Senior Supplier Quality & Development Engineer - BIW in Woking

As part of McLaren Automotive's continued growth and its multi-propulsion strategy, we are expanding our Supplier Quality & Development (SQD) team. Strengthening the global SQD function will enhance collaboration with suppliers worldwide and reinforce the delivery of robust quality standards across both new and existing vehicle programmes.

As a Senior Supplier Quality & Development Engineer, you will take ownership of suppliers within the Body in White (BIW) commodity area, managing a global supply base for components such as structural stampings, aluminium castings, extrusions, composite panels, adhesive bonding systems, and complete body assemblies. You will manage these suppliers across the full lifecycle—from sourcing and industrialisation through to series production—ensuring launch success and ongoing performance in quality, delivery, and structural integrity. Operating from the UK with a global remit, you will lead industrialisation activities, assess and guide supplier manufacturing processes, and build long-term capability within the supply chain for BIW.

What You'll Do

• Conduct thorough assessments of global supplier sites for BIW components to ensure competent and reliable supply.
• Ensure non-IATF16949 suppliers achieve certification in line with nomination plans.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Purchasing to select and nominate capable suppliers that meet programme requirements for BIW structural and lightweight vehicle technologies.
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & PPAP

• Support and implement APQP for all new tooled BIW parts, ensuring timely and robust completion of activities.
• Work with Engineering and suppliers to complete PPAPs (including appearance approval) according to commodity timing plans and track approvals against delivery milestones.
• Provide progress reporting to Purchasing and SQD Programme teams, covering APQP open issues, PPAP pedigree, and delivery forecasts.
• Manage non-PPAP part concessions to ensure a “Plan for Every Part” is in place for build support.

• Collaborate with Engineering and suppliers to refine product designs, focusing on feasibility for processes such as stamping, aluminium casting (high-pressure die casting, gravity casting), extrusion forming, composite moulding (RTM, prepreg, compression moulding), laser welding, resistance spot welding, friction stir welding, structural adhesive bonding, and rivet bonding.
• Ensure manufacturing processes achieve quality, durability, and visual appearance standards.

• Ensure BIW suppliers meet programme launch, quality, and delivery targets.
• Manage supplier performance during series production to maintain PPAP compliance and address quality, cosmetic, and delivery concerns.
• Conduct annual supplier audits to verify continued compliance with McLaren standards and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and quality metrics, ensuring sustained capability and delivery.
• Facilitate regular governance reviews with key suppliers to address risks, escalate issues, and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify critical suppliers and parts requiring cross-functional engagement and oversight.
• Implement risk mitigation strategies to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity.
• Drive resolution of major open issues, ensuring supplier senior management is actively involved.
• Deliver quality and capacity verification in line with McLaren Development Process (MDP) targets.

• Develop and implement improvement strategies with suppliers to enhance performance and capability.

What You'll Bring

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes relevant to Body in White.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end supply chains within typical automotive OEM supplier networks.
• In-depth knowledge of automotive OEM manufacturing processes.
• Proficient in analysing programme plans and assessing suppliers’ capability to deliver high-quality components on time, aligned with key project milestones.
• Able to plan and oversee the full manufacturing process at the supplier—from goods receipt to final dispatch—when required.
• Skilled in scenario planning to identify risks and define effective mitigation strategies as needed.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders within supplier organisations to ensure correct prioritisation and focus.
• Knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and its application to BIW fit & finish.

What We'll Do for You

• 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday.
• Annual buy & sell up to five days.
• Enhanced company pension scheme.
• Discretionary annual bonus award.
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan.
• Life assurance benefit.
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service.
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping.
• Generous parental leave policies.
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice.

Who Are We?

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.