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Principal

Principal Hardware Engineer, Value Management

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

HARMAN International

HARMAN International

Suzhou - Jiangsu, China
On-site
Posted May 13, 2026

Job Description

HARMAN’s engineers and designers are creative, purposeful and agile. As part of this team, you’ll combine your technical expertise with innovative ideas to help drive cutting-edge solutions in the car, enterprise and connected ecosystem. Every day, you will push the boundaries of creative design, and HARMAN is committed to providing you with the opportunities, innovative technologies and resources to build a successful career.

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 everyday.

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

The Value Management Team has to increase the competitiveness and profitability of the HARMAN Lifestyle products and solutions by implementing Value Management Methodologies like Cost Analysis and Optimization, Design to Value, Modularization and Standardization, Supplier Productivity improvements, Target Costing and support the Projectmanagement, R&D, Procurement and Quality The Value Management Hardware Engineer’s main responsibility is to identify these oppurtunities that results in product cost, feature or function improvements by using the Value Management Methodologies, which focus on existing product portfolios and new designs (RFQ’s), or improving product margins, while maintaining product integrity and quality


What You Will Do

  • Designs electronic hardware for audio amplifier products or sub-modules to meet automotive OEM applications, owning the design through the complete life cycle of the product

  • Develop innovative and robust solutions for delivering world-class audio in a challenging automotive environment

  • Prepares and maintains specifications, block diagrams, and schematics during development

  • Provides guidance, review, and support to PCB layout team

  • Organizes and leads peer-based schematic and PCB layout design reviews

  • Works and participates in a product team environment, supporting other team functions: software, mechanical, process, test, and quality engineering

  • Supports customer interface teams as necessary - answering questions, supplying samples and resolving hardware design issues

  • Understands and executes best practice engineering processes to ensure quality which includes implementation of design process tools such as DFMEAs or DRBFMs

  • Creates and maintains mandatory quality improvement and prevention documentation: DFMEAs or DRBFMs

  • Trouble-shoots/debugs HW using a variety of industry standard or in-house developed tools

  • Provide after-SOP service - trouble-shooting support for high-rate warranty and B&A returns

  • Drives Asian Region activities to deliver best cost solutions in order to have a cost optimized setup within quotes and products

  • Improve topics within cost, technology and timing

  • Support Benchmarking activities and TearDown analysis

  • Interface with Projectmanagement Team, R&D, Purchasing, Quality and Production within BU’s to improve topics

  • Initiates and provides technical directions for research and development programs to enhance production methods, improve parts and equipment technology, and reduce costs

  • Support internal VM workshops, compile ideas and check the feasibility

  • Investigate new components, substitutes, and technologies that reduce overall costs while maintaining or improving quality

  • Provide VM cost savings ideas and component expertise to assist in closing target price gaps for business quotes

  • Flexible with change and embraces challenges with an open mind and Think out of the Box

  • Generate cost take out oppurtunities and prepare alternate design concepts

  • Cost Estimations of electronic and purchased parts

  • Identify best cost suppliers and work on Engineering change requests

  • Investigation of engineered products on cost optimization potential for tooling’s and product specific invest

What You Need to Be Successful

  • KNOWLEDGE: Expertise in mixed signal embedded HW design, specifically: analog and digital interfaces like SPDIF, LVDS, USB, switching and linear power supplies, vehicle communication networks like CAN, AVC-LAN and MOST25/50/150 Experience with design for EMC mitigation, memory interfaces like DDR, board-level IC interfaces like SPI, MLB, I2C, and I2S Familiar with Class AB, Class H and Class D amplifier output topologies

  • DEGREE/TRAINING: BSEE/BSCE or equivalent required

  • EXPERIENCE: demonstrated prior experience bringing an embedded product from concept to production, prior experience with schematic capture and layout tools, circuit simulation tools, signal integrity simulation software, 3+ years of applicable experience  Software development experience a plus

  • Must be a dependable, accountable, self-starter

Bonus Points if You Have

  • MSEE or MSCE preferred or a plus

  • Experience interfacing with customers and explain complex technical issues in English

  • Experience working with semiconductor manufacturers in co-developing cost effective and reliable components

  • Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills

  • Can accept constructive criticism from colleagues and peers and use for positive gain

  • Shows character strength and personal integrity in all situations especially difficult ones

  • Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the ability to clearly communicate complex issues regardless of audience

  • Possesses emotional maturity when interfacing with customers (both external and internal) and defusing issues

What Makes You Eligible

  • You have a working knowledge of English

  • You are willing to travel, if necessary

What We Offer

  • Flexible work environment

  • Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)

  • Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University

  • Competitive wellness benefits

  • Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria

  • “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program

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

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. 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.