Computational Design Engineer

We are recruiting a Senior Computational Design Engineer to join our Digital R&D and AI organisation. Your prime mission is to create next‑generation, computational‑geometry and generative‑design workflows that compress design iterations, unlock lightweight architectures and shorten time‑to‑tooling across all vehicle programmes. You will automate CAD and geometry pipelines (CATIA, C# plug‑ins, native macros) and weave advanced optimisation algorithms into daily engineering practice, while partnering with simulation and manufacturing teams to ensure designs remain physically feasible.

What You’ll Do

• Translate critical vehicle‑attribute targets into computational‑design studies and geometry‑driven optimisation tasks to deliver measurable reductions in mass, part complexity and manufacturing cost.
• Automate CAD geometry generation and parameter management by building CATIA C# add‑ins and native‑script macros to eliminate manual re‑work and accelerate iterative design loops.
• Create and maintain an integrated optimisation stack‑combining topology/lattice algorithms, surrogate or reduced‑order models and multi‑objective search techniques‑to generate manufacturable, lightweight concepts that satisfy package, cost and regulatory constraints.
• Leverage large‑language‑model (LLM) agents to automate engineering‑requirements authoring, validation and change‑management workflows, issue management and to enable document‑heavy knowledge retrieval across standards, test reports and best‑practice libraries.
• Contribute to the development of AI models that capture and encode design intent in a shared latent space, enabling similarity search, concept morphing and data‑driven generative ideation across vehicle programmes.
• Work on version‑controlled design library‑parameters, templates, digital twin geometry‑and present trade‑offs and optimisation results (dashboards, VR/AR, review packs) to maximise reuse and secure cross‑functional sign‑off.
• Mentor junior CAD‑automation and design‑optimisation engineers, embedding best practices in computational geometry, scripting discipline and data governance.

What You’ll Bring Business Knowledge

End‑to‑end awareness of the automotive product‑development V cycle‑concept, package, design release, change‑management and sign‑off‑and how computational geometry accelerates each gate.

Working knowledge of manufacturing and cost drivers for castings, additive parts, composite lay‑ups and stamped sheet‑metal, plus the implications of supplier and PLM change‑control processes.

Familiarity with engineering‑requirements management (e.g., 3DS, Jama) and the documentation standards that govern safety, homologation and programme change requests.

Advanced qualifications

• Expert programming capability in CATIA: C# (CAA RADE / Automation API), EKS and native scripts (VBScript/CATScript) for geometry automation, macro development and plug‑in creation.
• Deep proficiency in parametric and algorithmic CAD techniques; able to construct knowledgeware, power‑copies, publications and template‑based part families for rapid variant generation.
• Strong Python and/or MATLAB skills for geometry manipulation (e.g., OpenCASCADE, PyOCCT), data pipelines and CI/CD automation; disciplined use of Git and test frameworks.
• Competence in creating APIs and middleware that connect CAD, PLM, simulation and data services, ensuring seamless data flow, provenance tracking and automated change propagation.
• Practical use of large‑language‑model (LLM) tools/agents for requirements authoring, validation and document‑heavy knowledge retrieval within engineering contexts.

No restraints. No limitations. We don\’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them.

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.

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