New

Director, R&D Controlling, Sound United SBU

Harman
life insurance, sick time, long term disability, tuition reimbursement, remote work
United States, California, Carlsbad
Jun 03, 2026
Description & Requirements About the Role As the R&D Controller for Sound United, you will serve as a strategic finance partner supporting the SVP, Product Development and Engineering and the Product Line Directors, while reporting into the Sound United SBU Controller. This role is responsible for building, optimizing, forecasting, and tracking the global R&D budget that supports a shared engineering organization developing products across multiple premium audio brands and categories. In addition, development of a category profitability dashboard and corresponding KPI's is critical. In this role, you will help drive financial rigor and portfolio visibility across a highly complex product development environment spanning approximately 400 engineers and 25-50 new product introduction (NPI) programs annually. You will partner closely with Engineering, Category Management, Product Management, and Finance leaders to ensure engineering investments are prioritized effectively, aligned to business cases, and executed within budget while supporting profitable growth. is responsible for providing support for all finance & controlling activities for one or more of Customer Account Management (CAM) teams. The position is responsible for assisting the CAM Lead and their staff on all phases of the automotive business: estimating, tracking, and managing the financial results of assigned customer programs through the RFQ, launch, and execution phases. This encompasses an in-production / in-development business typically worth ~$100 - 200 million in annual revenue. The position reports to the Director, CBU Controlling, and requires close collaboration with CAM, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, and other Automotive Car Division management both in North America and globally Your Team This position will have 3 direct reports What You Will Do In-depth business and financial analysis supporting key commercial terms with the customer Ensure financial commitments including engineering budgets, sales forecasts, variable cost targets, CAPEX, and working capital are achieved Lead the development, consolidation, and ongoing management of the Sound United R&D budget across shared engineering resources, product categories, and brand portfolios. Partner with the SVP, Product Development and Engineering, Sound United SBU Controller, and cross-functional leaders to translate portfolio priorities into detailed resource, project, and cost plans. Build and maintain robust financial models for NPI and research/pre-development portfolios, including rank-ordered project prioritization based on return, sales volume forecasts, strategic fit, and resource constraints. Track actuals, forecast, and variances monthly across engineering investments, ensuring visibility to full-year budget performance and multi-year product development programs that transcend fiscal years. Support business case development and review for new projects, including cost assumptions, resource requirements, launch timing, profitability expectations, and return analysis. Provide regular reporting and insights for Business Case Reviews (BCRs), including monthly sales performance reviews for launched products and postmortem analysis after the first full 12 months of sales. Drive financial discipline across product development and product categories by monitoring program spending, product cost targets, project timing, and portfolio tradeoffs to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of engineering investments. Partner with Engineering and functional stakeholders to adapt plans in response to changing business conditions, portfolio shifts, and evolving resource needs while maintaining forecast accuracy and budget control. Develop reporting tools, dashboards, and processes that improve transparency, decision-making, and operating cadence across R&D and finance organizations. Act as a trusted advisor across a matrixed, global environment, balancing analytical depth, operational detail, and strong interpersonal engagement to influence outcomes. Support senior management with ad hoc and periodic analysis regarding sales & margin trends, profitability, scenario planning, budgeting/forecasting for assigned categories What You Need to Be Successful Undergraduate degree in Finance, Accounting, or other business management discipline 10+ years' experience in Finance or Accounting role Demonstrated examples/experience in leadership, influencing, and collaboration. Exposure to SAP / SAP Business Warehouse ERP environment Excellent written and verbal communication skills Previous financial experience in customer quoting Fluent in oral and written English Project management skills What Makes You Eligible Be willing to travel up to 10%, domestic Be willing to work in an office in Carlsbad, CA or other US HARMAN locations Flexibility in working hours, due to global responsibility, working around the time zones Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment (post-offer). What We Offer Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location 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 Tuition reimbursement "Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development Pay Transparency $ 173,250 - $ 254,100 Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation are also available, such as bonuses or commission. 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 care giver 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. About HARMAN: Where Innovation Unleashes Next-Level Technology Ever since the 1920s, we've been amplifying the sense of sound. Today, that legacy endures, with integrated technology platforms that make the world smarter, safer, and more connected. Across automotive, lifestyle, and digital transformation solutions, we create innovative technologies that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Our renowned automotive and lifestyle solutions can be found everywhere, from the music we play in our cars and homes to venues that feature today's most sought-after performers, while our digital transformation solutions serve humanity by addressing the world's ever-evolving needs and demands. Marketing our award-winning portfolio under 16 iconic brands, such as JBL, Mark Levinson, and Revel, we set ourselves apart by exceeding the highest engineering and design standards for our customers, our partners and each other. If you're ready to innovate and do work that makes a lasting impact, join our talent community today! Important Notice: Recruitment Scams Please be aware that HARMAN recruiters will always communicate with you from an '@harman.com', '@careers.harman.com' or '@harmanglobal.avature.net' email address. We will never ask for payments, banking, credit card, personal financial information or access to your LinkedIn/email account during the screening, interview, or recruitment process. If you are asked for such information or receive communication from an email address not ending in one of the above email domains about a job with HARMAN, please cease communication immediately and report the incident to us through: harmancareers@harman.com. You Belong Here HARMAN is committed to making every employee feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. No matter what role you play, we encourage you to share your ideas, voice your distinct perspective, and bring your whole self with you - all within a support-minded culture that celebrates what makes each of us unique. We also recognize that learning is a lifelong pursuit and want you to flourish. We proudly offer added opportunities for training, development, and continuing education, further empowering you to live the career you want. 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) HARMAN is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at harmancareers@harman.com. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law. Apply