Composite Manufacturing Launch Lead

McLaren Racing; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured career development

25 days holiday

Enhanced company pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical opportunity

Wellbeing initiatives

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

McLaren Racing is seeking a Composite Engineering Manager to lead the introduction and industrialisation of RTM and pre-preg technologies. You will guide the team from horizon planning through SOP, ensuring safe, capable and cost-effective processes that meet McLaren quality standards.

You will own manufacturing readiness, manage CAPEX and supplier readiness, and work across functions to deliver on safety, quality and takt targets. A strong leadership and problem-solving mindset is essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience in composite manufacturing, production launch or a comparable high-value environment.
• Experience leading engineering teams and cross-functional delivery through complex product or process launches.
• Proven delivery of composite technology or process programmes from G-2 through SOP and production ramp-up.
• Practical experience of APQP, DVA, DFM, PFMEA, virtual builds, readiness reviews and capacity ramp planning.
• Experience introducing CAPEX and industrialising materials, equipment and technologies across RTM and pre-preg manufacturing.
• Experience developing cost models and supporting capital proposals.
• Able to manage multiple stakeholders and deliver effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Represent composite engineering in launch and governance forums, escalating strategic decisions to the Head of Engineering Launch.
• Lead, coach and develop the composite engineering team.
• Track launch performance, risks, issues and mitigation plans, supporting programme governance and reporting.
• Coordinate cross-functional engineering delivery to achieve safety, quality, timing and budget targets.
• Deliver manufacturing readiness from G-2 to production handover for RTM/HRDM and pre-preg products.
• Ensure facilities, equipment, people, processes and supply chains are ready and validated for launch.
• Lead manufacturing feasibility, capacity planning and production ramp-up within the defined process scope.
• Manage the introduction and industrialisation of CAPEX, materials, equipment and manufacturing technologies across the RTM/HRDM and pre-preg flows.
• Ensure Design for Manufacture (DFM), PFMEA and APQP activities are completed, with processes capable of meeting agreed Takt times, quality and capacity targets.
• Identify technical, operational and supply chain risks, and implement effective mitigation plans.
• Manage assigned launch budgets, forecasts and capital proposals.
• Develop product and process cost models to support business cases and programme decisions.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety requirements across all in-scope activities.

Skills

RTM

HRDM

Pre-preg

APQP

PFMEA

Virtual builds

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

APQP

DFM

Job description

McLaren Racing is seeking a Composite Engineering Manager to lead the introduction and industrialisation of RTM and pre-preg technologies. You will guide the team from horizon planning through SOP, ensuring safe, capable and cost-effective processes that meet McLaren quality standards.

You will own manufacturing readiness, manage CAPEX and supplier readiness, and work across functions to deliver on safety, quality and takt targets. A strong leadership and problem-solving mindset is essential.