At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative manufacturing processes and drive continuous improvement in a dynamic automotive environment.
- Company: Join McLaren Automotive, a leader in performance road cars with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private healthcare, and a structured career development framework.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cutting-edge automotive technology while developing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Manufacturing or related field; experience in automotive manufacturing preferred.
The predicted salary is between 35806 - 43762 £ per year.
As part of the Manufacturing Engineering team, reporting to the Head of Production Steering and Strategic Innovation, the Principal Manufacturing Engineer provides technical leadership for series manufacturing process development, industrialisation and continuous improvement within an assigned operational area. The role translates product requirements into safe, capable and repeatable manufacturing processes, supporting programme delivery and stable series production within the McLaren Automotive production environment.
Working across Product Engineering, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Production Planning and Supply Chain, the role leads complex technical problem-solving and the delivery of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling and operating standards. It provides technical direction and coaching to manufacturing engineers, manages process readiness through a collaborative relationship with launch teams and drives improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost and environmental performance. Area-specific responsibilities apply according to the assigned operational scope.
What You'll Do
- Provide technical leadership for the assigned manufacturing area, establishing process standards and ensuring robust engineering decisions reflect current knowledge from the series environment to ensure Lesson Learned are adopted into new models.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing process flows, station layouts, work content, cycle-time studies, line balancing and capacity assessments, identifying constraints and improving hours per car.
- Lead process risk assessment and PFMEA development with cross-functional teams; ensure control plans, standardised work, inspection requirements and reaction plans address identified risks and remain aligned following change.
- Define technical specifications and acceptance criteria for equipment, tooling, fixtures and production systems. Lead supplier technical reviews, installation, commissioning and acceptance trials, working with Maintenance to establish support requirements.
- Ensure manufacturing processes incorporate machinery safety, ergonomics and appropriate legal and environmental controls. Work with specialist teams to assess risks and comply with applicable requirements.
- Collaborate with NPI teams on manufacturing readiness from prototype builds through launch and ramp-up, with a phased transfer of ownership. Challenge NPI teams to resolve issues robustly with evidence to achieve a seamless transition into series production.
- Lead structured problem solving for complex manufacturing and quality issues. Utilising available data, trials and recognised problem-solving methods to validate corrective actions and prevent recurrence.
- Manage manufacturing engineering changes, ensuring process documentation, tooling, equipment settings, validation evidence and training requirements are updated before controlled implementation.
- Lead technical projects within agreed scope, timing and budget; develop investment justifications, manage supplier interfaces and escalate risks, dependencies and trade-offs through programme and business governance.
- Monitor process performance, including right first time quality, scrap, rework, cycle time, downtime and throughput. Prioritise improvement opportunities with Production and Quality without compromising safety or product conformity.
- Provide technical mentoring, peer reviews and coaching for manufacturing engineers, promoting consistent standards, knowledge sharing and effective cross-functional collaboration.
What You'll Bring
- Degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Automotive or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
- Proven manufacturing engineering experience in automotive or a comparable complex manufacturing environment, with demonstrated technical leadership through industrialisation, standardisation and continuous improvement.
- Experience of low-volume, high-value product manufacturing and balancing product complexity, process capability, quality and investment requirements.
- Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing, process planning, line balancing, capacity analysis, standardised work, ergonomics and continuous improvement.
- Practical experience with PFMEA, control plans, process validation, measurement system analysis, statistical process control and structured root-cause analysis, including 8D or equivalent methods.
- Experience specifying and commissioning manufacturing equipment, tooling and fixtures, including supplier technical management, acceptance testing and production handover.
- Ability to interpret engineering standards, drawings, tolerances, product specifications and manufacturing data, translating requirements into effective process controls.
- For Body Assembly (BA) and Paint Application: broad knowledge of joining and bonding techniques, dimensional control, fixture design, surface preparation, paint application, curing and finish-defect resolution. Ability to work with specialists on materials, exposure controls and paint-system safety.
- For General Assembly and End of Line Operations: technical knowledge of assembly sequencing, fastening systems, error-proofing, traceability, vehicle diagnostics, software configuration and functional test processes. Knowledge of safe working practices for high-voltage systems.
- Experience with manufacturing execution, quality and production data systems; knowledge of SAP PP/ME and digital manufacturing tools would be an advantage.
- Ability to lead cross-functional technical work, mentor engineers and communicate recommendations, risks and trade-offs clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience of project delivery, engineering change control, investment justification and programme governance in a demanding production environment.
Personal attributes:
- Technically credible, analytical and evidence-led, with sound judgement and attention to detail.
- Accountable for delivery, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and escalate safety, quality or readiness concerns constructively.
- Practical and hands-on, with a strong shop-floor presence and a focus on sustainable solutions.
- Collaborative and influential, able to build trusted relationships across engineering, operations and supplier teams.
- Clear and concise written and verbal communication, translating complex technical issues into actionable decisions.
- Resilient and adaptable under pressure, able to prioritise competing demands without compromising standards.
- Committed to coaching, knowledge sharing and developing the technical capability of others.
- Curious and improvement-focused, combining innovation with disciplined validation and change control.
We recognise that we can only achieve our vision with the dedication and collaboration of our world class employees. It is our aim to become the employer of choice within the global automotive industry. At McLaren Automotive we are constantly looking to improve. To become the employer of choice we are always looking to develop our employee offerings. We currently offer a range of benefits to employees at all levels of the business including Private Healthcare, Contributory Pension Scheme, Life Assurance and Personal Lease Car Scheme. We also offer a range of discounts with our partner organisations.
What We'll Do for You
- We offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:
- Structured career development framework
- 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.
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (BA & Paint) in Woking employer: McLaren Group
McLaren Automotive is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and fast-paced work environment in Woking, where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide structured career development, generous benefits including enhanced pension schemes and flexible lifestyle options, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion that fosters a supportive culture. Join our high-performing team and be part of a community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of automotive excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Manufacturing Engineer (BA & Paint) in Woking
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like McLaren Group, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Manufacturing Engineer (BA & Paint) in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to McLaren Group specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLaren Group
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with McLaren Group, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like McLaren Group value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
