McLaren Automotive Ltd
Head of Electrical Integration
Woking
Posted about 23 hours ago
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What to Expect
Reporting directly to the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, the Head of Electrical Integration is a senior leadership position responsible for defining and delivering the complete manufacturing electrical integration strategy across all vehicle programmes.
This role is accountable for ensuring all vehicle electrical systems, diagnostics, software deployment activities, and manufacturing controls processes are successfully introduced into prototype, pre-production, launch, and series manufacturing environments.
The Head of Electrical Integration will lead the strategy, development, validation, deployment, and operational support of McLaren's Manufacturing Diagnostic Toolchain, End-of-Line (EOL) validation systems, software download infrastructure, vehicle commissioning processes, and electrical fault resolution activities.
Working across Engineering, Manufacturing, IT, Aftersales, suppliers, and programme teams, the successful candidate will ensure robust delivery of all electrical integration activities to meet VP, PP, SOP, and series production targets.
This role carries responsibility for people leadership, budget ownership, programme delivery, supplier management, and operational performance.
What You'll Do
Leadership & Strategy
- Define and implement the Manufacturing Electrical Integration strategy supporting current and future McLaren vehicle architectures.
- Lead the Electrical Integration function, developing a high-performing team capable of supporting prototype, pre-production, launch, and series manufacture.
- Act as the Manufacturing representative for all electrical integration and vehicle commissioning activities.
- Contribute as a senior member of the Manufacturing Engineering Leadership Team, supporting business strategy and future manufacturing capability development.
- Develop departmental budgets, investment cases, resource strategies, and capital expenditure plans.
Diagnostic Toolchain Delivery
- Own the deployment, validation, and operational support of McLaren's Manufacturing Diagnostic Toolchain.
- Lead the introduction of next-generation diagnostic platforms supporting Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures.
- Ensure diagnostic solutions support:
- End of Line (EOL) validation
- Software Download (SWDL)
- Vehicle coding and parameterisation
- Fault diagnosis and resolution
- Data collection and traceability
- OTA readiness
- Digital VIN thread requirements
- Define strategic roadmaps for future diagnostic capabilities.
- Establish governance processes ensuring controlled deployment of vehicle software and diagnostic assets.
Manufacturing Operations
- Support delivery of annual vehicle production targets through robust electrical integration processes.
- Ensure production systems achieve agreed quality, throughput, and reliability targets.
- Drive improvements in:
- First Time Through (FTT)
- End-of-Line Yield
- Software Programming Success Rate
- Station Availability
- Vehicle Quality Metrics
- Develop manufacturing processes that are scalable, repeatable, and robust.
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all Electrical Integration activities adhere to McLaren quality standards, programme requirements, and manufacturing governance processes.
- Lead the development and maintenance of PFMEAs, Control Plans, Validation Plans, Process Sign-Offs, and Production Acceptance Criteria.
- Ensure all software, firmware, calibrations, diagnostic content, and vehicle configurations are managed through robust change control and controlled release processes.
- Own compliance of Manufacturing Electrical Integration systems and processes with applicable automotive cybersecurity regulations, standards, and internal McLaren cybersecurity policies, including UNECE R155, ISO/SAE 21434, and Software Update Management System (SUMS) requirements where applicable.
- Ensure manufacturing diagnostic toolchains, software download solutions, commissioning processes, and connected production systems are designed, validated, and operated in accordance with cybersecurity requirements. Drive cybersecurity readiness assessments and risk mitigation activities for all vehicle launch programmes, ensuring production systems remain secure throughout prototype, pre-production, launch, and series manufacture.
- Support vehicle certification, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity audits, and production readiness reviews, ensuring all electrical integration deliverables meet legislative, quality, and operational requirements.
- Establish governance processes to ensure traceability, configuration control, auditability, and compliance of all vehicle software releases and manufacturing diagnostic assets deployed into production.
- Collaborate with Engineering, IT, Cybersecurity, and Aftersales teams to ensure secure implementation of Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), OTA, diagnostic, and digital thread capabilities throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.
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Financial & Budget Management
- Own departmental operating expenditure and capital investment budgets.
- Develop business cases supporting future manufacturing technology investments.
- Manage investment programmes associated with diagnostic infrastructure, software deployment technology, and emerging manufacturing capabilities.
- Ensure all activities are delivered within approved budget and timing constraints.
Technical Leadership
- Recognised technical authority in automotive electrical systems, diagnostics, software deployment, manufacturing controls, and vehicle integration.
- Provides clear technical direction and strategic leadership across all vehicle programmes.
- Able to make informed, data-driven decisions balancing technical risk, programme timing, quality, and manufacturing requirements.
- Challenges constructively and effectively when technical decisions create risk to build targets, launch readiness, product quality, or production stability.
- Maintains a strong understanding of emerging technologies including Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), Automotive Ethernet, Over-The-Air (OTA) capability, cybersecurity, and digital manufacturing.
Programme & Launch Leadership
- Demonstrates clear ownership and accountability for delivery of VP, PP, & SOP objectives.
- Leads cross-functional teams through periods of high pressure, ensuring build targets are achieved whilst maintaining quality standards.
- Proactively identifies programme risks and drives robust mitigation plans before they impact production.
- Maintains focus on delivery whilst balancing short-term operational needs with long-term strategic objectives.
- Creates a culture of launch readiness, ensuring issues are identified, escalated, and resolved at the appropriate level.
Fault Resolution & Problem Solving Leadership
- Leads complex electrical, software, diagnostic and vehicle integration investigations through to robust resolution.
- Drives structured problem solving using recognised methodologies including DMAIC, 8D, and Root Cause Analysis.
- Creates an environment where facts, data, and evidence drive decision making.
- Demonstrates the ability to rapidly assess technical and operational issues and implement effective containment and recovery actions.
- Establishes strong governance around issue management, prioritisation, and escalation.
Stakeholder & Influence Leadership
- Builds credibility and strong working relationships across Engineering, Manufacturing, IT, Aftersales, Purchasing, Programme Management and senior leadership teams.
- Effectively aligns diverse stakeholders behind common objectives and delivery plans.
- Influences without direct authority across multiple functions and external suppliers.
- Provides clear and concise communication to Executive Leadership Teams and senior stakeholders.
- Acts as the primary manufacturing authority for all Electrical Integration, Diagnostics, Software Download and Vehicle Commissioning activities.
Supplier & Partner Leadership
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- Holds suppliers accountable for quality, delivery, timing, technical performance, and programme commitments.
- Creates strong strategic partnerships whilst maintaining appropriate challenge and governance.
- Drives supplier performance improvements through objective measures and effective escalation management.
- Leads major technology supplier selections, RFQs, Proof of Concepts, and implementation activities.
People Leadership
- Creates and develops high-performing technical teams.
- Coaches and mentors engineers to build future capability within Manufacturing Controls and Electrical Integration.
- Promotes collaboration, trust, accountability, and a continuous improvement culture.
- Encourages innovation whilst maintaining appropriate governance and process discipline.
- Supports succession planning and long-term organisational capability development.
What You'll Bring
Technical Expertise
- Strong understanding of:
- Vehicle Electrical Architectures
- ECU Networks
- CAN, CAN FD and Automotive Ethernet
- UDS and DoIP Diagnostics
- End-of-Line Validation Systems
- Vehicle Software Download (SWDL)
- Vehicle Coding & Configuration Management
- Cybersecurity Requirements
- Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Architectures
- OTA Update Strategies
- Experience deploying manufacturing diagnostic platforms.
- Knowledge of production commissioning processes and electrical fault diagnostics.
- Strong appreciation of data-driven manufacturing and digital manufacturing solutions.
Experience
- Minimum 10 years' experience within automotive electrical systems, diagnostics, manufacturing controls, or software integration.
- Minimum 5 years operating within a senior leadership position.
- Proven experience introducing complex electrical systems into manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated experience delivering vehicle programmes through VP, PP, and SOP gateways.
- Experience managing cross-functional teams and major suppliers.
- Background in high-performance, premium, or low-volume automotive manufacturing desirable.
Personal Attributes
- Highly motivated, resilient, and delivery-focused.
- Strong analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail.
- Calm and composed under pressure, particularly during launch and production escalation activities.
- Proactive, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented.
- Process and data-driven with a strong focus on quality and operational excellence.
- Excellent communicator capable of translating complex technical topics for both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Passionate about technology, manufacturing excellence, and developing people.
Success Measures
The successful Head of Electrical Integration will be measured against:
- Achievement of VP, PP, SOP build targets.
- Successful deployment of manufacturing diagnostic toolchain capability.
- Stable series production software commissioning performance.
- Reduction in electrical and software-related production disruptions.
- Achievement of manufacturing quality and throughput targets.
- Successful delivery of programme milestones.
- Supplier performance and accountability.
- Team capability growth and succession development.
- Budget adherence and return on investment from technology programmes.
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
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Skills
Electrical Integration Strategy
Manufacturing Diagnostics
Software Defined Vehicle (SDV)
End-of-Line (EOL) Validation
Cybersecurity Compliance
People Leadership
Budget Management
Supplier Management
Root Cause Analysis
Vehicle Commissioning
OTA Update Strategies
PFMEA
CAN/CAN FD/Automotive Ethernet
UDS and DoIP Diagnostics
Programme Management
Change Control
Location