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.
It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.
McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.
Purpose of Role
As the Principal Engineer for Closures within the Body Exterior team, you will work with cutting edge products having opportunity to create, deliver and introduce your own ideas without limitations of benchmarks.
Reporting to the Engineering Manager (Body Systems), you will be responsible for managing a team of Project & Design Engineers assuming technical ownership of Body Exterior Closures across multiple vehicle development projects
Be the Technical point of reference for Body Closure Systems aspects at component, sub-system and system level for the Vehicle Line/Platform from ‘cradle to grave’
Be responsible for the continuous management of the technology roadmaps for Body Closure Systems for current and future vehicle projects.
Represent the functional department and support the Engineering Manager in delivering against Project Objectives and MDPII Gateway Milestones and Deliverables.
As part of the Body Exterior Team promote, implement and support a simultaneous approach to vehicle development cross functionally with internal and external partners.
In summary, this is a role that will require you to push and develop not just yourself, but your team’s engineering capability, influencing future system design with a direct impact on vehicle performance and perceived quality in the market.
Principal Accountabilities
- Lead and develop your team to deliver Body Closure System components and systems in line with targets, KPI’s and milestones set by the McLaren Development Process and Vehicle Line Management team, on multiple projects.
- Working closely with the Engineering Manager for Body Systems, Vehicle Line Leadership and other relevant stakeholders support the definition and implementation of targets and goals for all projects, responsible systems and components.
- Ensure design and engineering integrity to exceed performance, quality and commercial targets, utilising a rigorous engineering approach to develop right first time design.
- Providing technical leadership to the project cross functional teams, as well as being the subject matter expert within the Body Exterior function group.
- Promote, implement and support a Simultaneous approach to Body Styling, Design and Engineering where early engagement from all stakeholders is maximised in order to avoid late changes and delays in the overall process. This is including internal stakeholders like Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, other Vehicle Engineering teams, Service/After sales, marketing, etc. and external stakeholders like suppliers, outsourced resource partners, etc.
- Influence and actively participate in the selection of business partners, including suppliers
- Robust logical problem solving skills including root cause analysis, idea generation and countermeasure evaluation techniques.
- Maximize your performance and development as an individual as well as that of all individuals within your team.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Experience of leading direct and indirect teams, working cross-functionally, ideally in the automotive industry.
- Design and development experience of Body Exterior Closures in an OEM, or in a tier 1 supplier, with a high level of technical knowledge & experience of closure component, and system design, development, manufacturing and testing.
- Robust, proven feasibility assessment skills within an APQP or similar framework including FMEA, DFA/DFM, DVP, component planning and PPAP
- Proven ability and understanding of latest automotive manufacture processes, feasibility and technology, including development tools.
- Experience in lightweight body design and materials technology
- Robust understanding of the complete product lifecycle, from ‘cradle to grave’.
- Sound commercial and financial awareness
- CAD knowledge for assembly and part interrogation. Design experience advantageous.
- Good understanding of GD&T
- PC literate and at ease with MS Office
Personal Attributes
- A passion for high performance / supercar engineering.
- A great team worker who is driven to support their team to success.
- A confident, engaging communicator able to influence and lead meetings.
- Strong interpersonal skills – ability to communicate to all levels of the business including external partners.
- An ability to motivate others, teams and work cross-functionally effectively.
- A creative & thoughtful approach to concept design and solving engineering problems with good attention to detail.
- A positive, proactive attitude with a high level of self-motivation to deliver excellence.
- An engaging mindset, open to new challenges and working where necessary outside their comfort zone to push innovation and challenge the norm
- Logical approach to problem solving and work in a methodical manner.
- Ability to remain focused and deliver in fast paced and dynamic environment