Director of Product, IVI, Japanese Bilingual

Our Mission: Driving technology always feels old. Not by a little bit. We believe vehicles can be a thousand times smarter, safer, and more connected to the world around us, and our mission is to see it happen. In 2019, we joined forces with Honda as their first startup acquisition, and now we’re expanding our vision into building the future of electric vehicles (BEV) for millions of people around the world.   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:  Drivemode, a part of Honda, is seeking a visionary and results-driven Director/Head of Product for In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) to lead the strategy, development, and execution of world-class infotainment systems. As the first dedicated leader in this domain, you will define the product vision, roadmap, and user experience that will delight Honda and Acura customers globally. This role is critical to positioning Honda as a leader in the electric vehicle (EV) and software-defined vehicle (SDV) revolution. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of mobility and infotainment at one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. What you do

• Define and Execute Product Strategy: Develop and own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for Honda’s IVI systems, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader goals for EVs and SDVs (software-defined vehicles).
• Drive Customer-Centric Innovation: Leverage data, user research, and market insights to create intuitive, delightful, and highly functional infotainment experiences for global customers.
• Collaborate Across Borders: Work closely with stakeholders at Honda (Japan and US) to align priorities, manage expectations, and deliver solutions that meet both regional and global needs.
• Lead and Scale Teams: Build, mentor, and empower a high-performing product team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and customer obsession.
• Optimize Development Processes: Partner with engineering, design, and other cross-functional teams to ensure efficient and effective product delivery.
• Champion Product Excellence: Establish best practices for product management, UX design, and technical integration, ensuring Honda remains at the forefront of infotainment innovation.
• Travel: Occasional travel (10-15%) to Los Angeles, CA, and Tokyo, Japan, may be required to collaborate with key stakeholders.

What we are looking for

• Experience: 10+ years of product management experience, with a proven track record of delivering successful consumer-facing tech products. Experience in both large corporations and startups is highly preferred.
• Industry Expertise: Deep understanding of product development fundamentals, UX/UI principles, and software/hardware technologies and integrations. Experience in the automotive industry or infotainment systems is a strong plus but not mandatory.
• Bilingual Proficiency: Fluency in both spoken and written Japanese is required to effectively collaborate with Japanese counterparts.
• Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead and grow high-performing teams, with experience scaling product organizations from the ground up.
• Analytical & Strategic: Exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to balance long-term vision with short-term execution, driving innovation while delivering results.
• Passion for Mobility: A strong interest in the future of transportation, electric vehicles, and software-defined vehicles.

This is the position's total compensation package including the company's bonus structure. This position also comes with full benefits. Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to demonstrated skill set, years and depth of relevant experience, and some role-dependent factors. We welcome direct conversations with each candidate about compensation in all of our initial calls.

EEOC Statement Drivemode is proud of a very diverse team with employees coming from 5 continents/20 countries as of today. Diversity in our workplace has played an important part in our success; we recognize each employee’s unique background, knowledge, experiences, ideas, and viewpoints which are all critical in developing a product that has the greatest impacts on drivers all over the world.
Drivemode provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other characteristics that make you unique.