Validation and homologation

• Develop and maintain the lighting design verification plan, covering component and vehicle-level requirements.
• Coordinate optical, electrical, thermal, environmental, mechanical and durability testing with suppliers and internal teams.
• Work with homologation specialists to establish requirements for intended markets and incorporate them into the design and validation programme.
• Ensure test evidence, approval documentation and engineering records are complete and traceable.
• Lead investigation of test failures and drive corrective actions through to verified closure.

Manufacturing, launch and series support

• Apply design-for-manufacture and assembly principles throughout development.
• Support prototype builds, vehicle trials, production readiness reviews and launch activities.
• Work with Manufacturing and Quality to resolve fit, finish, functionality and assembly concerns.
• Support supplier quality planning and production approval activities.
• Lead resolution of lighting issues arising during series production, including root-cause analysis, containment and permanent corrective action.
• Capture lessons learned and feed improvements into future programmes.

Cross-functional leadership

• Coordinate lighting activities across Design, Body, Electrical/Electronic, Software, Vehicle Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing and Quality.
• Provide clear reporting on technical maturity, delivery status, financial performance and open risks.
• Present recommendations at programme reviews and support timely engineering decisions.
• Provide technical guidance to colleagues and promote clear ownership and effective problem-solving within a small team.

Essential skill and experience

• Proven automotive lighting engineering experience, with responsibility for delivering exterior lighting components or systems.
• Experience leading technical activities and supplier delivery through multiple stages of vehicle development.
• Strong understanding of lighting fundamentals, including optical performance, electronics, thermal behaviour, materials, sealing and mechanical integration.
• Experience translating vehicle-level requirements into component specifications and validation criteria.
• Working knowledge of automotive lighting homologation requirements and approval processes.
• Experience managing suppliers, technical reviews, engineering changes and programme milestones.
• Practical experience of validation, failure investigation and structured root-cause analysis.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, tolerances and assembly considerations relevant to lighting products.
• Ability to interpret CAD data, engineering drawings, specifications and test results.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex issues and recommend clear actions.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-moving development environment.

Desirable experience

• High-performance, luxury, specialist or low-volume vehicle programmes.
• Delivery of a lighting system from concept through homologation and production launch.
• Advanced lighting technologies, such as adaptive functions, dynamic signatures or integrated lighting controllers.
• Vehicle communication networks, diagnostic interfaces and software-controlled lighting functions.
• Design and process failure mode analysis, supplier quality planning and production-part approval.
• Lightweight materials, complex lamp packaging and demanding appearance requirements.
• Cost optimisation and value engineering without compromising performance or quality.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Automotive Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant industry experience.