Principal Data Engineering

Description & Requirements

Introduction: 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

What You’ll Be Part Of

As a Principal Data Engineer, you will be a highly experienced individual contributor responsible for the design and delivery of complex, production-scale data products on HARMAN Automotive's enterprise data and AI platform. You will provide technical leadership across data engineering initiatives, solve difficult cross-domain problems, and help establish reusable engineering patterns for teams across the organization. This role combines deep Azure Databricks and data engineering expertise with technical leadership, mentoring, and close collaboration across business and technology teams.

How You’ll Make An Impact

• Lead the technical design and delivery of complex and cross-domain data products using Azure Databricks and the enterprise data platform.
• Design scalable data pipelines, transformation architectures, data models, and integration patterns for high-value business use cases.
• Make technical decisions and resolve complex engineering, performance, data quality, and integration challenges.
• Lead engineers in applying strong software and data engineering practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, observability, code review, and deployment automation.
• Define and improve reusable data engineering patterns, templates, and golden paths in partnership with Platform Engineering.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to other Data Engineers while remaining hands-on with critical engineering work.
• Partner with architects, Platform Engineering, security, MDM/Data Quality, Analytics, and domain teams to ensure data products meet enterprise standards.
• Guide the implementation of data contracts, quality controls, lineage, metadata, security, and operational requirements within data products.
• Lead technical discussions with source-system teams and business domains to resolve complex data dependencies and interoperability issues.
• Evaluate new Databricks and data engineering capabilities and recommend where they can improve delivery, scalability, reliability, or cost.
• Support difficult or immature domain teams while helping mature teams work independently within enterprise guardrails.
• Contribute to technical planning and estimation for major data-product initiatives and identify engineering risks and dependencies early.

What Makes You A Strong Fit

• 8+ years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, data architecture, data platforms, or related technical roles.
• Deep experience designing and delivering production data solutions using Python, SQL, Spark/PySpark, and distributed data processing technologies.
• Strong experience with Azure Databricks or a comparable enterprise lakehouse platform.
• Strong understanding of lakehouse architecture, Delta Lake, data modeling, batch and streaming architectures, orchestration, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Demonstrated experience leading the technical delivery of complex data engineering initiatives across multiple systems or teams.
• Strong experience with CI/CD, Git-based development, automated testing, deployment automation, and software engineering practices applied to data.
• Strong understanding of performance optimization, production support, observability, resiliency, and data pipeline reliability.
• Working knowledge of data governance, security, access management, metadata, lineage, and data quality.
• Ability to influence technical decisions, mentor engineers, and communicate complex concepts clearly to technical and business stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Databricks professional-level certification or substantial enterprise Databricks experience.
• Deep experience with Unity Catalog, Databricks Workflows, Delta Lake optimization, Lakeflow, MLflow, or Databricks Asset Bundles.
• Experience designing reusable engineering frameworks or standards used by multiple development teams.
• Experience with Kafka, CDC, Azure Data Factory, dbt, APIs, event-driven architectures, or high-volume streaming data.
• Experience with data mesh, data products, or federated hub-and-spoke operating models.
• Experience integrating data for analytics, AI/ML, and enterprise data-sharing use cases.
• Experience with SAP, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, HR, or other complex enterprise data environments.
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership across globally distributed teams.

Things To Know

• This role is based in Novi, Michigan and follows a hybrid schedule, with regular in-office collaboration alongside engineering, product, and customer program teams.
• This position will collaborate with global teams, so occasional early morning or evening meetings may be needed to collaborate with teams across North America, Europe, and India.
• This role may require occasional domestic and international travel.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment (post-offer).

What You Can Expect

• A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration, with most office-based roles onsite three days a week.
• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others)
• Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs
• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being
• Tuition reimbursement support
• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that supports both your professional and personal development

Pay Transparency

$ 125,250 - $ 183,700

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 jobsearch.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.() 

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 jobsearch.harman.com . Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.