Executive Director AI Architecture

Description & Requirements

About the Role

HARMAN is building an enterprise AI platform that enables agentic AI systems to automate and augment internal business processes at scale. These systems are designed to create operational leverage across business functions such as Customer Service, HR, Finance, Engineering, and Supply Chain.

As the leader of the Enterprise AI Platform Architecture, you will define and own the long-term technical architecture for these systems. You will be in close contact with the divisional AI teams and business leaders.

You will be responsible for architectural decisions that affect multiple organizations, long-lived platforms, and a combination of custom-built and third-party AI solutions. You will be responsible for the required data flows and process changes to make such a system work for the divisions and functions.

This role requires deep technical expertise in distributed systems and applied AI, combined with the ability to guide teams through complex technical trade-offs in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Your Team

This pivotal role, reporting directly to the Vice President of Digital Enterprise, Cloud, and Security starts without direct reports initially. However, a team of internals and external consultants will be built over time as the demand grows.

What You Will Do

• Define and own AI platform architecture supporting agentic AI workloads and internal process automation.
• Make high-impact architectural decisions that balance operational leverage, reliability, security, cost, and speed.
• Drive convergence across AI systems to enable reuse while supporting both custom-built capabilities and external AI platforms.
• Review and approve architectures for AI solutions with broad organizational impact.
• Establish architectural guardrails that allow teams to move fast without compromising long-term maintainability.
• Guide the redesign of enterprise processes and data flows to make them AI- and automation-friendly.
• Partner with engineering and business teams to translate process automation goals into robust technical architecture.
• Identify architectural risks early and lead resolution of complex, cross-team technical issues.
• Ensure the platform evolves as AI models, tools, and best practices change over time.
• Enable teams across the organization to adopt new AI tools, skills, and architectural patterns through technical leadership and influence
• Develop and implement a comprehensive AI Service strategy based on key business challenges.
• Responsible for innovation & implementing new methods/tools to manage and modernize AI Services.
• Practice financial strategy and rigor within the key functions of responsibility through careful budget planning/analysis, supplier cost negations and resource planning in support of HARMAN's key business objectives.
• Manage relationships with AI third-party vendors and service providers.
• Participate in contract negotiations and vendor selection processes.
• Keep abreast of emerging technologies and trends in AI services to recommend and implement innovations that can benefit the organization.
• Ensure that AI services and support activities comply with relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Collaborate and provide strategic guidance with enterprise-wide senior business leaders in understanding business priorities, with the divisional AI teams, building Digital strategies to meet such priorities, communication and influencing execution plans to meet business requirements and timelines.
• Proactively engage with external stakeholders through networking, industry conferences, customer visits to build & evolve knowledge and influence positive outcomes for HARMAN
• Promote a "continuously learning" and innovation mindset to the team. Evaluate and manage the performance of team members, providing feedback and facilitating professional development.

What You Need

• Masters's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience designing large-scale distributed systems or enterprise platforms.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or architect for platforms used by multiple teams.
• Experience designing or operating AI- or data-intensive platforms, including agentic or workflow-driven systems.
• Experience integrating third-party platforms into large enterprise architectures.
• Experience with systems focused on process automation, enterprise productivity, or operational leverage.
• Demonstrated ability to influence architecture across organizational boundaries through technical leadership.
• Dedicated experience managing complex, global projects that impact business performance.
• Required skills include strong leadership, and the ability to prioritize several competing needs.
• Strong experience in leading change management.
• Solid oral and written communication and presentation skills at all levels.

• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

What is Nice to Have

• History of thriving in a globally diverse environment.
• Strong project management experience or PMP certification.
• Aspiration to create and maintain measurable and sustainable processes.

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel up to 10% domestic or international travel .
• Be willing to work in an office located in Novi, MI, Stamford, CT, or Sunnyvale, CA (hybrid)

• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer

• Access to employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG etc.).
• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University's business and leadership academies.
• Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work life integration and collaboration in a global environment.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.
• Tuition Reimbursement.

• "Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program.

#Hybrid

Pay Transparency

$ 210,000 - $ 308,000

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: View email address on click.appcast.io.

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.(
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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.

Apply