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
The Passive Safety Senior Engineer must find and validate passive safety design solutions on certain future McLaren road vehicles, for all world regions. This role reports to a Passive Safety Principal Engineer. The individual will receive occasional supervision and assistance from other members of the team who are experts in their field.
The senior engineer is accountable for achieving acceptable Passive Safety performance in vehicle crash tests and vehicle PS performance for a derivative or facelift vehicle programme. The Senior engineer sets crash targets for the programme and then leads solutions to the design of componentry and systems which result in a vehicle that is capable of achieving legal and internal standards for occupant, pedestrian and structural requirements in crash events. The senior engineer is then responsible for planning and executing the crash testing programme, including nomination and management of supplier and budgets, and for preparing and executing the tests.
At this exciting moment in McLaren's history, the number of new programmes is growing rapidly on the back of ongoing success in the marketplace. McLaren vehicles are consistently lighter than their competitors and employ cutting-edge materials technology. In this context, the Passive Safety department must employ exceptional technical understanding to create innovative solutions and approaches to keep McLaren road cars at the forefront of Passive Safety performance.
Principal Accountabilities
Ownership of Passive Safety performance for one minor derivative or facelift vehicle programme, including the following responsibilities:
- Responsible for successful achievement of Passive Safety attribute, including Passive Safety relevant legislation for this minor programme. Accountability lies with the Passive Safety Principal Engineer. The duration of this responsibility is from G-1 to G7.
- Planning, budget and resource allocation for this minor programme is the responsibility of the Passive Safety Manager
- Single point of contact for programme leadership and meetings just for this minor programme. If an issue is escalated to programme significance, then the Passive Safety Manager will step in.
- Report and present to senior stakeholders, such as programme management and chief engineer, when called upon in attribute meetings or programme meetings.
- Be the budget administrator for this minor crash programme. Assist the Passive Safety Manager to create the budget.
- Set the passive safety targets for this minor vehicle programme with the assistance and approval of the Passive Safety Manager.
- Lead structural, exteriors and restraints conceptual design to achieve passive safety targets.
- Perform proof-of-concept tests where required to prove out novel or risky designs.
- Assist in co-ordinating the Passive Safety restraints CAE activities for each programme.
- Author and maintain passive safety test timing plan, and report through programme DVP.
- Manage preparation and execution of vehicle tests.
- Attend vehicle and rig crash tests at supplier site, with authority to represent McLaren.
- Ensure all vehicles and other test material used is representative of design intent, fit for purpose and agreed with organisational stakeholders.
- Conduct vehicle safety attribute testing as required by vehicle program (including full vehicle crash testing, sub-system and component tests).
- Organise workshop technician support to ensure that all vehicle re-builds, parts and teardowns are done to high standards.
- Work with external test partners to ensure all testing conforms to company procedures, industry best practice and global regulations.
- Sign-off test preparation activities and authorise test supplier to perform the crash test.
- Perform post-analysis of Passive Safety test data for adherence to target and advise on any departure from expected performance.
- Raise engineering issue documentation (QCRs) if concerns are found during the course of this activity.
- Close Passive Safety issues through pro-actively leading multi-functional engineering teams, the CAE group, and other attribute team leaders to establish root cause and solutions to engineering issues.
- Single point of contact for expert advice related to this minor Passive Safety sub-attribute.
- Create Passive Safety design guides and component technical specifications (MTS) for this area of expertise.
- Write test specifications for all Passive Safety tests related to this minor Passive Safety Sub-attribute.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- An engineering graduate with an Batchelors Degree (or equivalent) of minimum 2.1 classification.
- Furthermore, a Masters Degree (or equivalent) with specialisation in structural, materials, simulation or crash research would be an advantage, but is not a requirement.
- 3 years of experience of Passive Safety engineering is required; beyond this any time working in Passive Safety testing or component design would be an advantage.
- Proficiency in multiple languages would be welcome but not essential
Personal Attributes
- Willing to travel to test houses and suppliers as required (estimate 25% travelling)
- Clarity: clear thought process; a highly organised mind; and the ability to communicate concisely.
- Intelligence: sharp and quick intelligence; the capability to deeply analyse bringing new insights; and the ability to think on their feet.
- Impression: self-confident and affable.
- Nature: instinctively curious; resilient to set-backs; and always behaving with integrity.
- Approach: motivated by the challenge; technically brave; personally self-driven; and relentlessly positive.