Principal UX Engineer Automotive

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Engineer - Automotive

Company: Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC

Location: Raymond, Ohio, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Engineering / Product Development

Date Posted: May 10, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the definition and development of innovative automotive infotainment solutions and features, with a strategic focus on Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electrification (C.A.S.E.) technologies.

• Conduct comprehensive user research and leverage findings to create user-centered designs and compelling user interface (UI) specifications that enhance customer satisfaction and maintain market competitiveness.

• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in UX engineering, staying ahead of emerging technologies, industry best practices, and regulatory landscapes within the automotive and consumer electronics sectors.

• Manage and mentor a team of UX professionals, setting performance objectives, conducting appraisals, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality infotainment development content.

• Develop and maintain detailed technical documentation, including specification sheets, test reports, and evaluation documents, ensuring accuracy and adherence to project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Principal-level UX Engineer, indicating a significant level of expertise, leadership, and strategic influence within the UX domain. The emphasis on C.A.S.E. technologies highlights the forward-looking nature of the position and its alignment with future automotive trends. The explicit mention of managing direct reports and acting as an SME further solidifies the senior and leadership aspects of this role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth research on the user experience of current and future automotive and consumer electronics products to identify trends and opportunities.

• Analyze user research data to deeply understand customer needs, desires, and pain points related to infotainment systems, including displays, information architecture, interface controls, and entertainment features.

• Propose and implement data-driven modifications and new infotainment solutions, ensuring alignment with customer needs and business objectives.

• Create detailed feature and user interface (UI) specifications, translating user research and product strategy into actionable design requirements.

• Verify the accurate implementation of UI specifications on test setups and within vehicles, ensuring a seamless and high-quality user experience.

• Manage and report on the performance of direct reports and project team members, setting clear performance objectives and conducting formal performance appraisals.

• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) by maintaining an in-depth understanding of current and emerging technologies, external regulations, and industry best practices through continuous professional development.

• Compile, develop, and review technical documentation, including specification sheets, test reports, and evaluation documents, ensuring completeness and quality.

• Write clear, concise reports, presentations, and technical documents to communicate development activities and findings effectively to Technical Experts and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a blend of individual contribution in research and specification, team leadership, and expert guidance. The emphasis on "verifying correct implementation" suggests a hands-on approach to quality assurance within the development lifecycle, which is critical for UX roles in hardware-integrated products like automotive infotainment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in UX engineering, product development, or a closely related field.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience conducting user-centered research in an educational and/or professional environment.

• Proficiency in product benchmarking to assess competitive offerings and identify areas for improvement.

• Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce clear and compelling presentation documents for diverse audiences.

• Strong understanding of user experience principles and their application in complex systems.

• Experience in creating detailed feature and user interface specifications.

• Ability to analyze user research data and translate insights into actionable design recommendations.

• Experience in performance management and conducting formal individual performance appraisals.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with GUI prototyping tools such as Figma, ProtoPie, Axure, or Kanzi.

• Familiarity with C.A.S.E. (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electrification) technologies and their impact on user experience.

• Experience within the automotive industry, specifically with infotainment systems.

• Knowledge of Human Factors engineering principles and their application in product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 1-3 years of supervisory experience, coupled with a total experience of 8+ years and a Principal title, suggests this role is a Senior Individual Contributor with direct management responsibilities for a small team or project group. The preference for specific prototyping tools indicates a need for candidates with practical, hands-on design skills in addition to research and strategic capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant UX projects, preferably within the automotive or complex consumer electronics domain, demonstrating a full product development lifecycle.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the methodology used (e.g., user research, heuristic evaluation, usability testing), design artifacts (e.g., wireframes, prototypes, user flows), and measurable outcomes.

• Highlight projects that involved the development of user interface specifications and the verification of implementation, demonstrating attention to detail and quality assurance.

• Include examples of how user research data was analyzed and translated into impactful design decisions that addressed customer needs and business goals.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented user research findings, including synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data.

• Include samples of detailed user interface and feature specifications that you have authored.

• Demonstrate experience in creating user flow diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent.

• Showcase documentation that illustrates the process of verifying design implementation against specifications, including any testing or validation reports.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal-level UX Engineer, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just visual design and demonstrate strategic thinking, research rigor, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to drive product quality through clear specifications and verification. The emphasis should be on impact and measurable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive Base Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

• Regional Bonus: Potential for a bonus based on company and individual performance.

• Manager Lease Car Program: Includes a no-cost company car, maintenance, and insurance.

• Industry-Leading Benefit Plans: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug insurance.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, holiday, and shutdown periods.

• Disability Insurance: Company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Retirement Savings: 401K plan with a company match and additional company contribution.

• Relocation Assistance: Available for eligible candidates.

• Education & Development: Education reimbursement, tuition assistance, student loan repayment programs, and comprehensive training and development programs.

• Lifestyle & Wellbeing: Lifestyle account, childcare reimbursement account, elder care support, and a dedicated wellbeing program.

• Community & Product Programs: Opportunities for community service and engagement, along with product programs.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour workweek, with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and business needs. The role is on-site at the Auto Development Center in Raymond, OH.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in the specified region and experience level. Benefits are comprehensive and reflect Honda's commitment to employee well-being and development. The lease car program is a significant perk.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing, Technology & Innovation

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Honda is a global automotive giant with tens of thousands of employees worldwide, and its US development and manufacturing arm is also substantial). This size offers stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for broad impact.

Founded: 1948 (Honda Motor Co., Ltd.)

Team Structure:

• The UX Engineering team likely operates within a larger product development or R&D division, focusing specifically on the vehicle's human-machine interface (HMI) and infotainment systems.

• This team collaborates closely with hardware engineers, software developers, product planners, marketing, and potentially external suppliers.

Methodology:

• Honda emphasizes a philosophy of continuous improvement (Kaizen) and a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

• Expect a data-driven approach to product development, integrating user research, competitive analysis, and performance metrics into the design process.

• The focus on C.A.S.E. indicates an agile and forward-thinking approach to incorporating new technologies.

• Rigorous documentation and validation processes are standard in automotive development to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Company Website: https://careers.honda.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Honda's culture is known for its engineering excellence, focus on quality, and long-term vision. The "Kaizen" philosophy is central, meaning a continuous drive for improvement in all aspects of work. Understanding this philosophy will be key to fitting into the team.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal UX Engineer

This role represents a senior leadership position within the UX engineering function. It signifies deep technical expertise, a proven track record of delivering complex projects, and the ability to guide and mentor others. At this level, you are expected to not only execute but also to define the strategic direction for UX within your domain, influencing product roadmaps and championing user-centered design principles across the organization.

Reporting Structure:

You will likely report to a Director or Senior Manager of Infotainment Engineering or a related R&D department. You will have direct reports, including UX Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially junior UX Engineers, whom you will lead, mentor, and evaluate. Collaboration will be extensive with cross-functional teams in software, hardware, product planning, and testing.

Operations Impact:

Your work will directly influence the user experience of Honda vehicles, impacting customer satisfaction, brand perception, and future product adoption. By ensuring that infotainment systems are intuitive, engaging, and seamlessly integrated with emerging C.A.S.E. technologies, you will play a crucial role in maintaining Honda's competitive edge and driving innovation in mobility. Your insights will shape the future of in-car digital experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into higher management roles, such as Manager or Director of UX Engineering, overseeing larger teams and broader product portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific C.A.S.E. technologies or emerging UX fields, becoming a recognized industry expert.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into product management, program management, or strategic innovation roles within Honda.

• Continuous Learning: Access to extensive training programs, education reimbursement, and industry conferences to stay at the forefront of UX and automotive technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title strongly suggests a path towards senior leadership or deep technical specialization. Honda's emphasis on career mobility and education reimbursement provides a structured framework for professional growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate Development Center

The role is based at Honda's Auto Development Center in Raymond, Ohio. This is a dedicated facility for automotive research, development, and engineering, implying a professional, technically focused environment.

Office Location(s):

Workspace Context:

• You can expect a collaborative workspace designed for engineering and development teams. This likely includes individual workstations equipped with necessary hardware and software, meeting rooms for team discussions and presentations, and potentially specialized labs for testing and prototyping.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with engineering teams (software, hardware) will be frequent, fostering a dynamic and integrated development culture.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project milestones and address critical development needs. As an on-site role, it requires consistent attendance at the Raymond, OH facility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is firm. The environment will be highly technical and collaborative, typical of automotive R&D centers, emphasizing efficiency and innovation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter conducts a preliminary assessment of your resume and qualifications.

• Technical Interview(s): Conducted by hiring managers and senior UX engineers. Expect questions on UX principles, research methodologies, design processes, and your experience with automotive infotainment and C.A.S.E. technologies. You may be asked to walk through specific projects from your portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present selected projects from your portfolio, detailing your contributions, problem-solving approach, and outcomes.

• Behavioral Interview: Assesses your leadership skills, team management experience, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit with Honda's values. Questions will focus on your experience supervising others and acting as an SME.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your Principal-level capabilities, leadership, and experience with complex infotainment systems and C.A.S.E. technologies.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your specific role, the methodologies employed, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the measurable impact (e.g., improved user satisfaction, reduced task completion time, competitive advantage).

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you led a team, mentored junior members, or influenced product strategy.

• Showcase Process: Detail your user research, design, and validation processes. Include examples of UI specifications and how you ensured their correct implementation.

• Be Concise and Clear: Prepare a structured presentation that is engaging and easy to follow, with clear visuals and concise explanations.

Challenge Preparation:

• UX Problem-Solving: Be prepared for hypothetical scenarios related to designing or improving automotive infotainment features. Think about how you would approach the problem, what research you would conduct, and what solutions you might propose.

• Technical Acumen: Brush up on C.A.S.E. technologies and how they integrate into the user experience.

• Leadership Scenarios: Prepare examples demonstrating your ability to manage teams, resolve conflicts, and drive performance based on your supervisory experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a critical component for this role. Candidates should be prepared to articulate not just the "what," but the "why" and "how" behind their design decisions and leadership actions, demonstrating strategic thinking and measurable impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma, ProtoPie, Axure, Kanzi (Experience with at least one is preferred).

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration Tools: JIRA, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams for project management and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Software: Tools for analyzing user behavior data (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specialized in-car analytics platforms).

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or similar for creating dashboards and reports to communicate insights to stakeholders.

• Reporting Tools: Proficiency in generating clear, concise reports and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data flows from customer touchpoints into product development processes is beneficial. Familiarity with systems that manage user feedback and product requirements is a plus.

• Version Control: Git or similar for managing design assets and specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern UX design and prototyping tools is essential, with specific tools like Figma and Kanzi being highly relevant in the automotive space. The ability to work with data analytics and reporting tools is also crucial for demonstrating the impact of UX decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Continuous Improvement (Kaizen): A core Honda value, expecting a proactive approach to identifying and implementing improvements in processes, products, and personal performance.

• Quality and Reliability: A deep commitment to engineering excellence, ensuring that all delivered solutions meet rigorous standards for performance and durability.

• Customer Focus: Prioritizing customer needs and satisfaction in all design and development decisions, striving to create exceptional user experiences.

• Innovation and Foresight: Encouraging the exploration of new technologies and forward-thinking solutions, particularly in areas like C.A.S.E., to shape the future of mobility.

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work together towards common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with engineering (software, hardware), product management, marketing, and testing teams. Your role as a Principal UX Engineer will involve bridging these disciplines.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using research data, performance metrics, and user feedback to inform design choices and strategy.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture that encourages open discussion and constructive feedback to refine designs and processes.

• Process Adherence and Innovation: Balancing the need to follow established automotive development processes with the drive to innovate and adopt new UX methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of and alignment with Honda's core values, particularly Kaizen and a dedication to quality, as these are fundamental to the company's identity and operational philosophy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Constraints: Integrating cutting-edge C.A.S.E. technologies into infotainment systems while adhering to automotive-specific safety, regulatory, and cost constraints.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively translating UX insights and design requirements to engineering teams who may have different technical priorities and perspectives.

• User Research in a Complex Environment: Conducting user research that accurately reflects real-world driving scenarios and the complexities of automotive use.

• Managing Evolving Technologies: Keeping pace with the rapid advancements in automotive software, AI, and connectivity to ensure infotainment systems remain competitive and future-proof.

• Team Leadership: Effectively leading and motivating a team of UX professionals, ensuring high performance and development, especially with limited direct supervisory experience required.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technology Training: Opportunities to deepen knowledge in areas like AI, machine learning for UX, connected car services, and autonomous driving interfaces.

• Industry Conferences: Support for attending leading UX and automotive technology conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI, automotive HMI events).

• Mentorship Programs: Access to senior leaders and subject matter experts within Honda for guidance and career development.

• Formal Training: Honda's commitment to education reimbursement and training programs for skill enhancement and professional growth.

• Leadership Development: Programs designed to hone management and strategic leadership skills for those in Principal and higher roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of automotive user experience at a major global manufacturer. The challenges are significant but are matched by substantial growth and learning prospects.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders across different departments (e.g., engineering, product) to adopt a UX recommendation. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, data-driven persuasion, and collaboration).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for an autonomous vehicle's infotainment system, considering the shift in driver engagement and information needs?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking about C.A.S.E. and user context).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody Honda's philosophy of Kaizen in your daily work or past projects?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous improvement).

• "Describe your experience acting as a Subject Matter Expert. How do you stay current with emerging technologies, and how do you share that knowledge with your team or colleagues?" (Demonstrate your proactive learning and knowledge-sharing capabilities).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose projects that clearly demonstrate your Principal-level contributions, leadership, and experience with automotive infotainment or complex digital systems.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline: the problem, your role and responsibilities, the user research and design process, key challenges, your solutions, and quantifiable results or impact.

• Highlight Leadership & SME Experience: Explicitly point out instances where you led a team, mentored others, or provided expert guidance.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodologies, decision-making rationale, and the tools you used.

• Focus on C.A.S.E.: If possible, include a project that touches upon connected, autonomous, shared, or electrified vehicle features.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not only UX skills but also leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the automotive development context and Honda's specific culture and values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the Honda Careers portal via the provided link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your most impactful UX projects that highlight your leadership, strategic thinking, and experience with complex systems (ideally automotive or C.A.S.E. related). Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, methodology, solutions, and measurable outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to emphasize your 8+ years of experience, supervisory experience (1-3 years), expertise in user research, UI specification, prototyping tools (mentioning Figma, ProtoPie, etc.), and any direct automotive or C.A.S.E. experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on clear communication, deep dives into your process and rationale, and showcasing your leadership and SME capabilities. Practice articulating your impact and value proposition concisely.

• Research Honda: Familiarize yourself with Honda's automotive products, their current infotainment systems, their vision for future mobility (especially C.A.S.E. initiatives), and their company values like Kaizen.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.