McLaren Automotive Ltd
Head of Body Assembly Manufacturing Engineering
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Head of Body Assembly Manufacturing Engineering
What to Expect
This is an exciting opportunity to join the senior leadership team, reporting to the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, and shape the future of Body Assembly and associated sub-assembly Manufacturing Engineering. You’ll translate functional strategy into clear, executable plans and hold end-to-end accountability for defined business outcomes within delegated authority, including responsibility for people, budgets and technical delivery across this critical area.
You’ll provide functional leadership across McLaren’s manufacturing operation for Body Assembly and associated sub-assembly areas, covering assigned current and future vehicle programmes from concept and process development through industrialisation, launch, defined End of Line vehicle validation support and agreed handover into series production.
What You'll Do
Health & Safety
Champion a safe working environment and ensure manufacturing engineering decisions, processes, equipment and facilities meet applicable safety and regulatory requirements. Embed safety-by-design and hold the team accountable for identifying, escalating and resolving risk.
Functional and Technical Leadership
Lead Body Assembly and associated sub-assembly Manufacturing Engineering from concept and process development through industrialisation, launch, defined End of Line vehicle validation support and agreed handover into series production. Own strategy deployment, technical governance, engineering standards, methods and assurance for all assigned vehicle programmes, partnering closely with Operations, Quality, Product Development and relevant external partners to deliver aligned outcomes.
Programme Delivery and Quality
Hold direct accountability for Body Assembly manufacturing engineering readiness across assigned programmes. Ensure processes, equipment and facilities deliver agreed programme gateways, start-of-production timing, first-time quality, throughput, safety and efficiency targets, working with Operations and Quality within their respective accountabilities.
People and Capability Leadership
Lead a multidisciplinary Series Manufacturing Engineering team of approximately 15, creating an inclusive, high-performing and collaborative environment. Shape the organisation design, resource plan, capability priorities, succession pipeline and technical development needed to deliver the Body Assembly programme portfolio.
Complex Problem Solving
Lead the resolution of complex and frequently non-routine manufacturing challenges involving new joining and automation technologies, concurrent vehicle programmes, equipment or facility constraints and evolving information. Integrate technical, commercial and operational evidence, use recognised problem-solving methods and balance cost, quality, safety and delivery trade-offs to achieve sustainable outcomes.
Operational Excellence and Transformation
Drive improvements in launch performance, production efficiency, resource utilisation and process capability without compromising safety or quality. Champion appropriate materials, joining methods, automation, equipment and manufacturing technologies, robust engineering methods and a continuous-improvement culture, with measurable outcomes across the assigned scope.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Strategy and Functional Roadmap
Develop and deliver the Body Assembly Manufacturing Engineering roadmap aligned with the company’s manufacturing strategy and approved business plan. Shape future process, equipment, facility, technology and capability requirements, recommend portfolio priorities and lead measurable transformation across the assigned scope.
Technical Authority
Set Body Assembly engineering standards and priorities, using delegated authority to make key decisions on manufacturing processes, equipment, resources, suppliers and launch readiness within agreed budgets and programme parameters. Escalate decisions that would materially change approved investment, company-wide functional strategy or committed programme outcomes.
Stakeholder and Supplier Leadership
Influence and align senior stakeholders across Manufacturing Operations, Product Development, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance and vehicle programmes, resolving competing cost, quality, timing, resource and technical priorities. Represent Body Assembly Manufacturing Engineering in senior governance forums and lead technical engagement with key equipment and engineering suppliers.
Financial and Resource Accountability
Control the Body Assembly Manufacturing Engineering people and overhead budget, preparing robust forecasts and capital expenditure proposals to keep investment aligned with the business plan. Oversee spend and resources from project identification through to completion, ensuring effective governance, value delivery and compliance with legal and financial requirements.
Success in the Role
You’ll be successful through delivering programme milestones and start-of-production dates, achieving quality, safety, cost and efficiency targets, closing material engineering risks, and building a capable and sustainable Manufacturing Engineering team.
What You'll Bring
- A degree or equivalent professional expertise in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Management or a related discipline.
- Substantial senior-level experience leading Manufacturing Engineering across Body Assembly, associated sub-assembly and new-model introduction environments.
- A strong track record of leading multidisciplinary teams, managers or technical leaders and building organisational capability, succession and technical development.
- Deep knowledge of Body Assembly and associated sub-assembly strategies, joining and automation technologies, processes, facilities, technical standards and best practice across the manufacturing lifecycle.
- Experience translating strategy into a multi-year functional roadmap and delivering measurable improvements in launch readiness, cost, quality, safety, throughput and efficiency.
- Experience exercising delegated authority over technical standards, process and equipment selection, resources, suppliers, investment proposals, launch readiness and production acceptance.
- The technical judgement to integrate engineering, commercial and operational evidence, make timely decisions with incomplete information and resolve competing cost, quality, safety and delivery priorities.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across Manufacturing, Product Development, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance and programme leadership, including effective supplier and external-partner negotiation.
- Experience governing manufacturing systems, equipment, facilities and core technical documentation, including work instructions, PFMEA and process validation, to support safe, compliant and consistent programme delivery.
- Strong structured problem-solving expertise, including DMAIC and the seven basic quality tools, with evidence of resolving complex, non-routine manufacturing challenges and embedding sustainable corrective action.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Personal attributes
- A resilient, inclusive and data-informed leadership style, with the confidence to make decisions and remain effective in a changing environment.
- The ability to respond to challenging situations with sound judgement, curiosity and a practical, innovative approach.
- Clear and influential communication, with the ability to explain complex issues, present recommendations and engage effectively with senior stakeholders, governance forums, suppliers and technical teams.
- A collaborative approach that builds strong working relationships, empowers others and aligns colleagues around shared outcomes.
- Integrity and accountability, with the ability to build trust and constructively challenge decisions when safety, quality, investment or programme outcomes are at risk.
- Strategic perspective combined with operational focus, and a genuine commitment to coaching, capability building and succession.
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.
Job Title: Head of Body Assembly Manufacturing Engineering
Ref #: 59442
Date posted: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Woking
Business area: Manufacturing
Department: Manufacturing Engineering
Position level: 3 - Head of (L -20)
Working time: Full Time
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday
Salary: N/A
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location