Director of Product Design

Job description

**About Drivemode:** Drivemode is a California-based division of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. We are a small, passionate team of software product innovators helping Honda Automotive be competitive in the Hybrid and Electric Vehicle market. We build application experiences for mobile devices. Are you passionate about creating next-generation delightful digital experiences for automotive? Maybe you have worked at some notable automotive companies in this capacity? Would you like to work on new products and product categories at Honda and help Honda invent the future of automotive? Then we would like to hear from you! **Why Drivemode:** Join Drivemode for an exciting startup environment and a vibrant culture that combines impactful work, competitive compensation, and excellent benefits. By becoming a part of our team, you'll contribute to a crucial mission that revolutionizes the way people engage with vehicles, addressing both business needs and the world's environmental challenges. This presents an exceptional opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and drive Honda's success in the EV market. **About the role:** We are looking for a Director of Product Design to lead Product Design for Drivemode's Automotive Division and help shape Honda's transformation into a software-driven mobility company. Reporting to the VP of Design, you will serve as the senior design leader for the business, partnering closely with the Engineering and Product Management leadership to drive product strategy, organizational alignment, and business outcomes. This role is responsible for leading the design organization within the Automotive Division, strengthening the partnership between Drivemode and Honda, and ensuring that customer needs, product strategy, and technical execution come together in a cohesive product vision. ### What You Will Do: - Lead Product Design across the Automotive Division, driving experience quality, strategic alignment, and customer impact. - Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to shape product vision, roadmap priorities, and portfolio strategy. - Serve as a senior Design representative to Honda, building alignment and driving shared ownership across organizations. - Represent Design in strategic and executive-level discussions across Drivemode and Honda. - Lead and develop the Product Design team, providing coaching, mentorship, and opportunities for growth. - Strengthen cross-functional collaboration, operating rhythms, and decision-making processes that enable teams to execute effectively. - Apply systems thinking to connect customer needs, business goals, and technical constraints across products, services, and platforms. - Champion organizational effectiveness and help teams navigate ambiguity and complexity. - Partner with Design leadership and Principal Designers to continuously elevate design quality, team capability, and design impact. ### What We Are Looking For: - Experience leading Design teams within complex product, platform, or service environments. - Strong product and business acumen, with a track record of influencing strategy and organizational outcomes. - Experience partnering closely with senior Product and Engineering leaders. - Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience working with executive audiences. - Ability to build alignment across organizations, disciplines, and cultures. - Strong systems thinking and comfort operating in highly cross-functional environments. - Experience developing high-performing teams and growing future leaders. - Flexibility for domestic and international travel to support cross-organizational collaboration and alignment. ### Nice to Have: - Experience in hardware + software ecosystems, eg. automotive, mobility, consumer technology. - Experience working with large enterprise partners or global organizations. - Familiarity with Japanese business culture and cross-cultural collaboration. - Japanese language proficiency.