Jason Johnson works to ensure that the technology in your car is easy to use. As director of user experience design in Stamford, CT-based HARMAN International’s Connected Car division, Johnson leads a team of interaction and visual designers that creates in-vehicle digital experiences optimized for efficiency, simplicity and safety while driving.

“We focus on the interaction between people and in-vehicle technology to ensure our systems are user-friendly,” says Johnson.

A large part of his job is collaborating with engineers and designers from their automotive clients, including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Harley Davidson, and his team is currently working on several projects that will enter the marketplace for these brands and others in the next two years.

With the constant push to improve in-car technologies, the job outlook for this industry is “very bright.” In particular the emergence of autonomous driving and advanced connectivity capabilities has resulted in new-use cases and unanswered questions that must be investigated.

“This is creating a growing need for software developers, user researchers and designers to define future generations of connected automobiles,” says Johnson. “Opportunities are poised to grow significantly for talented engineers, and especially those in the automotive space.” 

He adds that to deliver the next generation of connected vehicles, an unprecedented level of collaboration will be required among automobile manufacturers, supplier-partners, academic institutions and government agencies.

“Designers and engineers that were previously attracted to the mobile device and smartphone industries are now starting to gravitate toward the automotive industry as technologies for both industries converge. With them, we also see big technology entering the game in a strong way and we must find ways to out-innovate and also at times collaborate,” he states.

Johnson joined HARMAN in spring 2015 for its reputation of being on the leading edge of in-vehicle technology innovation. For instance, HARMAN's analytics and over-the-air (OTA) software update capabilities enable the development of automobiles in a manner consistent with the consumer electronics industry.

“My passion has always been to positively impact society with technological innovations,” explains Johnson. “The automobile is the most complex computing system available to the masses, and I enjoy the challenge of making a product that’s simple and satisfying for drivers….HARMAN gives me the opportunities to continuously learn new things and play a part in setting the pace for the breakneck speed at which technology changes.”

To help drive those technology changes, you’ll need to look for inspiration. And that inspiration, advises Johnson, can be found anywhere.

“It doesn’t matter where the good idea comes from. I’m constantly seeking inspiration from past, present and future engineers and developers, designers, architects, authors and artists - basically anyone who innovates or has a creative idea.”

He also advises those pursuing careers in STEM to work hard to compete on a global scale: “Technology transcends borders. The competition for your next job or product likely lives on another continent. Don’t be content or satisfied with being the best in your local surroundings.”

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