Strategic Early Engagement Lead

A Career at HARMAN Automotive

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive, we give you the keys to fast-track your career.

Engineer audio systems and integrated technology platforms that augment the driving experience

Combine ingenuity, in-depth research, and a spirit of collaboration with design and engineering excellence

Advance in-vehicle infotainment, safety, efficiency, and enjoyment

About the Role

As an Early Engagement Lead embedded in a CAM Pursuit management team, you drive pre‑RFI customer engagement to build trusted partnerships with OEM stakeholders and shape customer needs early. You work with CAM, Pursuit, SBU Product Management and Div Tech to translate VOC, competitive and market insights into clear business opportunities and customer-ready value propositions. You help validate new offerings with customers and support early proof points through demos/showcases. You also help teams follow standard ways of working by applying agreed methods and tools (pipeline, documentation, playbooks), keeping engagement data current and consistent.

What You Will Do

Drive pre‑RFI customer engagement activities with OEM decision-makers to shape needs, requirements and architecture early.

Build and nurture customer partnerships by expanding engagement beyond engineering/procurement to include planning, pre-development, tech-scouting, marketing and business leadership.

Identify, qualify and shape new opportunities based on market trends, customer context and portfolio value propositions.

Translate VOC, market and competitive insights into clear internal input for product positioning and roadmap discussions with SBU and Div Tech.

Validate new product offerings from SBU and Div Tech with customers (problem fit, value, differentiators, adoption barriers) and capture actionable feedback.

Support early opportunity enablement (e.g., demo cars, showcases, proof points) to mature concepts and validate feasibility.

Co-create customer-facing narratives (storytelling, value proposition, content) that support early engagement and downstream pursuits.

Contribute to innovative go-to-market models by working with OEM business teams and internal stakeholders on partnership and commercialisation concepts.

Apply and promote standard methods and tools for early engagement execution (common templates, pipeline tracking, documentation discipline).

Maintain accurate pipeline and engagement documentation in the defined tools/repositories; ensure transparency for CAM and pursuit planning.

Lead project work impacting the sub-function and coordinate external vendors supporting showcases/events as needed.

What You Need to Be Successful

Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in business, Engineering or related field.

Automotive experience in early engagement / pre-sales / business development, with confidence working with OEM stakeholders.

Strong relationship-building skills and ability to earn access and engagement with cross-functional customer influencers.

Ability to turn VOC and market/competitive data into clear opportunity strategies and internal actions.

Strong execution discipline: planning, prioritisation, and delivery across multiple parallel initiatives in a matrix setup.

Comfortable applying and reinforcing standard methods and tools (pipeline hygiene, documentation, playbooks).

Specialized depth/breadth in the field; works independently with guidance only in complex situations; leads others to solve complex problems; leads projects impacting the sub-function; manages external vendors with accountability.

What Makes You Eligible

Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic and international travel.

Be willing to work from the office at least three days per week, with the remaining time spent on the customer’s site.

What We Offer

Flexible work environment.

Access to employee discounts on world-class products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, and more).

Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University.

Competitive wellness benefits.

“Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.

An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.