At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the strategic direction of PLM systems and ensure their ongoing performance.
- Company: Join Lotus Cars, a legendary sports car manufacturer with a pioneering spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 vacation days, private healthcare, and a performance bonus.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working policy with opportunities for travel across Europe.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of automotive technology and innovation in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in a technical field and strong PLM systems experience required.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
Lotus Cars is renowned for crafting world-class, high-performance, and lightweight sports cars that are celebrated across the globe. Lotus Cars Limited serves as the company’s manufacturing HQ in the UK, where we proudly produce iconic models such as the Emira and the all-electric Evija. As we continue to elevate our capabilities and global presence, we are seeking an IT PLM Lead Engineer to join our dynamic IT team at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel.
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced IT PLM Lead Engineer to take responsibility for the strategic direction, lifecycle management and ongoing performance of our Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems. This is a key technical role supporting business-critical applications across Lotus Engineering and Manufacturing. You will ensure our PLM solutions remain reliable, relevant and capable of supporting the continued growth of the business. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, CAx teams, IT colleagues and external technology partners, you will oversee the full application lifecycle – from the successful transition of new solutions into production through to capacity, release, change and service management. You will also act as a Subject Matter Expert for PLM, providing technical leadership and ensuring that appropriate service levels are established and consistently delivered.
What You'll Do
- Support and drive the effective use of PLM systems across the business.
- Take technical ownership of PLM applications and their ongoing lifecycle.
- Manage governance around IT products, including change, prioritisation, maintenance and release management.
- Act as the Subject Matter Expert for PLM solutions and associated technologies.
- Work closely with CAx, Engineering and Manufacturing teams to maintain an integrated technical computing environment.
- Ensure the successful transition of new solutions and projects into production and operational support.
- Identify, assess and manage technical and operational risks associated with PLM solutions.
- Manage third-party suppliers and Group IT resources, ensuring agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are achieved or exceeded.
- Support the business in moving towards more frequent and automated software and solution releases, minimising disruption and reducing defect levels.
- Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and successful business deployment of new releases.
- Contribute to budget management across the hardware, software and services required to support the PLM environment.
- Ensure PLM solutions continue to meet business requirements while delivering appropriate service quality and cost effectiveness.
Key Stakeholders
You will build strong working relationships across the business and with our external partners, including:
- Engineering, BOM, PLM and Manufacturing teams
- CAx and technical computing teams
- IT colleagues and Service Desk teams
- Business users and product owners
- External technology and service providers
- Group IT partners, including Geely
A key part of the role will be introducing new technologies, supporting business change and ensuring appropriate business ownership throughout testing and deployment.
What You'll Bring
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant technical discipline.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, including Teamcenter.
- Experience of IT Application Lifecycle Management.
- Good understanding of IT Service Management principles and ITIL.
- Experience managing IT suppliers and third-party technology partners.
- Experience deploying and supporting IT solutions within an automotive environment.
- Experience working with Linux cluster environments, including PBS queuing software.
- Experience supporting and deploying PLM and engineering software solutions within an automotive or engineering environment.
- Good understanding of CAx systems.
- Strong technical knowledge with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex operational issues across interconnected software and hardware environments.
- Experience with engineering applications such as HyperWorks, Oasys, LS-DYNA and Autodesk would be particularly relevant.
Desirable
- Experience deploying and supporting CATIA V5 or V5-6.
- Broader experience across CAx and associated engineering IT systems.
About You
You will be a technically credible and collaborative individual who is comfortable operating across both IT and Engineering environments. You'll bring:
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- A collaborative approach to working across technical and business teams.
- An analytical and logical approach to problem solving.
- The ability to make effective decisions under pressure.
- Strong integrity and professional credibility.
- A continuous improvement mindset.
- A flexible and pragmatic approach.
- The ability to develop knowledge within teams and support colleagues and users.
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders, suppliers and technical specialists.
This is an opportunity to take a leading role in the technology that underpins Lotus's engineering and product development environment, helping ensure our PLM landscape continues to evolve alongside the needs of the business.
What we offer:
- Access to a Company Car scheme.
- 25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays: Recharge, explore, or binge-watch your favourite series with plenty of time to relax and enjoy life outside of work.
- Performance Bonus: Get rewarded for your hard work with an exciting, non-contractual bonus scheme—because great effort deserves great perks.
- Future-Proof Pension: Plan for your tomorrow while thriving today with a solid pension scheme to keep your future bright.
- Private Healthcare: Stay healthy and stress-free with premium healthcare coverage tailored to keep you at your best.
- We work hybrid, meaning you will be in the office when necessary and you can work from home when you're needed there, but will need to be in Hethel 2-3 days per week.
Additional Information:
- This role will be working from our Hethel plant within our flexible working policy.
- Frequent travel will be required to visit different entities and the Customer Care Center based in Europe. Applicants must therefore possess the ability to travel freely without restrictions.
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK without VISA sponsorship.
Our Company:
Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with over 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 we launched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully-electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.
As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them. Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship-winning racing cars. In conjunction with production facilities in Norwich, and research facilities near Warwick, our UK sites offer a wide breadth of roles for all disciplines. We're not just a car company; we're a diverse mix of talent from all walks of life. At Group Lotus, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential pillars of a thriving and successful organisation.
IT PLM Lead Engineer employer: Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we provide generous benefits including 25 vacation days, a future-proof pension, and private healthcare, all while promoting a flexible hybrid working model. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures that every team member can thrive and contribute to our legacy of innovation in the automotive industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IT PLM Lead Engineer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Lotus Cars or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Lotus Cars.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Lotus Cars.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Lotus Cars that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace IT PLM Lead Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Lotus Cars.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Lotus Cars and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lotus Cars
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Lotus Cars uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
