development Cross-Functional Influence Customer Focus Continuous ImprovementLead Leaders

Success Measures

Product quality, reliability, and customer satisfactionOn-time delivery of mechanical designs and prototypes.

Manufacturing readiness, cost, and design robustnessExecution of the strategic roadmap through effective resource planningStrong cross-functional collaborationContinuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, and prototyping capabilities.

The Director serves as the engineering authority for mechanical design, enclosure technologies, structural systems, manufacturing solutions, and rapid prototyping, delivering the engineering solutions and component technologies that enable JBL Professional to create industry-leading products and platforms.

Things To Know

• Willingness to travel5% -10% of the time(Mexico, China and other global locations)

• Willingness to work in an office in Northridge, CA

• Successfullycompletinga background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment

What You Can Expect

• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman/Kardon, AKG, and others)

• Learning and development opportunities throughour award-winningHARMAN Universityprograms

• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being

• Tuition reimbursement support

• Access to the HARMANcampusfitnesscenter andcafeteria, where available

Salary Ranges:

$ 199,500 - $ 292,600

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity /affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard torace, 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.