Prototype Engineering Manager

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Background

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

With innovation at the core of all we do, every challenge starts with the same question. How can we do it better? This restless spirit runs right through McLaren Automotive. And the search for perfection is evident in everything we do.

Purpose of Role

Purpose of the Role: The Prototype Engineering Manager is responsible for the delivery of all future projects, prototype build phases to agreed cost, quality, and timing.

This project management role will require the candidate to directly lead a cross-functional team of build engineers and supply chain team members, whilst coordinating design engineering and core programme stakeholders to ensure all pre-VP builds are completed on time and to a very high quality.

The candidate is required to liaise with all product development departments and support the generation and delivery of all pre-VP vehicle functional build specifications. They will subsequently plan and execute the end-to-end process through to vehicle audit and customer handover. Build phases include all pre-VP vehicles and, where the business demands a level of VP uplift activity.

Principal Accountabilities

Principal Accountabilities:

  • Ensure consistent alignment over the way each future programme team approaches the prototype phase of the development cycle.
  • Forecast resource requirements encompassing mule design, build engineering and the supply chain team, feeding into the medium and long-term business headcount submissions by each area manager.
  • Support the Chief Design Engineers across each future programme to plan and initiate the timely kick-off of mule design.
  • Work with Design Engineering Leaders to structure and deliver a virtual build of each prototype vehicle, monitoring and reporting progress to Senior Management.
  • Work with the Development team & Project Coordination to define vehicle specifications and build timings, ensuring risks are raised and mitigated.
  • Ensure relevant McLaren procedures are adhered to, to maintain audit compliance both internally and externally.
  • Ensure budgets are managed and allocation is not exceeded at outlay and throughout the build.
  • Progress and status reports to be communicated back to the business.
  • Work with business processes & resolve issues within engineering when they arise, driving continuous improvement.
  • Management of engineering change control ensuring deviations from functional specification requirement are agreed and documented.
  • Oversee commissioning activities to confirm vehicle performance capabilities outlined with functional specification requirements are achieved.
  • Ability to create and present complex data analysis to senior/exec levels of the business in regard to project build, timing, and financial status.
  • Management of build documentation for customer handover, including uploading vehicle data to McLaren’s own vehicle activity tracking software, Virtual Car.
  • Maintain close working relationships with the engineering groups (incl. attribute leads) to deliver programme goals as a key member of the engineering team.
  • Management of the Prototype Engineering team and all of its personnel driving them towards High Performance delivery.
  • Responsible for the team’s annual performance review process, including performance management, discipline, and conflict resolution.
  • Leading by example, proactive engagement with key external stakeholders and their management positively promoting work task deliverable accountability in line with the wider business planned mule build timing.
  • Responsible for driving the procurement phase of mules build with a specialist team of logistics personnel.
  • Maintain and endorse McLaren values and culture including McLaren standards of housekeeping, appearance, values, and behaviours.
  • Support the wider Test Operations team in delivering Health and Safety excellence for the department, including team training requirements, risk assessments, occupational health management and compliance to McLaren protocols and policy.
  • This role will report to the Test Operations Manager.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

  • Proven management experience of a cross functional team, including both operational delivery and business and people management tasking.
  • Engineering degree (min II.I) or equivalent and a robust grasp of engineering theory.
  • Extensive experience of development programme delivery, ideally gained on low volume, high performance vehicle programmes.
  • Strong understanding of Prototype Vehicle requirements.
  • Extensive Automotive testing experience.
  • Knowledge and experience of a broad range of vehicle and rig data acquisition, test, and analysis techniques.
  • Excellent IT skills and at ease with MS Office products.

Personal Attributes

Personal Attributes:

  • Able to lead and motivate a cross functional team of engineers, technicians, and supply chain functions.
  • Hard-working, proactive, ambitious, and self-motivated to deliver engineering excellence.
  • Able to apply technical experience to the development of engineering designs, plus the analysis and resolution of technical issues.
  • Excellent organisational skills to manage multiple complex activities.
  • Assured communication skills at all levels.
  • Flexible approach to working hours.
  • Calm under pressure.
Organisation: 
McLaren Automotive