Automotive Experience Designer – Sound & HMI

HARMAN International; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 78,750 - 115,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts on Harman products

Tuition reimbursement program

Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans

Job summary

HARMAN International is seeking a UX/UI Designer based in Novi, Michigan, to join their Automotive Design Team. This role focuses on creating intuitive interfaces for branded car audio systems while ensuring innovation and quality in sound features. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in UX/UI design, strong proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and the ability to collaborate across various teams. A hybrid work model is offered alongside competitive pay and benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional UX/UI design experience with a strong portfolio.
• Ability to understand brand values and design language.
• Proven ability to work effectively in distributed teams.

Responsibilities

• Create user-centered UX/UI designs for in-car experiences.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate sound and design technology.
• Conduct usability evaluations to enhance design quality.

Skills

User-centered design principles

Visual concept development

Collaboration and communication

Proficiency in Figma

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree in UX/UI Design or related field

Tools

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

About The Role

Join the Harman Automotive Design Team as a UX/UI Designer and help shape the future of in-car experiences. This role goes beyond screen design – it’s about creating holistic brand experiences that combine visual design, sound innovation, and product interaction. You’ll work on branded car audio UX/UI projects for multiple audio brands, designing intuitive interfaces and crafting new sound features that elevate the driving experience. In addition, you’ll contribute to sound‑related product design, ensuring every touchpoint reflects our commitment to innovation and premium quality. Collaborating with project leads and cross‑functional teams, you’ll push the boundaries of design – blending cutting‑edge technology with stunning aesthetics. From concept to execution, you’ll deliver pixel‑perfect designs using tools like Figma, while partnering with developers to integrate design and technology seamlessly. This is your opportunity to influence the automotive industry and create experiences that harmonize visual, auditory, and interactive design – leaving a lasting impact on how people connect with sound.

Design & Deliver Exceptional Experiences

• Create visually stunning, user‑centered UX/UI designs for branded car audio systems, sound features, and related products.
• Develop concepts for in‑car interfaces, sound feature interactions, and native integrations in OEM systems, ensuring alignment with brand identity.
• Maintain and evolve design systems, component libraries, and brand guidelines for consistency across platforms.

Collaborate Across Teams & Stakeholders

• Present and communicate design concepts through compelling presentations, wireframes, prototypes, and high‑fidelity mockups to brand managers and customers.
• Work closely with development teams, sound engineers, and acoustic specialists to integrate design and technology seamlessly.
• Build strong relationships with customer design teams and collaborate with internal teams such as Industrial Design, Lifestyle, and 3D Motion.

Drive Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate on concept car UX/UI and standalone apps, pushing boundaries with emerging technologies like AR/VR and Unity.
• Conduct usability evaluations and apply insights to enhance responsiveness, usability, and overall design quality.
• Maintain and optimize Figma brand libraries, KONA components, and website brand guidelines for automotive.

Stay Ahead of Trends

• Research industry trends, behavioral design, and speculative UX to inspire future concepts.
• Experiment with new tools and workflows to increase efficiency and deliver WOW moments in design.

What You Need

• Degree & Background: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in UX/UI Design or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of professional UX/UI design experience with a strong portfolio showcasing visual concept development, information architecture, and human‑centered design.
• Brand & Design Expertise: Ability to understand brand values and design language, translating them into digital experiences that meet customer needs and business objectives.
• Design Principles: Deep knowledge of user‑centered design principles and design thinking methodologies, with experience incorporating feedback from usability evaluations into designs.
• Collaboration Skills: Proven ability to work effectively in distributed teams across multiple locations and time zones.
• Communication: Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Tools & Technology: Advanced proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and project management tools.

What Is Nice To Have

• Automotive Experience: Previous experience in Automotive UX/UI design is highly valued.
• Team Mindset: A results‑oriented, motivated team player with a proven track record of success.
• Creative Skills: Background in motion design, illustration, and storyboarding, with an understanding of time‑based UI for different driving scenarios.
• AI & Innovation: Familiarity with leveraging AI tools for creative tasks – such as generating visuals, videos, and concepts – and integrating AI into workflows to boost efficiency and inspire new design possibilities.
• Language Skills: Advanced English proficiency; additional languages are a plus.
• Passion: Genuine enthusiasm for design, music, and emerging technologies.

What Makes You Eligible

• Travel Flexibility: Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time, both domestically and internationally, as required for project needs.
• Hybrid Work: Ability to work remotely while attending weekly collaboration days in the Garching office (Wednesdays) and occasional short‑notice visits (minimum 24 hours).
• Compliance: Successful completion of a drug screening as a condition of employment.
• Driving Requirements: A clean driving record with no more than 4 active points for moving violations and no history of operating a vehicle under the influence of controlled substances within the last 10 years, as the role may involve using a Harman or customer‑owned vehicle.

Flexible Work Environment

Option for remote work globally for roles that can be performed outside a Harman or customer location.

Exclusive Discounts

Access to employee discounts on world‑class Harman and Samsung products, including JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, and more.

Continuous Learning

Extensive training opportunities through Harman University, supporting ongoing professional growth.

Wellness & Work‑Life Balance

Competitive benefits designed to promote health, well‑being, and balance.

Education Support

Tuition reimbursement program to encourage further education and skill development.

Inclusive Culture

A diverse and collaborative work environment that fosters professional and personal development while promoting a positive, inclusive culture.

Pay

Pay range: $ 78,750 - $ 115,500. Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation such as bonuses or commission may be available. Pay is based on a wide range of factors, including, without limitation, skill set, experience, training, location, and business need. While the above range is a reasonable estimate of the wage range for this position, please note the disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographical differential associated with the location where the position may be filled.

Benefits

HARMAN is interested in the health and wellbeing of you and your family and offers a range of benefits designed to support your needs for holistic wellbeing. Benefits and perks may vary depending on the nature of your employment with HARMAN, and may include paid vacation and holidays, paid sick leave, volunteer leave, and paid bonding and caregiver leave. Employees may also be eligible to participate in comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, fertility support and adoption assistance, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan with employer match, short and long term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers. 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. HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job‑related performance. (www.harman.com)