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
To lead the delivery of multiple significant engineering outsource projects, across E/E Systems Design, Model Based Development, Embedded Software & E/E Systems Validation.
Working closely with Vehicle Line leadership team, the E/E Systems & Software Management team, and other relevant stakeholders to define and achieve Quality, Cost & Timing goals for all projects in your responsibility.
Principal Accountabilities
- Monitor the engineering services market & schedule regular capability presentations from suppliers. Lead the RFQ process & supplier selection for new projects.
- Develop the relationship, framework and ultimately the capability of your external partners including a clear performance management process. Includes specifying detailed deliverables with associated metrics; clear timing & budget constraints; and defining the process to manage project change with the supplier.
- Close working relationship with other E/E Systems & Software Managers to ensure consistent approach being taken across McLaren projects.
- Drive the progress of deliverables completion, working with E/E Systems & Software Managers to verify the standard of work is as expected & actively manage scope to ensure the project remains within budget.
- Pro-active management of risks, issues, and dependencies, including on time deliveries from McLaren to the supplier.
- Regular project status reporting to Vehicle Line & department Directors.
- Centre of excellence for project management within the department - including leading project resource planning, software license & CapEx budgets, as well as purchase order planning & renewal across the whole team. Jointly develop insource / outsource strategy with the E/E Systems & Software management team.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Demonstrable track record of on-time delivery in a high-pressure environment. Leading software or systems projects using agile methodologies within multi-disciplinary and diverse groups in a hi-tech industry, ideally automotive.
- Proven ability to apply risk management concepts
- Experience working with distributed global engineering teams.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office products
- Experience using JIRA (or similar) for software project management is essential
- Professional memberships or qualifications in project management methodologies e.g., CSM/APM/PMI/Prince2 are desirable but not essential.
- Experience working in a small or medium sized business is preferred.
Personal Attributes
- An energetic, driven and goal-based leader with a passion for delivering challenging projects to exact and compact timescales with a significant amount of innovation and customer focus. Proactive, tenacious & interested in managing the detail.
- Flexible and pragmatic, ability to manage competing priorities and internal customer requests in a dynamic environment
- Very strong communication and networking skills. Confident influencing, motivating and leading engineering/project teams as well as harmonising with peers, senior management & internal customers. Able to lead high level meetings.
- Excellent negotiating skills, confident to have the difficult discussions & find the win-win with the supplier in challenging project circumstances.
- Have strong organisational skills, a 'can-do' philosophy and be a collaborative member of the E/E Systems & Software team.
- Flexible approach to working hours/ business trips.