At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative exterior design projects and shape future vehicle architecture.
- Company: Join McLaren, a leader in automotive innovation and design excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, enhanced pension, private medical insurance, and more.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cutting-edge automotive designs and drive brand innovation.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in automotive exterior design with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
The Head of Advanced Exterior Design leads the creation and development of advanced exterior design projects across McLaren. The role is responsible for driving innovative design solutions within defined packaging constraints, shaping future vehicle architecture, and ensuring the output remains contemporary, technically credible, and aligned with McLaren’s brand direction and design ambition.
Responsibilities
- Lead advanced exterior design projects from concept through to design development.
- Create innovative and visually compelling exterior design solutions around fixed or evolving vehicle packages.
- Influence and support the development of future vehicle architectures through strong design vision and design‑led thinking.
- Ensure all design outputs are progressive, on‑trend, and consistent with McLaren’s design language and brand values.
- Collaborate closely with engineering, aerodynamics, product strategy, and studio leadership to balance creativity with technical feasibility.
- Present design proposals clearly and confidently to senior stakeholders and decision‑makers.
- Guide and mentor designers within the advanced exterior design team, fostering a high‑performance and collaborative environment.
- Contribute to the broader McLaren Design strategy through thought leadership, innovation, and cross‑functional collaboration.
- Support the identification of emerging trends, technologies, and design opportunities relevant to future McLaren products.
- Maintain a strong awareness of competitor activity, market direction, and customer expectations to ensure design relevance and differentiation.
Qualifications
- Exceptional exterior design vision with a proven ability to deliver innovative automotive concepts.
- Strong understanding of vehicle packaging, proportion, surfacing, and design feasibility.
- Ability to influence architecture and technical development through design insight.
- High level of creativity, strategic thinking, and aesthetic judgment.
- Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to lead projects and teams in a fast‑paced, high‑expectation environment.
- Excellent collaboration skills across design, engineering, and program functions.
- Deep awareness of automotive design trends, premium/luxury market expectations, and future mobility direction.
- Extensive experience in automotive exterior design, ideally within premium, luxury, or performance brands.
- Demonstrated success leading advanced or concept‑led exterior design projects.
- Experience working closely with cross‑functional technical teams on complex vehicle programs.
- Proven ability to translate strategic intent into highly resolved design proposals.
- Leadership experience within a design studio or advanced design environment.
Personal Attributes
- Highly creative and visually sophisticated.
- Proactive, confident, and solution‑oriented.
- Able to balance originality with practicality.
- Strong sense of design leadership and accountability.
- Passionate about innovation, brand building, and design excellence.
Benefits
- 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.
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.
Head of Advanced Exterior Design in Bicester employer: McLaren
McLaren Automotive is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and creativity, making it an ideal place for the Head of Advanced Exterior Design to thrive. With a commitment to employee growth, McLaren offers extensive benefits including generous holiday allowances, enhanced pension schemes, and wellbeing initiatives, all within a collaborative environment that values diversity and inclusion. Working at McLaren not only provides the opportunity to lead cutting-edge design projects but also to influence the future of automotive excellence in a prestigious and dynamic setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Advanced Exterior Design in Bicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the automotive design industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! When you land that interview, make sure to bring a killer portfolio that showcases your best work. Highlight projects that align with McLaren’s design ethos and demonstrate your innovative thinking. Remember, visuals speak louder than words!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to present your design ideas clearly and confidently. Think about how you can communicate your vision while also addressing technical feasibility. This is your chance to shine, so rehearse your presentation until it feels second nature.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on trends! Keep an eye on the latest automotive design trends and technologies. Being knowledgeable about what’s happening in the industry will not only impress your interviewers but also help you contribute meaningfully to McLaren’s design strategy. And hey, don’t forget to apply through our website for the best chance at landing that dream role!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Advanced Exterior Design in Bicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Vision:When you're crafting your application, make sure to highlight your exceptional exterior design vision. Share specific examples of innovative automotive concepts you've delivered, and how they align with McLaren's brand direction and design ambition.
Balance Creativity with Technical Feasibility:We want to see how you can blend creativity with practicality. In your written application, discuss your understanding of vehicle packaging and how you've influenced architecture and technical development through your design insights.
Communicate Clearly and Confidently:Your presentation skills matter! Use your application to demonstrate how you can clearly and confidently present design proposals to senior stakeholders. This is your chance to show us your strong communication skills.
Collaborate and Lead:Collaboration is key at McLaren. In your application, mention your experience working closely with cross-functional teams and how you've led projects in a fast-paced environment. We love seeing candidates who can foster a high-performance and collaborative atmosphere!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLaren
✨Know Your Design Vision
Before the interview, take some time to refine your design vision. Be ready to discuss how your innovative ideas align with McLaren's brand direction and design ambition. Think about specific projects you've led that showcase your ability to create compelling exterior designs.
✨Master the Technical Details
Brush up on your understanding of vehicle packaging, surfacing, and design feasibility. Be prepared to discuss how you balance creativity with technical constraints in your previous work. This will show that you can influence architecture and development through insightful design.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Collaboration is key in this role, so think of examples where you've worked closely with engineering or product strategy teams. Highlight how you fostered a high-performance environment and mentored others, as this will demonstrate your leadership capabilities.
✨Present with Confidence
Practice presenting your design proposals clearly and confidently. Use visuals if possible, and be ready to answer questions from senior stakeholders. This will not only showcase your communication skills but also your ability to defend your design choices effectively.
